Turn right and go 400 feet to the parking lot. From I-55, take Cass Avenue to Northgate Road. How do you reach Waterfall Glen? The main entrance is on Northgate Road. Waterfall Glen's prairies, savannas and oak-maple woodlands contain 740 native plant species and 300 species of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. By the late 1800s, a mill on Sawmill Creek was turning out lumber and three quarries were yielding tons of limestone for constructing such landmarks as the Chicago Water Tower. Historically, long before Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet paddled through the Des Plaines River Valley in the mid-1600s, Native Americans were living along the surrounding limestone bluffs, including today's Signal Hill. It also features two sites for youth group camping and several old quarries that provide fishing opportunities to anglers 16 and older. The preserve also is known for its Sawmill Creek bluff overlook and 11 miles of trails popular with hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. Known for its Rocky Glen waterfall, which actually is a dam, it is one of the District's most popular forest preserves and completely surrounds Argonne National Laboratory and also is home to a popular model airplane field. If you need to entertain your kids, it’s a great spot to see - you can play in the nearby creek and walk on shorter trails.The 2,503-acre Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in west suburban Darien is one of the most ecologically impressive parcels of open space in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, if not all of northern Illinois. Waterfall Glen - the namesake - is a human-made waterfall that was (and probably always) packed with children. I would map out the different parking locations when you get there, in case the main lot is full. We were able to get a parking spot, but if you go on a beautiful weekend, you may end up driving around or parking on the road and taking a hike to actually get into the park. You’re near one of the biggest cities in the country, so you have to expect that lots of people are going to be there. If you want to avoid people, go early (especially on the weekends). If you get lost in this park, you deserve it. This park has a great website and forest preserve map - the trail signage is excellent. If you’re not from the area, it’s a location that you could spend all morning at, grab lunch somewhere, and then do another family-friendly activity easily before heading home. This park is super accessible for any skill level or ability, and it’s very family/stroller friendly. It wasn’t buggy at all, though you get close to water at times. Beautiful, open forests with old trees and wildflowers…you finally feel like you’re not in the suburbs anymore.Įven in a busy area, there was still lots of wildlife - we saw deer, turtles, birds, and butterflies. There’s a lot to do! You can hike, you can get some distance running in, you can bring your bike and ride the extensive trail system throughout the forest preserve…and then some.īetween miles 3 - 6, the trails really hit their stride. We made it in the exact time our GPS said we would, on a weekend. It was a simple drive, and you’re far enough from the city, so you don’t hit any traffic. Most folks aren’t out there for the full 9.5 loop, so you lose a lot of human interaction the further you get from the parking areas. The trails had a mix of walkers, runners, and cyclists using them, and they tended to be busiest around parking areas. This isn’t a trail system where you need to be concerned about covering up, but the crushed limestone is hard on your feet - much harder than grass and dirt. Pro-tip: wear great shoes and comfy socks. The trails are wide and in great shape, with garbage and recycle bins, bathrooms, and parking areas spread every 3 - 6 miles throughout. The 9.5 mile loop, and a majority of the trails, are on crushed limestone. There are rolling hills, but no major elevation changes. You can get it extra mileage if you check out some of the marked detours and inner-preserve trails. The longest trail is a 9.5 mile loop around the entire forest preserve. But, you can’t proclaim to be an awesome hiking blog and avoid areas just because you’re a picky human! So, Adam and I did a little online online recon, and we found a lovely and large forest preserve in the Chicagoland area, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, located in Lemont, Ill. We tend to avoid Northeastern Illinois (sorry Chicago friends and family), because we want to avoid other people.
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