Gosh I love this park. It's such a great escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Far enough back from the roads that you can really feel like you're in the middle of nowhere (but not so far back that it takes too long to get to/is hard to find!). Multi-surface trails - mostly a mix of boardwalk, grass and dirt. Nothing paved. All are pretty rustic with roots and rocks throughout, so if you're running, wear trail shoes! Also, being along the Des Plaines River, it's natural wetland, so the trails can get very muddy after a rain, and stay that way for days. All that said, the trails are very well maintained and easy to follow. Plenty of parking (no shade in the parking lots though!). There's a building that (during summer months, non-COVID times) has restrooms and a water fountain. Also a small farm that's open in the summer. One important thing to note: NO DOGS ALLOWED! Bummer, but it's a wildlife restoration area, so I understand and did not dock stars for it. read more

There was a family event here so we decided to come check the place out. Even though my kiddo is only two, she liked seeing some of the stuff they had on exhibit and they also had coloring pages and whatnot. We got here near the tail end of the event, so we didn't spend much time inside and went walking along the little trail where they had signs up with information about turkeys spread out through a little loop around the woods. It's a lovely preserve, and I'll bet it's particularly beautiful in the spring and summer. The building is small but sufficient to have some programs and there are bathrooms here. There are a few outbuildings as well; I'm not sure if there are programs there too or not. There's a good deal of parking here. Keep an eye on their calendar to have an excuse to come out, or just spend some time wandering the trails in peace and quiet. read more

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This place is stunning. My neighbor told me about it and I promptly took a drive up here that afternoon just a few days after "peak" fall colors. It's amazing. I wasn't adequately prepared because it was a spur of the moment decision, so I didn't have a jacket or warm enough clothes, so I didn't stay or walk around too long. (And sadly their giftshop didn't have any sweatshirts -- I would've bought one if they had because it would've solved my problem. So, note to Ryerson: sell sweatshirts in the fall!). I've since come back here for an art exhibit (see my review on the Brushwood Center page for that info). I cannot wait to return again in the spring and definitely multiple times next fall. I want to explore it all. read more

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Love this place it's close to major roads but just so beautiful and quiet . Lots of walking trails , chicken house , sheep's log cabins , learning centers s when my girl was young they have maple syrup tapping and tours in the spring. read more

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This might be my favorite new North Shore place. So quiet and peaceful and beautiful. It was our first time there and we got a little turned around on the trail, so it was helpful to have the AllTrails app to guide us back to the Visitor's Center. A great spot for a walk, trail run, or, apparently birdwatching, as that's what pretty much everyone else was doing! read more

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Trails are very narrow. Lots of bugs. Definitely use bug repellent when going here. It was very beautiful.

OK cool. I'm not the only crazy person to visit this place in the Fall/ Early Winter. I only stayed for a short time since I will ill prepared without hiking boots (blame me for being a NY city slicker). I forget trails can get muddy in the fall, especially due to melting snow. Nonetheless, it's just a simple and tranquil place to take a walk. Their office is also open which was really great and lot of educational events. read more

What kind of forest preserve does not allow: Pets Dogs Picnics Fishing Bicycles What a waste of time driving all the way out here to find these stupid rules! If we could leave zero stars, I would! read more

My friend and I decided to come here on a whim yesterday, as we both wanted to enjoy the beautiful fall weather, but didn't want to fight the traffic off of 60 to get to our favorite hotspot. I LOVED the hiking trail here - absolutely peaceful and I enjoyed the fact that there were no paved paths on the hike, as it truly gave the walk a more of an authentic and organic feel (wear real sneakers, trust me). Just a heads up, though - the welcome center is closed on Mondays and closes at 5pm T-Su, so no potty breaks after 5! Restrooms are clean and overall, the property is very well maintained. Oh, and make sure you don't drink the toilet water ;) read more

Ryerson Woods Forest Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Riverwoods, Illinois

Ryerson Woods is a nice place to spend a few hours exploring the paths, cabins, and wildlife it has to offer. Unfortunately, our visit today was soured by a tour (?) group of 20+ people who apparently confused "forest preserve" with "amusement park". Amazing how a few noisy, inconsiderate folks can ruin everything. Not only were these folks on top of us at every turn (despite us trying to deliberately go the opposite direction at every turn), but we could literally hear some of those human hyenas from 100+ yards away. In any event, despite that, we had a good time. Saw a few snakes, plenty of chipmunks, a frog, a few bears (okay, okay, no bears!), a couple of cabins, chicken coops, a sheep pen, etc. Had a cool "big, old farm" vibe, which I dug. We'll return for another visit! read more

Charming forest preserve with a nice history to it. I love to see the lambs roaming around in the pasture and the occasional goats, as well. They also do some really great events in the visitor center, including an astronomy club. Apparently, Robert Redford also visited recently. Best of all, this place is totally free and very clean. read more

Just call me 4-star Freddy . Seems to be my favorite number . But I guess I should be happy I'm finding so many places to be a fan of. This nature/forest preserve/hiking trial is one of the nicer ones I've been to in awhile. I joined friends for a Sunday morning "birthday hike", and I suspect we did a good 2-3 miles on the well-groomed and well-marked trails here. There are also a number of authentic cabins and farm buildings which I understand are used for educational purposes. The other nice thing is while it is a suburban preserve, you really have no sense of being in the suburbs with traffic noise, etc. And the suburban Riverwoods area is already pretty nice from a "woodsy" perspective. The woods, the trails, the dam and the little rest areas are all really rustic and inviting, and quiet. There were very few people there on a Sunday morning. The welcome center has lots of information and staff to help with resources for other Lake County hikes. We learned that, for instance, the Des Plaines River runs 129 miles, and that there is a biking/hiking path on the west side of the river from Lake-Cook Road running for several miles north. Frankly, I never suspected a walk along the Des Plaines River, which follows the peripheral trail, could be so nice. At one point, six or seven deer came flying through the woods about 25 feet ahead of us. It felt like a movie. Hollywood deer! Best of all, it's just a 35-40 minute drive from my area of the city. A close, convenient and beautiful escape. read more

