Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve offers a nice place for a relaxing 1.9 mile hike. There is an option…read moreto go farther by following the various offshoot paths. Parking is very limited off of Old Hicks Road but there are not many people going onto the path so you should be fine. There is a varied turf combination of paved and gravel. The path is pretty even, smooth, well kept and good for all ages We saw what seemed to be a grasshopper migration (9/21/25). We stopped counting after 25! However we did count 7 furry caterpillars crossing the path. There were many species of prairie willow, berry trees, cat tails and a few wild mushrooms too. Lake County is offering a hiking challenge over the next couple months and it's a fun way to see all that Lake County Forest Preserves has to offer!

The Buffle Creek Forest Preserve is a good place for an easy walk. The day we were there we had no…read moreissue with parking, but it was not crowded. It is mainly an open prairie with low growing plants and few trees. The walking path winds through wide-open restored prairies and some creeks. I can imagine in the summer it get hot since there is very little covering to offer shade.

I recently spent some time at Deerpath Park, and it turned out to be a great place to enjoy the…read moreoutdoors. One of the best things about this park is how much it has to offer in one location. There are multiple walking trails that are perfect for getting some exercise or just enjoying a relaxing walk, and it's conveniently located near plenty of stores if you need to grab something before or after your visit. The park has something for everyone, including baseball fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, soccer fields, and two playgrounds for kids. There's also a nice pavilion with restrooms, making it a great place for family gatherings, picnics, or spending the afternoon outside. Everything was clean and well maintained, and there was plenty of space to spread out without feeling crowded. Whether you're looking to play sports, go for a walk, or simply enjoy a nice park, Deerpath Park is a fantastic place to visit. I'll definitely be coming back.

A nice place to go for a stroll or a jog. The park is family friendly, peaceful, serene and clean…read more There's also a newly built kid's playground park with fun things to do for them. It's a well maintained place.

Such a beautiful location! I really love the safety of a one-way road winding through the park. I…read morecame for a party at pavilion D and it was gorgeous. It felt private and secluded, parking lot and restrooms nearby also felt private to the specific space. There were no sinks in the restrooms so if you have wipes, I'd suggest bringing them. While hand sanitizer is provided, I like to know my hands are clean before I go back to eating. I saw evidence of many well groomed trails for walking and would love to come back again and hike a few of them. I also noticed benches which I appreciate! The covered pavilion itself was huge and looked newer. There were plenty of picnic tables, trash bins and a large grill available for use. Green space behind and to the side provided plenty of room for running around and playing games. Public walkways are nearby, but not close enough to interfere with private events.

A friend and I went here for a walk and I was impressed. There's a 1.5-mile paved loop and a few…read moreshorter limestone off shoots. It's well lit and there's a plethora of parking, bathrooms and pavillions. Really a very nice place for a long run, if you're into that, because you're never far from a bathroom but the terrain is still varied enough to not be maddeningly boring.

This is a little neighborhood park barely visible off of Rand Road in Mt. Prospect, located just…read morepast Business Center Drive along the retail-rich stretch of suburban roadway. We've come here a couple times with the kids, especially if they're bored of a lot of shopping. Hill Street Park has an awesome playground with slides, climbing structures and bridges to run across. Besides that, there's a picnic area and a short walking trail that wraps around the place. You can walk it in about 5-10 minutes, so it's not exactly a big hike, but plenty of fun for the short attention span of our kids. There is no field house, but it's a nice place to stop and play if you're in the area with a couple energetic kids. While it was not fully green when we last visited, I am sure the place is splendid in summertime. Check out the photos.

Hill Street Park is a very decent park and preferred by a lot of moms in the area because of the…read morelow traffic flow, play ground, and relative peacefulness. There's ample seating for parents, a small slide, swingset, seesaw, and jumbo playground for larger children. This is a great area for moms of children varying ages. There is a decent walking area for dogs, although they are not allowed on the playground. Also, for eight or nine-year-olds who want to get off of the beaten path, there are things that they can do in the open "woods", such as build forts, because they are burned out and cleaned out regularly. There is a fire pit for fun as well.

I lived in this community in the late '60's and early '70's . This was such a favorite gathering…read morespot for locals. The Fouth of July parade would.end up here. Then there were activities all day at the park, followed by dancing in the park, followed by fireworks show. I well remember the great speakers they had, blaring The Rolling Stones music while people danced. There was swimming in the lake. And there were soo many mosquitos at the park. There was such a nice little beach for sunbathing. And a friemd was using his metal detector on that beach, and found my sisters wedfng ring. Winter time was so much fun. The entire lake would freeze over. We would have lights for night skating. We played ice hockey on the ice. The trees were covered with snow..it was so pretty. And i remember my senior year of high school we had our first snowfall on Christmas eve. It was such perfect timing. Such fond memories.

Area is beautiful. Kids have a great time on playground and beach. A wonderful place for a hot…read moresummer day.

Decent-sized neighborhood park located near Wolf and Kensington. Not ever crowded and they painted…read moreup the kids playground. They have a nice circled enclosed field where you can do laps around. The tennis courts there are plenty... There's about 4 courts. Overall, park is nice and clean and its located in a convenient area for me. BATHROOM REVIEW -- they have a permanent (read: not a port-a-potty) restroom for one. Inside, depending on the day, smells like shake pee and poop, or at best, no smell at all. Peer down and the one toilet bathroom and you'll see a 5-foot hole, where the poop and urine goes. Sit or squat? Definitely squat!

Sycamore Trails was a pleasant little surprise to me! I didn't realize this existed until I went…read morefor a bike ride around the neighborhood and decided to explore some other subdivisions. This made for a really nice ride and it looks like locals enjoy it, as well.

Prairie Wolf has a 1-mile self-guided trail and a 1.75 -mile for hiking, biking and XC skiing. The…read morepreserve includes a 20-acre wetland as part of its 435 acres. Enter off Rt22. The Prairie Wolf Off-leash dog area is accessed off Waukegan Road. An annual or daily permit is required. The area I've pictured here, is off Old Elm and there are no trails or parking in this upper northern section of the preserve. Prairie Wolf is another name for coyote and certainly you can hear the packs howling and yipping (especially January through March).

Great little trail! Stroller and dog friendly! Great for bird watching! Can't wait to visit again!read more

I recently visited Lake Potawatomi and really enjoyed my time there. It's a peaceful place to relax…read moreand take in the scenery, whether you're going for a walk, fishing, or just enjoying the outdoors. The lake is well maintained, and the surrounding area is clean and inviting. One of my favorite parts was how quiet and relaxing it felt. There are plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the view, and it's a great place to spend some time in nature. The walking paths around the lake make it even better, and I saw plenty of wildlife while I was there. Overall, Lake Potawatomi is a beautiful place to visit if you're looking for a relaxing outdoor escape. It's well worth a stop, and I'll definitely be coming back.

Horrible place. The forest preserve across the street is always open, yet this place is closed on a…read moresaturday, with no repairs going on, on a beautiful day. Our tax money is being used to pay these employees NOT to do their jobs. Lake County Forest Preserves are ALWAYS open.