There are a few trails that you can choose from depending on how many miles you want to walk, run, bike, etc. the trail is gravel and is surrounded by grass. We parked in the lot off of Plainfield/Naperville Rd on the west side of the street. The parking spots were spacious. There is limited parking but it was not full and had plenty of spots. There was a handicap port a potty, which had no toilet paper and stinky. But if you got to go you got to go. There is also a small area with picnic benches under a pavilion. We wanted to do about 5k walk, so we went south on the path and there is an underground tunnel that connects to the Sunflower trail. We went to the Sunflower trail first, which connects to Henslow's trail. Lots of trees and shrubs. The Henslow's trail is grass and dirt path. Close to the end it goes downhill back to the tunnel. There are wooden posts with the trail name with arrows pointing the direction of the trail at the intersections. Will have to try the Sprinkbrook Prairie Trail that is 5.5 miles. Note, Be sure to check for ticks, I did end up taking some home and found them on my clothes. read more

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve - Parks Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Nice place for a walk, run, or bike ride. It's in a loop and had plenty of markers. There are bathrooms at the trail head.

First time coming here. I had wanted to attempt to walk the 6 mile trail with my wife but we didn't complete it. This place is really scenic and full of nature. There's variation in elevation here as well so that way you're not walking on it completely flat trail. There's restrooms at the entrances. Trails are paved as well the entire time, pretty spacious and in good condition. Port o potties are in fair condition overall great place to run, walk or bike at. read more

Such a nice place to go for a walk. The main loop is around 5.5 miles, which is nice for anyone wanting to complete the whole thing or do a couple miles and walk back. There isn't much shade for most of the walk so I recommend bringing a hat and some water, especially when the weather is warmer. read more

Came here to hike though it was a combination of a light hike / walk. I'm glad I looked at the map a couple minutes in cuz there's a trail called Henslow's Trail that's a bit more, shall I say, rustic, than the main limestone path. It goes for 2 miles before connecting back to Sunflower Trail for another mile. The limestone path is great for cycling & running, but a lil boring for just a stroll. read more

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Ticks are insane. Pulled at least 30 off of each of my dogs after a walk there. if they would walk in the grass for 5 seconds they'd be all over there paws read more

This is another great forest preserve for training and so much more! This forest preserve is a state-designated nature preserve, has over 1,500 acres, is a water reserve, and grassland for breeding and overwintering birds. I had no idea! There are so many birds and they make these trails extra peaceful. The trails here are incredible. Great for running, biking, and even cross-country skiing or horseback riding in certain areas. The main trails are paved and wide to allow for easy passing. The full "loop" is 5.5. miles so if you are training for a marathon or half, this is a a place to train. The loop took me about 50 minutes running at 9 minute miles. It is challenging due to the hills. Let's just say I wasn't in the best mood after finishing these on some days ha! The hills however are a great way to build your endurance and something not all trails offer. The loop is mainly in the sun with very few spots in the shade. Just a note to make sure you wear sunscreen if you plan on doing the full thing. In addition to the abundance of trails, this forest preserve offers a picnic area, no-leash dog spot, and even a model airplane field! I see people flying these around all the time when I visit and they look like they're having a blast. There is a decent size parking lot but on a nice day during the weekend, you'll probably have to park across the street where there is overflow parking. There's an outside bathroom that is kept fairly clean. If you're looking to get outside and spend a good amount of time outdoors, give the preserve a visit (and try running that loop if you're feeling crazy ha!) read more

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This place has a really nice bicycle trail I was amazed by a well the trails are kept and some beautiful spots all over the loop read more

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve - Parks Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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This is a 5.5 mile looped trail. The trail is an 8 foot wide crushed limestone path that goes around a prairie. The first thing I noticed was there were no trees along the path to provide any shade! This is a nice trail for exercising, but I did not feel secluded in the wilderness. First, you could see across the prairie to the other side of the trail. Then there was too much traffic noise from the bordering streets of 75th Street and Plainfield Road. Again, this is a great exercising loop for the locals. The most memorable moment was when I crossed this wooden bridge. I felt as if I were walking into a beautiful picturesque painting! It really was awesome! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/springbrook-prairie-forest-preserve-naperville?select=1GJAQEgeSHVokdR6F_yoow#kR0QGUyt-Gvb74i2YVPdvA read more

