We enjoy walking the wide limestone trails at James Pate Phillips State Park and bird watching. We…read morealso volunteer here every year in April to count Sandhill Cranes. There are beautiful tallgrass prairies with lots of native blooms as well as wetland. Brewster Creek winds through the park. Popular spot with dog walkers and a few cyclists. Bathroom facilities are clean, there is a picnic pavilion and lots of free parking. There is hardly any shade so sunny, hot days go early or late. Kids will enjoy the Nature Center's collection of reptiles and many programs and events held there by Bartlett Park District. Meeting rooms and a small theater are available to rent for residents through the park district. Today we saw a group of Girl Scouts walking the trails. This park is a real asset to the community.

A fantastic state park off of Stearns Rd in Bartlett. Limestone gravel walking path. Loop trail…read more Good for biking and dog walking. Very clean. Two large parking areas along with facilities. Support the parks!

Great trails to do a 5k today for hike for Health. We were able to stay on paved trails for the…read moremost part which limited the amount of mud we had to wade through and the gorgeous weather certainly helped create an enjoyable event.

This green space is only twenty minutes from my home, but never knew it was there. A friend thought…read moreI should check it out and Leroy Oakes did not disappoint. In early May the Forest Preserve was crowded on a weekday, people getting out during the Covid19 crisis I imagine. There's a nature center, miles of trails, a historic home museum and a one room schoolhouse. At the height of the coronavirus all of the buildings were closed, but these should definitely be worth a revisit.

Lake in the hills fen park. It's an outdoor park called Fen park and is in the town of lake in the…read morehills. Fen park can be walked in or viewed from Standing and looking.

Hidden gem in LITH!! Peaceful, lovely scenic trails. It's a beautiful walk. The pavilion is great…read morefor a packed lunch or hanging out with a good book.

No need to add to previous comments, the place is great. I do want to add for those that might have…read moreinterest. It is incredibly easy to access the place on public transportation. Pace has express busses that run from both Rosemont and the Pace transit center just south of Woodfield. .7 of a mile walk from the Randall Road park & ride. Please note you can cut through the parking area to the west end of Hickory Hollow through an open path. The busses run pretty much hourly though DO NOT run Sundays.

Wow, what a nice little gem of a park! Nestled within these…read more275 acres, this santuary (formerly an old quarry) is home to an abundance of birds and wildlife, and three ponds (that offer fishing opportunities). This is an ideal place for hikers, dog walking, bicycles (recommend knobby tires), and horses. Having walked the gravel trail, my gps tracked 2.7 mile circumference. I loved that this trail is not just flat, it gradually ascends and descends. I must have been on ninja stealth mode because as I turned a bend, I stumbled upon a deer not 10 ft away. Shocked, we both made eye contact and the deer took off running. Parking lot/starting point offers picnic tables, a modern canopy , and a single out house. Bring comfy shoes!

I have mixed emotions about this Kane County forest preserve…read more On the one hand I love it because it's very "birdy" and for those who love to watch and count birds it is special. On the other hand I hate the bikes that go whizzing by and rattle the bridge just as I'm capturing a melodic or mournful bird song. There are some who politely slow down and call out "On your left" but some really seem to get a kick out of almost knocking someone over. If you walk over the two bridges and go down the path to the right along the opposite bank of the river you will be in Tekawitha Woods, a twofer! Bikes cannot go through there.

Decent forest preserve a really nice running trail in the morning. Perhaps not as taken care of as…read moreother preserves. Beware of yellow jackets in late summer-early fall. I've gotten stung in this preserve a couple of times just minding my own business and running.

Took a bike ride on this trail through charming east Dundee . Was so impressed with both the trail…read moreand town. Really great little bars and restaurants, very friendly people, and love how much East Dundee has evolved over the past 6 years. It has changed so much and seems to be new great things popping up left and right . This is a great trail and place to stop

A long trail goes along the Fox River where you can take on lots of natural beauty. Fox River Trail…read moreis one of the biggest ways to get some walking and exercise. It goes from Oswego all the way up to Algonquin, so that's a long way to go between the end points. Curve around buildings and rivers along it. There's enough room for bicycles, joggers, and whoever. Get on the trail from many areas. It goes a long way following the Fox River. This is a long ass trail. It makes it a way to get around without driving. Kind of hard to get to from where it starts and where it ends. It's too long for most people to walk along it. The part in East Dundee is especially scenic. It goes through the restaurant district. This goes by the old depot that's now used as a place for some people to hang or sleep. Has a long way to go for joggers and exercisers. It has enough room for bicycles and other faster transportation methods. There's plenty of parking spots along the way and you can find many places to eat as it goes through a few towns.

Spring Valley has a Nature Center and also features the Heritage Farm. It's really a neat place for…read morea walk as you walk through a wooded area for about 5-7 minutes and then you see the farm houses with animal barns along with a few trails to follow. Spring Valley is a refuge of about 135 acres comprised of fields, forests, marshes, brooks and streams. Some trails are wood beamed while others are rocks and grass. It's a really enjoyable place to spend a few hours by yourself, with friends and family. Parking and entrances to the park are available on both sides 1) off Schaumburg Road 2) off Plum Grove Road.

I have been going here since the 80's and it is even better than ever now. I love taking my…read moredaughter for a hike to the farm after enjoying the nature center building. It is awesome how so many aspects of Spring Valley have remained the same while wonderful upgrades and additions have been made, too! Definitely a place that we will continue to visit throughout the year!

A must visit for wonderful bird watching. Bring binoculars! Parking lot off of northwest highway &…read morehillside ave to see the heron rookery and the Dundee entrance for osprey nest & grass walking trails.

I came here to see the osprey…read more Baker's Lake is west of Route 14. There is an entrance on the north off of Hillside and an entrance on the south off of Dundee. I used the entrance on the south as this is where to post is located with the osprey. This area is literally a road with a few parking spots at the end of it. There are no identifiable paths or walkways. There is a break in the tall grass on the east side of where you can park. This rounds around the right and brings you back directly to where the perch is located. The osprey was there when I visited but he didn't do much. Not sure if it was because it was drizzling, he was tired, or he didn't like my presence. Either way it was still pretty cool. The north end probably has a better view of the lake and the "bird island" that this lake holds. It is a truly phenomenal sight. If you like birds, Baker's lake is home to thousands of water friendly birds.