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Whalon Lake

4.2 (21 reviews)

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Lake
Steve A.

A big lake is in Naperville, popular with people and dogs. It has a few trails around it. Whalon Lake isn't like the kind that has a beach, but it still has many opportunities for recreation. Fishing is one of the popular activities. There's also paved paths for bicycling and jogging. Cool place to hang around. It has kind of a unique location along the border of Bolingbrook. The lake is on the county line. It doesn't have a beach. This isn't the kind of lake for swimming. Fishing is one of the main reasons people come. Those not wanting to kill the fish are probably coming with four legged friends. It has a dog park next to it that's nice and big. The problem is permits are required. Good place to come and chill. It's also fun for man's best friend. There's a few connecting trails.

John M.

A very busy paved trail around the lake. The lake is good for fishing and kayaking. Pets allowed. Huge dog park adjacent to the lake area. Plenty of parking. I wish the trail was closer to the lake shoreline. If you are looking for a nice leisurely walk,this might not be the place to go as there are lots of bikes and joggers.

Faby T.

This is such a beautiful place for a walk, bike ride, fishing and family picnic. You can bring your own Kayak or rent one from Napervillekayak.com There's a trail that leads to Hidden Lakes, the most tranquil spots for fishing. You'll find a small shop there for fishing pole rentals and bate.

Anna K.

My parents go here alllllllll the time. I mean like, at least 3-4 times a week, and during the summer, even more. All I hear all the time is "Whalon Lake, blah blah blah, Whalon Lake." I always thought it was in Lemont or something for some reason, but today my parents brought me along for one of their visits, and I realized I'd been here quite a few times before. First of all, it's not in Lemont. You probably know that already if you're on this Yelp page, because you probably looked for parks in Naperville or Bolingbrook, but it's news to me now that I know what this place is called. It's in Naperville, along the border of Naper/Bolingbrook, and is connected to Hidden Lakes, a little nature reserve that is in Bolingbrook. Today's trip was meant to tire out our dog, so we just walked around for awhile. The "lake," which was actually probably more like a large pond, was gorgeous. There were groups of people on boats fishing, and it was so quiet and peaceful. Nothing gets me more excited than nature, because it brings me down to Earth and relaxes me in the midst of the stress of day-to-day tasks. There was a trail going around the "lake," for walking and biking, and there were also some roller bladers as well. The trail detoured a little bit and connected with Hidden Lakes, which was also a little group of large ponds and a parking area. I hung out here a LOT in high school, I realized today, but always entered through the Hidden Lakes side and had no idea the connecting area was its own park. Whalon Lake is gorgeous, peaceful, and a unique spot in the suburbs. If you're driving down Royce Road or are just looking for something nature-centric to do, this is a great spot for that!

Beautiful summer day at the lake.

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1 year ago

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9 years ago

We go for kayaking. Exercise. 2 little islands have wild life. Get a good workout on windy days.

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15 years ago

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Ask the Community - Whalon Lake

Is there a trail around the lake to walk?

Yes

Do you all have a boat launch for kayaks? And where is it?

Yes, a launch is on the south-west corner of the lake, not far from the parking lot. Electric or human-powered craft only.

Can you fish here?

Yes, you can fish at Whalon Lake, but catch-and-release is encouraged. For more information, visit https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/preserves/whalon-lake.

What are the hours for the dog park?

Whalon Lake is open from 6 a.m.-Sunset (April-October) and 8 a.m.-Sunset (November-March): https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/preserves/whalon-lake

If on a long leash can dogs go swimming?

Per the District's General Use Ordinance, swimming is not allowed in any of the District's bodies of water.

Are drones allowed here?

The District's General Use Ordinance (https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/getmedia/0835a953-c57c-4200-899b-17ef063ed5ea/FPDWC_General-Use-Ordinance-124.pdf.aspx) prohibits the use of drones by the general public in any of the preserves.

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Review Highlights - Whalon Lake

The trail detoured a little bit and connected with Hidden Lakes, which was also a little group of large ponds and a parking area.

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Centennial Beach

Centennial Beach

3.6
(79 reviews)
5.0 mi

Every summer l we go back to Naperville to see family from Colorado for a couple of weeks…read more Highlights for 2019, Centennial Beach, exactly as it's been for nearly two decades, but better now watching kids get to swim in a pool that's as big as a quart and clean as a pool. Lifeguards every few feet from you - and I actually love that those teenagers bark at other teens, some as old as them, when they're not following rules, ie encroaching on someone else's safety. High and low dive and a pontoon teens can swim 50 yards over 15' to 18' deep water to hang out with friends and no parents ( the pontoon reminds me of penguins or seals on one their annual remotely and isolated beaches - I'm confident similar biological urges are play for them as well ). There's a rigorous swim test for younger youth, which is perfect bc I'd only feel comfortable with smaller sized kids 50 yards out on the pontoon with twelve to fifteen 16 yo boys and four to five teen females. Every part of the beach area, water and the common ground where hundreds of families chill all day on Sat and Sun. Love it.

We had an extremely disappointing experience before we even made it inside!…read more Before leaving, we checked the Centennial Beach website for information about cooler policies and other guest regulations, and everything made it seem like the beach was open as usual. When we arrived, we noticed a large crowd gathered outside. We walked up to the admissions area, where an employee informed us that the facility had reached capacity due to a major swim event. Because of this, they were only allowing season pass holders to enter and were not selling day passes. We completely understand that facilities have occupancy limits and appreciate the staff for enforcing them. Our frustration is with the lack of communication beforehand. A major event with limited public access should have been clearly posted on the website well in advance so families wouldn't make the trip unnecessarily. To make matters more confusing, the hours listed on Apple Maps and Google Maps were inaccurate, and the website was difficult to navigate. The notice about the capacity restrictions wasn't posted until about an hour before we were turned away. While we were there, we heard several other families expressing the same frustration. No hard feelings toward the employees--they were simply doing their jobs. However, the organization behind the website and event planning should do a much better job communicating closures, capacity limits, and special events to the public.

Photos
Family fun
Family fun
Mama and boys are having a blast
Mama and boys are having a blast
Centennial beach w Grand nephew

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Centennial beach w Grand nephew

Whalon Lake - lakes - Updated July 2026

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