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If you do not understand the concept of a prairie landscape, it is possible that the words "forest preserve" may confuse you. What this place is not: an actual forest. Look elsewhere in Chicagoland for a solitary walk in the deep woods, for you will not find it at this location. Know also that this is not truly the prairies of the old horizon folk, where it seemed that the earth was entirely composed of tall, swaying grass, and buffalo. You'll need to head to the Dakotas for that. What this is: a very nice preserve of wide open, beautiful green and golden space, teeming with life. The paths are a meandering 5.5 miles of crushed gravel that loop among tall grass, native Illinois vegetation, and a couple of handfuls of trees - all very well-maintained by DuPage County. This is where you can enjoy a purely Midwestern landscape, while riding or running, or just moseying along -- taking in the sights and sounds of an Illinois prairie. Yes, this preserve is surrounded by busy roads, and you can hear traffic. Off in the distance, there are big box stores, homes, a golf course... This is Chicagoland, after all. But don't let this stop you from visiting and appreciating this place, often. Head out on the path at dusk or dawn. Walk toward the interior of the preserve. Slow down and take the time to stop looking at the evidence of suburbia beyond the preserve, and you may be able to appreciate your immediate surroundings. You will hear the many species of birds that call this prairie home. You might see a deer, or a coyote. Butterfies. Hear an owl hoot at dusk. Enjoy watching the sun play off the grass and wildflowers. If you are heading here to catch some exercise, remember that because this is a prairie, there aren't that many trees to provide shade. If it is hot and sunny, wear a hat, bring water, and maybe avoid high noon. I'm not sure how one could manage to get physically lost here... the place is large, but flat, and you can usually see the edges of the preserve from wherever you are at. read more

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve - Parks Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Great place, and a lot to see and do. There is a 6 mile path around the prairie that you can run, walk, or ride a bike. So much to see, different landscapes and nature. There are also a couple of main parking places where you can park, but those areas also have gazebos. You can rent them and have picnics there. One of the main parking areas off Book Road has a dedicated place to fly model airplanes. Really cool. The other parking area has an off leash dog park. Inside the dog park there are different trails you can walk with your dog(s). There's also a big field where the dogs can play. I recommend going and checking it out. read more

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve - On the dog run - Parks Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

A very nice project by the FPD of Dupage County. The main parking lots are located on Naper Plainfield south of 75th, and on 83rd Street west of Book Rd. The "main" loop of crushed limestone is about 6 miles - but there is a total of about 13 miles in the preserve. It's one of the better places for a run/walk/bike/CC Ski in the western burbs, save for the fact that it's a prairie, meaning....well, it's freaking flat. There's probably a total of 3 hills you'll "feel the burn" (burn is a little too aggressive of a word). Things are kept interesting though - the path isn't completely straight, it'll wind around the entire prairie, taking you over some streams, crossing some streets, up and down some hills, by the off-leash dog park, and passing the model aircraft field. There are a couple pavilions along the path, near each parking lot. There are usually a couple packs of deer on the prarie, and Cooper's Hawks are not uncommon. The only real drawback of this place is the FPD refusal to put in path to access the interior of the prairie. There is sort of an unofficial path (known as "the path") but I'm sure eventually that will get shut down, so get out on "the path" while you can. read more

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve - Photo from FPD Website - Parks Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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Nice park. Ample parking. No shade except limited my picnic table. The path is white so without sunglasses it's miserable in the summer. Easy to socially distance which is good. The dog park looks nice but we didn't use it. read more

