Winter Fun

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing is an excellent way to get some exercise, and you can ski on most forest preserve trails. If you're a classic skier, use the edge of the trail. Freestyle skiers and other visitors should stay in the center and avoid stepping on set tracks.

Our interactive map features parking lots, driving directions, amenities, and more for each trail. As time allows, our rangers also update trail conditions on the Trail Conditions in the DuPage Forest Preserves Facebook page.

You can also find PDFs of individual trail maps on many forest preserve pages.

After a snowfall, the top priority is to clear snow and ice from parking lots and other high-use areas to ensure safe access to all of the preserves. After that, though, as time allows, rangers may groom and set tracks along trails at Blackwell, St. James Farm, Herrick Lake, Danada, Waterfall Glen, Fullersburg Woods, Greene Valley, Springbrook Prairie, Meacham Grove, James “Pate” Philip State Park, and Mallard Lake.

Ice Fishing

You can ice fish on most forest preserve waters, but rangers do not monitor ice conditions; you go on the ice at your own risk. As a guideline not a guarantee, a minimum of 4 inches of ice is recommended for any activity. Because of varying water levels, fishing is not allowed on Herrick Lake at Herrick Lake in Wheaton or on Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale.

Anglers 16 or older who are not legally disabled must carry a valid Illinois fishing license (an inland trout stamp, too, if you're fishing for trout). Forest Preserve District depth maps, creel limits, and regulations are available on our fishing page.

Sledding & Ice Skating

You can sled and ice skate at most forest preserves, but rangers do not monitor conditions, so you do so at your own risk. As a guideline not a guarantee, a minimum of 4 inches of ice is recommended for any ice activity.

Sledding is always prohibited at Mount Hoy at Blackwell, the Greene Valley scenic overlook, the Mallard Lake landfill hill, any hill at Spring Creek Reservoir, and on or near Herrick Lake at Herrick Lake.

Dog Sledding

If there’s plenty of snow and you're a musher, you can use the Regional, Bobolink and connector trails through the McKee Marsh area north of Mack Road at Blackwell and the Thunderbird Spur Trail, which begins at the parking lot on Thunderbird Road, at Greene Valley. During the rest of the year, you can use wheeled carts under 4 feet wide on any trails that allow biking.

Remain on the trails and travel in a controlled, safe manner for the safety of other visitors and to protect the forest preserves’ natural areas.

Areas With Limited Winter Access

For safety reasons as well as to ensure crews can handle snow removal and trail grooming at our most popular areas, the Forest Preserve District closes some areas for the winter season. The following are closed December through February and reopen on March 1, weather permitting.

Blackwell

Road starting at the family campground entrance (east shelter and Hawthorne Grove)
Beginner and interactive archery ranges
Family campground and camp shower building
Silver Lake boat launch and parking lot
Restrooms near east shelter

Churchill Woods