This is a relatively peaceful place for hiking and biking. But it's a little hilly for an Illinois…read moreforest preserve, so wear appropriate footwear (I learned that the hard way). I've seen people getting professional photos taken with these woods as a backdrop, and it's a good setting for that. There's an expanse of grass between the woods and the parking lot where you can sit, have a picnic, whatever. The paved trail runs up the hill and onto the bridge over Lake St. to the north or towards Old Orchard to the south. As you move south, the forest preserves get a bit busy, so I prefer to head north from here. Just to the west of the main trail, there's a gravel path that tacks off to one side and is a little quieter, if that's what you're looking for. You won't lose sight of civilization completely, but you'll get a breather from the steady flow of bike traffic on the main trail that way.

07/03/20 - Yet another part of the extensive trails that make up part of the vast Forest Preserve…read moreNorth Branch trails. These start East of me by the Chicago Park district on Foster Ave & go West through Labaugh Woods off of Cicero Ave (5 houses East of me) through Forest Glen Woods (2 Blocks west of me) the turns north all the way to the Chicago Botanical Gardens. These trails are awesome as they provide people a little respite from urban life literally right in their backyards. People especially now that the weather is warmer come out for walks, running, roller blading & biking along the trails. My sister and I are both on a mission to not only get exercise, but see our own natural beauty our forest preserves provide & at the same time shed some pounds. The amount we have been walking you see all sorts of wild life, everything from deer, Blue herons, snapping turtles, chipmunks scouting around, squirrels, raccoons, hawks, redwing blackbirds, cardinals (no Cubs though bummer), blue jays even a fox. Today we walked from the Blue Star Memorial Woods to the south end of The Skokie Lagoon & back about 6.3 miles.

Linne Woods was a well needed breath of fresh air for me the morning I conducted my run at this…read morepark. I am no stranger to it because it sits near an agency that I work for, so I am off-and-on in the area. And not that long ago one of my direct care clients celebrated his birthday at this park which gave me the chance to feel the vibe of it. My solo visit to Linne Woods came after having no interest in running the ever so congested Chicago Lakefront Trail. At the time, it was marathon training season with many runners out training for their fall and even winter marathons. And not to mention other individuals out on the trail whether it be biking, walking, skating, or even at the beaches which I just did not have the tolerance for at the time. In comparison to Chicago Lakefront Trail, Linne Woods appeared very peaceful which was exactly the vibe I had yearned for. It appears to be the ideal place to conduct large gatherings, or even picnics; and its large field is perfect for a number of recreational activities you can partake in. The area is a well-maintained space, consisting of picnic tables with shelter and benches within, and there are even restrooms within if it becomes your pit stop while on the trail or during whichever activity you are engaging in. And not to mention, there are waste and recycling bins throughout this area. Linne Woods is also accessible to the ever so lovely and maintained paved and unpaved North Branch Trail where it is easy to feel that sense of being engulfed in with nature and the beauty of it! I could not help but enjoy the beautiful sounds of birds chirping, the chipmunks or squirrels running either across my run route, or through the litter of dry leaves. It also kept me in the moment whether it be startled because of the noise, or the visual of those cute critters which put a smile on my face. Along with sounds of wildlife, I cannot ever forget the close encounter I had with deer as I embarked on my run route on this Chicagoland trail which took me up to Skokie Lagoons. Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at Linne Woods, as indicated in this review and would definitely return. It has become my preferred spot where I can enjoy my long runs in peace, as well as nature. ~Gonna run 'til I don't jiggle. ~ Thomas G

A wonderful site for outdoor strolling and enjoying nature. Had some very close and counters with…read moredeer which was truly amazing. My girlfriend loves animals and she couldn't have been happier that day. There are many trails to choose from or you can just walk on the road as well. You can even make your own path through the woods if you are adventurous! There are also picnic tables trash cans and bathrooms if you just want to enjoy a picnic.

Wonderful forest for everyday walk. Very clean and refreshing forest. Very nice natural trails and…read morelot of birds singing. Hope all humans whoever passing through forest helps to keep clean the forest.

What a gorgeous option for outdoor space, walking trails, and picnicking!…read more After a large lunch nearby, we decided to stop by the Catherine Chevalier Woods for a quick walk since it appeared to have walking trails. With a bit of hesitancy since there was not a lot of information online, we stopped by and were immensely pleased. First of all, there was a plethora of parking spaces, making this a very accessible location! Second, we were immediately inundated with wild life, from lounging and munching white-tail deer to chipping chipmunks to singing birds, we no longer felt like we were in the midst of the city! Third, there were many spaces for picnicking and gatherings of people! What a great place to come for an outdoor gathering! Finally, we discovered miles of maintained and gorgeous walking trails. People were sparsely populated on the trails providing a beautiful and remote hiking experience! If you are in the area and are in the need of a good walk in remote outdoor space, head over to Catherine Chevalier's Woods!