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This much I know: I'd like it that on my 80th birthday I got a bicycle, preferably a big blue beauty with high handle bars and classic wear and tear. A basket holstered on the bars for all of the yarn, fresh baguettes and fresh flowers that I bought at a farmers market. And a snazzy straw hat because those UV rays can be damaging on aged skin. Flashback to the present where I am not dashing in and out of alleys or along the narrow streets but through the vast amount of prairie lands in the suburbs. Sans bicycle. There are some days where you just need to get off of the lazy bones, and get yourself outside. Even with this newfound gym membership, the sun was out and it wasn't too drafty so why not tread some pavement and clear the conscience. I parked myself off of Naperville/Plainfield Rd, snagged the sunglasses and busted out tunes by Kesha. She's the guilty pleasure of working out, since she's such a dirty girl and all and when you work out. You're just getting plain dirty. Though in this case, it was walking so the dirty-ness will be taken up with the gym later. The paths are clearly marked and coming from someone who is used to having paths littered with really bad unmentionables, I was completely impressed with the cleanliness of the gravel lanes throughout the prairie. The paths seem endless and the prairie is a prime area to zone out and collect your thoughts. Or have a meeting or walking date in motion. Fall is definitely here and can be seen across the open fields with the many trees that have leaves turning to a more golden hue instead of the rich greens. Along the paths that stretch very far and are at a comfortable level with slight inclines here and there, everyone is friendly and if they're not on their ipod either or whizzing by on their five speeds, they will give a warm greeting. For those of you who have mechanical planes, there's a section just for you. A gated and freshly mowed plane field with fully marked lanes and a landing strip. So apart from having really great open paths that aren't filled with raging Lance Armstrong followers and grimy garbage and homeless bums, there's a little bit for everyone. This including a mini picnic gazebo that would be a great way to end a little adventure. This girl isn't a 5 speeder so I'll keep anticipating that birthday but until then, I'll strap on the tennis shoes and get my groove on, pavement style. P.S. If you park off of the Naperville/Plainfield there's washrooms. Just in case you needed to know. read more

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Even in winter with everything being dead, the landscape was still so beautiful! Plus we got to see a few guys flying their model airplanes around which was really fun to watch. I saw that there were restrooms, but I'm pretty sure they are the type where you just go on a metal bowl into a large tank. Thankfully I didn't have to use them during my visit. The whole trail is very peaceful, with lots of nature sights and sounds. It has a good mix of hills, so you can work on your endurance for sure! I'd like to come back in the summer for some bike riding! read more

Beautiful native prairie right in the middle of Naperville! I spend many days running and riding the trail here. I love how close this is to everything, yet you can feel like you're in the middle of nature here. I love watching the birds, coyotes, and other wildlife while I'm here. I'm going to give a quick rundown of the terrain for runners. Parking is available off Naper-Plainfield between 75th and 87th, or you can park off Book Rd & 83rd. As the main spur of this trail is a circle, it makes no difference which side you park on. There are bathrooms at both parking lots, so you're covered. The total elevation change on the path is no more than 50ft, so it's pretty flat. If you choose to run from East to West (clockwise if you're facing 75th St.) the path will be more downhill. In all the main spur is 5.5 miles, with one additional branch that goes East to Modaff Rd. There's no shade on this path whatsoever, so it gets real hot in the summer. Given how open the space is, there's a healthy amount of wind on a daily basis. There are also two spots where you have to cross the street @ Book Rd. I like to ditch spare water at the street crossings. Last, please pick up your gel packs. Every time I'm out here the trail is just littered with them. It's easy to stash your used ones in a pocket or your hydration belt. Destroy the competition, not the Earth! read more

This path is okay. I agree with most of the reviews. The issue is really this... you can get lost. I hate paths that are hard to read. I'm a runner and I really don't want to think about my route -- i want to run and then turnaround and come back. This path is so hard to run on because --once you start running the path has these different color shapes (like that is way for me to navigate around) --give me a break. So I set out to run 5 miles - on a hot 80 degree day.... I'm on 3rd mile and I come to a place in the path rather I should go right or left. On the right is a red circle on the left a blue triangle. So I'm like -- I'll just turn right and follow the red circle -- then I get to another split in the road and it's a yellow star and orange square. ARE YOU SERIOUS?? I'm not a hard core camper, mountain climber, explorer, etc. So I don't get a thrill of going on a new route and getting lost and trying to navigate back with visual cues, shapes, wind direction, sun guages, etc -- Get a clue -- How come I'm the only one that has an issue with this. read more

