Hidden Lakes has been a staple in my Bolingbrook life for as long as I could remember. In middle…read moreschool, my sister's friend had a birthday party here. In high school, my friends and I would hang out here (my mom jokingly asked if we'd do anything... bad... here, and the truth is, we really just sat around and talked because the nature aspect was welcoming for a group of friends who just wanted to goof around), and when I lived in New York a few years ago, all I could think about when I was overwhelmed by city life was the fact that I barely appreciated living near a nature reserve like Hidden Lakes.
This hidden, peaceful area of Bolingbrook is one of my favorite places on Earth, both for sentimental reasons and for its gorgeous greenery. I've had picnics here, as well as dates and walks with my dog. It's also connected to Whalon Lake, which is technically in Naperville, so walking over to that area is a nice extra activity. As teens, we'd walk around a fence to get to the Whalon Lake side, but in the last few years a connecting bridge has been added between the two "lakes."
There's a restroom and an information center, and plenty of spots for fishing. I will say, though, that there is also a LOT of goose poop, and a lot of geese around, too. That part is pretty gross, but I suppose that's part of nature and can't really be prevented. I just wanted to put it out there!
Hidden Lakes is tucked away on the side of the road at Boughton and Schmidt, but I highly recommend turning off the main road every once in awhile and getting lost in nature. I promise it's worth it.