Nice little spot to sit and relax around the lake with your smoky or jus by yourself, also good…read moreplace for kids to play in the open area. Have multiple places around the lake to get some fresh air. Well maintained, does have a portable potty. It's more of a picnic place, I see a lot of people come here mostly for fishing. I ended up here looking for trails to run by in he neighborhood. Even though it comes up in suggestions when you are looking for nearest trails for nice long run, this isn't the place for that. It does have little unpaved path around the lake which almost comes around close to a mile but not a recommended one for runs/walks. Parking available too.

This is an adorable hidden gem. Great picnic location and looks amazing in photos! Would totally…read morerecommend to all ages. The walking trail isn't paved so be weary about your shoe choice. Saw tons of people fishing and relaxing with their dogs. Overall, had a great time!

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.

Although Potawatomi Woods is not huge by comparison to other local preserves, it has a nice charm…read moreto it. This location has all the basic features such as areas to fish or boat, as well as paths for walking, hiking, and bicycling. There's also a grove available for picnics. Parking typically isn't too difficult and people are generally spread out fairly well across the woods, so you can enjoy a casual stroll without worrying about feeling crowded. These woods have a good variety of natural features that make it a great place to take pictures of the fall colors. If you have the right lenses, there's a nice variety of birds that can be photographed -- or possibly deer, rabbits, and other wildlife. Overall, it's amazing to have such a beautiful area in the middle of the busy suburbs. Definitely worth a visit if you live in this area and want to enjoy some natural beauty.

Beautiful walking trail. The trail is clean, well-paved and safe. Lots of people on it but not too…read morecrowded. Only one downfall for someone recouping from surgery, no places to seat for a break.

Easily my favorite trail. Growing up this used to be train tracks but since 2008 it's a trail…read more Convient to use however a woman was sexual assaulted recently so be careful. Awesome place for the neighborhood

It's an OK forest preserve, but there's not a whole lot here. There is a man made lake here with a…read moreboat ramp. I learned that the man made lakes, like Big Bend, along the nearby I-294 tollway were originally created for landfill material. You can ice fish here if that's your thing, and there were a couple of fishermen present on this fall afternoon. The only trail is a graveled portion of the 28 mile long Des Plaines River Trail that winds through here. On my maiden stroll through here, there were more bikers than walkers, but that's neither here nor there. As I walked exploratorily on the grass area (no trail) near the lake, there's a lot of dried up dog or coyote of whatever poop laying around so it wasn't the most enjoyable walk, so just an fyi. I did learn from a sign here though that I live on a 280 million year old 5 mile wide meteorite crater that I never heard of or knew about!

I visited Shelton Park because I struggled to find a solid area to park in Wilmette, which is where…read moreI had hoped to connect to the Green Bay Trail for a run. The park was my last hope to connect to the trail as I searched for an entrance to it as well as places to park within a reasonable distance. Its parking space appears to be well enough for its in-and-out flow of visitors throughout the day. During the times of my visits I have never once struggled to find a parking spot available. If that ever is a problem there is also availability along Old Green Bay Rd. Shelton Park appears to be very peaceful with a neighborhood appeal. It is an ideal place to play tennis or bring the children to play on its playground, Phil Thomas Memorial Playground as it is referred to. If you are yearning to get a small workout in, the park has fitness equipment: a built-in elliptical, pull up bar, and a place to do sit ups. As one who made this park my gateway to the Green Bay Trail I was able to get in a solid workout because of its fitness equipment. The park is well-manicured, consisting of picnic tables and benches if it becomes your pit stop while on trail or within the neighborhood for whichever activity of your enjoyment. Nearby sits the Metra railway, which temporarily drowns out the beautiful sounds of birds chirping or any humankind activities whatsoever within the park. In the meantime I plan to continue utilizing Shelton Park as my connector to the Green Bay Trail until I am fully accustomed to running in the area. I recommend it if you are in search of an area with activities I aforementioned or one that connects to the trail as I was. ~Blessings~ Thomas G

This is a review of the playground here: it is maybe the best playground on the north shore. I…read morethink folks want to keep it on the qt- it is not mentioned on yelp. It's primo as far as equipment and frolicking space with flowers and trees! It's amazing!