I'm really glad that the proposal ten years ago to add an artificial lake fell through. I mean, what the hell? What a disaster that would be; think of all the traffic. The park district has put a lot of work into this place in the past five or six years. There is not a lot of places in Naperville to get active; the Riverwalk is fine, but mainly for walking or jogging, and even that is a pretty short distance. I'm glad they moved the dog park over to Book Road, it was kind of destroying things. Now if they could just move the model airplane field, that would be great. Those things are cool, but also noisy and bothersome. It doesn't really fit into the natural atmosphere and since the recreational road winds through the field, I could easily imagine some people/model plane collisions. The wetlands is an amazing project. They used to be located in what is now the subdivision on the other side of Naper-Plainfield. When developers in the 80s wanted to build there, the city made them relocated the wetlands, which considered one of the best mitigated wetlands in the state. read more

I've been on many walks and runs here. It is beautiful in the midst of a busy town. You can go up and down hills or stay on flat land. One of my favorite places to walk and also drive by. I suggest watching the sunset here!! Make sure to bring plenty of water because I don't think there are any water fountains. read more

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve - Enjoying a walk at the forest preserve! - Parks Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Great place to spend a weekend morning, running or cycling. I only wish that there was a circuit on each side of book road instead of the circuit going all the way around the entire park. No biggie. i do agree w/ other yelpers that there does seem to be alot of poo in the middle of the path. I thought it was from all the dog walkers but i suppose it could be from wildlife as well. I've never had issues with parking, there's a clean bathroom w/ water at the two main lots. nice oasis in the middle of the suburban sprawl. read more

Gorgeous! Absolutely stunning. These photos say it all. I was struggling with writer's block for a while. Sitting in this quiet preserve broke my funk. If you're traveling to Chicago and have car access... make sure you visit here. You will not regret your decision. read more

Oooh Springbrook. I've spent many training runs going around and around.... and around the loop. That being said, it's a great loop. The loop is about 5.5 miles long, with some additional off shoots if you're looking for a longer route. There is the parking lot with "flush" toilets and water. About on the opposite side of the loop is another parking lot and "pit" toilets. Both are fine and clean; mid run you gotta do what you gotta do. The scenery here is nice too. Birds and small animals around all the time. Just ignore the WalMart in the background. read more

Springbrook is a beautiful choice for a long walk at any time of the year. You can go here and get away from the sights and the noise of busy Naperville and really imagine what this part of the county might have looked like before tons of people showed up and built big box stores. My husband and I took my inlaws from Washington state here for a hike because we wanted to show them something beautiful in Illinois that they wouldn't be able to see where they're from. There are a few loop options. read more

Beautiful reserve with simple gravel trails. It's a great local place to spend a couple of hours enjoying the day. There is a model airplane field located in the reserve as well. Note that you do need an annual permit to fly there. The park allows leashed pets as well. There are restrooms located on the east side of the reserve, at the Plainfield/ Naperville road entrance. read more

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I really enjoyed this trail. It offers amazing views and makes you feel like you are out in the middle of the country. The entire trail is 7 miles, but you can alter that with the looping paths. If your really adventurous it connects to the Southern DuPage trail (found out by accident and had a ten mile detour oops). read more

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve - I felt like I was a million miles away from the rest of the world. Just how I like my trails. - Parks Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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The trials are very nice and the upkeep is very well done. The landscapes are very diverse and there's several entrance points. The only downside is that you can hear traffic and see roads and building in about 80% of the preserve read more

Still lots of animal poop on the trail. But, it is still a great and scenic place to take a walk or a run. I also noticed the off-leash dog park. It is such a spacious area for your doggy to run around and enjoy the outside. I will have to bring my Mcpoopers here to play someday. I drive here (which takes about 20 minutes for me) just to get a good run in. I really like it here. It is relaxing and it is a very nice and open space. read more

Nice trails, areas for picnicking and a model airplane field. Love running the trails here, but a bit rocky for those wanting to use strollers. read more

I appreciate native landscape in my neighborhood which is diminishing so quickly in this area. The limestone trails are good for bikers, runners, walkers and ski in winter. Without much shade you are completely exposed to the elements although there are a couple sheltered areas near the parking lots off 83rd St and the other at Naper-Plainfield. There are restrooms in these areas as well. I am glad the park district is offering more community involvement through the support of volunteer servicing and educational opportunities for all ages focusing on environmental resources and sustenance of natural ecosystems. I also appreciate the natural log benches that are offered every mile or two for people who are there for expressionistic opportunities and need to gather or adjust camera equipment or drawing materials. I thank the crews for maintaining the property as well as they can in budget. I enjoy watching the burns, the youth groups, and other volunteers who clean up litter. I do wish the wildlife was more prolific as I've noticed a decrease over the years especially in the monarch butterfly and kestrel populations. I will always return here or drive through just for a taste of the serenity and greatness of nature right in my neighborhood. read more