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I ventured from the north side of Chicago all the way to Lake County in search of forested trails and cheaper gas. I found the trails. Even for a dazzling urbanite like me, Ryerson Woods is easy to find. Just take Lake Cook Road west to Saunders Road and go north. The entrance is well-marked. Unless you're driving 80 miles per hour on that 35 mph road, you'll have no trouble seeing the turnoff. When I came on a Saturday morning in September, there was plenty of parking in the lot. I parked near the Visitors Center. This is a modern building with flush toilets, always something an old hiker like me appreciates. Water fountains, too. The Visitors Center is closed on Monday. There was a young woman at the desk, and she advised me. I wanted to walk the longest trail, which was a 3-mile loop, and she directed me to the trail head, which was just behind the building. The trails are groomed, not paved. They are also not marked in any way. You can pick up a trail map at the Visitors Center or on-line. That would be helpful if you had the slightest clue where you were on the trails. There are a couple abandoned cabins, and you can orient yourself a bit from there. The trail bobs along the Des Plaines River and back into the woods. There are some short bridges, and some wooden sidewalks over wetlands areas. This is not a trail system for anyone in a wheelchair. While there is no elevation change, making this an easy walk, the trails are woods trails. There are plenty of tree roots and bumps in the ground, so you do need to pay attention to where you are going. The woods and river views are beautiful. For most of the time, you can't hear any traffic noise, and only occasionally does an airplane fly over. It is peaceful here. If you want to "get away from it all" but still get a cellphone signal, this is the place for you. Only twice did I see anyone else on the trails. My only complaint is the lack of any kind of trail markers or signage. You do see the occasional sign about restoration of an area, but that's it. I plunged myself onto the trail, figuring I couldn't get lost. Well, guess what? You can get misdirected here. There are trails not listed on the map. When you come to a Y, you have no idea which way to go. I was beginning to wonder if I was going around in circles. It would be immensely helpful to have some signage, if only "this way to the visitors center." I think I walked a lot more than the 3 miles, if the burning feeling in my quadriceps is any indication. I did recognize a couple landmarks eventually, and, more helpfully, I ran into a family group that were just starting their walk. A woman pointed me in the right direction. Yes, I was having visions of trying to phone the visitors center and saying, I'm lost. Or maybe crossing a road and calling a Lyft. As it was, I did find eventually find my way back, as you can tell since you are still reading my post. Four stars from me. With decent signage, this would definitely be a 5-star review. Ryerson Woods is a beautiful place. read more

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These trails are well maintained and secluded from the busy roads. This is my family's go to local spot for a quick getaway and to connect with nature. During warmer months, there is a small animal farm where you're able to pet and feed smaller farm animals. The trails are especially peaceful in the winter and incredibly beautiful with a dusting of snow! read more

Ryerson Woods Forest Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Riverwoods, Illinois

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I bought the guide: 60 hikes in 60 miles of Chicago, and located this place for a Sunday day trip since it sounded relatively isolated and nice. And it was! An easy drive from downtown by Zipcar, we spent a few hours exploring the circular trails with relative isolation, in early fall when some of the trees were a brilliant red and the ground was littered with crunchy dry leaves. There are a few spooky cabins throughout the lot that make it feel like you are exploring a little. The people in the visitor center were very nice and gave us the map, a woman introduced us to the hawk who has lived there for a while, and her eating habits (rodents vs quail). Note that there are no concessions on property so get your water/snacks before you arrive. Well kept and very pretty spots with bridges, sometimes along the river. . read more

I visit this area for birding in the spring and fall. It is a nice quiet area with few visitors. The environment is great for all kinds of birds because of the riparian effect. Ryerson has miles of hiking trails that ravine through the forest and along a running steam. The park has a neat little cabin but I'm not sure of is functionality. There is a building also that I have never ventured into buy I imagine it is quite informative. My only suggestion is to be careful walking through the open field. I got ticks all over me and had to pick them off me all the way home. read more

3 miles from my home lay the escape I was waiting for. A solitary walk in the woods :) It was perfect to see the beginning of the fall hues on the leaves...you can sit by the river and watch the sunset... read more

We went on the maple syrup hike, and had a lot of fun. A great place to bring the kids. Fun activities for all. read more

Ryerson Woods Forest Preserve - Little tree huggers - Hiking Near Me - Riverwoods, Illinois

Really lovely. Old old woods, trails, make a stop here in May next year, you all, and lend a hand when it is needed pulling Garlic Mustard, that scourge of the Woodlands. See you then. read more

This place is beautiful....im sad i never went here before. I did get lost tho i dont know if i would blame it on the trail...haha.

Great outdoor area. Lots of easy trails and open space. Nice river viewing. Usually some animals for viewing - farm animals, birds, bee-hives, etc. Lovely place to feel like you're getting away from the hustle and bustle without going very far. read more

One of my favorite places to go to get some beautiful nature and to walk. There are trails for the whole family, and I usually see a deer or two. My kids love feeding the animals during the spring and summer, and the best part is that everything is free. read more

This is one of my favorite places in the north shore. Very quiet and relaxing. The paths are well maintained and there are some really great landscapes. The best time to visit is during the fall when all the leaves change colors. You can really get some amazing photos here! read more