Acres: 469
Amenities: Drinking Water, Horse Trailer Parking, Parking and Portable Washrooms
Hours: Open daily one hour after sunrise until one hour after sunset
Location: West Chicago, IL
Activities & Facilities
Bicycling, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Picnicking, Wildlife Watching, Winter Activities
Downloadable Maps
Preserve Map
Habitats:
Lake/Pond/Waterway, Prairie/Grassland, Wetland and Woodland
West DuPage Woods
West DuPage Woods is a mix of woodland, wetland and prairie, providing diverse habitats for plants and animals. Visitors can choose to explore the high ground, where mowed paths through the upland woods showcase an impressive display of spring wildflowers. Or, they can choose the low-lying areas, where they’ll find that wetlands and the banks of the West Branch of the DuPage River host an interesting array of marsh vegetation and wildlife.
The preserve is a popular birding spot, known for hosting migrating warblers.
Recreation
Fishing
This preserve offers fishing along the West Branch of the DuPage River that features sunfish, carp and bluegill. In the Elsen's Hill area, there is a half-acre pond that features bass and sunfish.
Picnicking
A short walk from the parking lot are picnic areas with tables and drinking water, both at the main entrance and Elsen’s Hills.
Trails
Trails include a one-mile loop from the main parking lot and a two-mile loop from the Elsen's Hill parking lot. Both offer a variety of terrain and are very popular for hiking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding.
Accessibility: The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. For special accessibility needs or concerns, please contact the District's ADA coordinator at (630) 933-7683 or TTY (800) 526-0857 at least three business days in advance of your visit.