This is a beautiful example of Illinois prairie in the middle of Naperville. Well worth visiting at different times throughout the year to see the multitudes of wildflowers and different types of wildlife, especially birds. Many miles of crushed limestone trails for walking or biking. Also one of the best places around to view and photograph sunsets. read more

Me and the pup frequent this park weekly. There are two trails one is 5 miles and the other is 3 and some change. It is pretty flat, but it is a Prairie. If you are just starting to exercise this is a good place to start because there are very limited hills. There is also nicely posted mile makers to keep you motivated while you are hiking. Keep in mind there are very little places to sit down and rest while you are on the trail. Make sure that you get map before you start so you know your limitations. read more

This review is for the crushed limestone jogging path found here, as I run at Springbrook nearly every weekend, but have no interest in model airplanes. They may be fun I suppose, but they look time consuming and I am not artsy, or handy, or even fartsy. The 5.5 mile loop, crossing over book road twice, is very nice. It is clearly marked and has good scenery. It stays far enough away from main roads that exhaust fumes and traffic noise are not a problem. I only downgrade this running experience slightly because there is not enough parking, and there is a lot of animal crap around. I give a bit of a pass to the animal crap though, as a lot of it is occurring naturally and not left by irresponsible dog owners. Where else is a deer supposed too crap? This is also a good place to observe my natural enemy, the inconsiderate bicyclist. They are found in abundance here. Hppy running! read more

Great Place for a Hike, Run or Bike Ride. Loop Trail of crushed limestone that is about 6 miles long, with an additional 1.5 mile spurr. You can do the loop and spur for a 9 mile ride, or an additional loop for 15 miles. This is a prairie, so there are not many trees. Expect it to be windy at times, and there is very little shade on a hot sunny day. Small parking lot off Naperville/Plainfield Road or a much larger parking lot with nice bathrooms off 83rd Street just West of Book. read more

Nothing too major. Basically just a leisurely trail about 5 or so miles long. A model airplane air field and an open area for dogs to play. The rest rooms on the west entrance are decent but the ones on the east side are just glorified large pot-a-pottys. read more

Great dog park. Very nice crowd of dogs. Scenery is beautiful. Trails are near busy streets but there are many crossings to make getting around safer. read more

Great forest preserve in the area to walk or run. Also a place to observe the beauty and natural habitat of the Naperville area.

For those who enjoy walking on nature trails, this is a good one. There is a 5.9 mile main loop on crushed limestone that offers some good prairie views. The trail is pretty wide, so even if there are bikers or runners, they don't disturb walkers. I didn't see any maps, although there might have been some that I missed. I used Google maps and the My Tracks app to make my way, so not having a map didn't bother me. For about 90% or more, the trail is open to the sun, so bring some sunscreen and carry some water. I would give this five stars, but being so close to some busy roads for around 30% or so of the walk detracts from the enjoyment of nature a bit. Still, it is a nice place and I recommend it to those who live nearby. read more

I frequent here if I don't have enough time to travel to other bike trails. If you want something easy this is for you. Parking is not so bad either. I've never had issues with parking. read more

It's nice to have forest preserve trails in the crowded suburbs for exercising and for getting a small dose of nature. In the case of Springbrook Prairie, a constant din of heavy traffic permeates most of the path (the Modaff Rd. branch is perhaps the quietest area). Doing a 22 mile bike ride on the 5.5 mile loop requires crossing the busy and dangerous Book Rd. 8 times which is excessively tedious. Even one bridge crossing for this road would go a long way towards making this path more usable for cyclists. Sunburn potential on the main loop is high on summer afternoons due to a complete lack of shade. Due to these factors, Springbrook is best suited for early morning or late evening walks and runs. read more

beat my butt! good trail for running and getting your mind off stuff. also picnic dates are great here too, not too much hub bub except for the sound of traffic. read more