We had a very pleasant hike, we were able to see three deers that were grazing. The path which runs…read morealong Salt Creek is paved making it easy to walk, bike or push a stroller. It wheel chair accessible & has parking spaces provided near the picnic area. We passed many hikers & bicycle riders, all of them very pleasant!

It was a breath of fresh air the afternoon I decided to conduct a hike starting at Brookfield…read moreWoods. What interested me about Brookfield Woods compared to the other trailheads nearby is that it is the mile marker starting point for the Salt Creek Trail System. As for my visit, I entered off 31st St which has a Brookfield Woods labeled sign at the entrance; and the first feature that immediately caught my eye was its one and only picnic shelter which sat off to the right side of the parking lot. I also could not help but notice the many recreational bike riders prior to exiting my vehicle. As an outdoor fitness enthusiast who has been running for years, I would categorize the difficulty level as easy because the terrain is flat! I encountered mostly walkers, a few joggers, and many recreational bike riders along this path. While on it I felt that peaceful sense of being in nature as I heard birds chirping, the wind blowing, and the sound of the flowing salt creek which was off to my left while going out. I even got glimpses of chipmunk and squirrel running across my path; some even startling me at times when close by which also kept me in the moment. On my turnaround headed back to Brookfield Woods, I encountered a Canadian goose which I am absolutely terrified of! I am even known to alter my run routes just to avoid them out of fear of being attacked! It hissed at me as I went around it; it is like it instantly got its little goose panties in a bunch. I swear my heart rate increased as I eased by it because the last thing I wanted to experience was getting my ass kicked by a Canadian goose. That is a losing situation that I am unsure how I will bounce back from, but bye bye goose! I spent a little over forty-minutes during my hike on the path but could have easily gone longer if I were running instead. There are a variety of activities you can conduct on the Salt Creek Trail System path which extends 7.1 miles out; some of those activities I can certainly see are hiking, running, walking, biking, or even in-line skating. Brookfield Woods space can be used to conduct a large gathering; and its large field is acceptable for some recreational activities you can engage in. A well-maintained area, consisting of that one picnic shelter; and even a portable restroom right by the starting point of the path. There are also waste and recycling bins within space with one located at the start of the path, and another near the picnic shelter. And on top of it all, it has an acceptable amount of parking spots available. Other than my encounter with the Canadian goose, I had a pleasant experience at Brookfield Woods as indicated in this review and would return. As a runner, I can see myself returning just to explore more of the Salt Creek Trail System. ~An adventure a day keeps the doctor away. ~ Thomas G

I discovered the Dorothy and Sam Dean Nature Sanctuary earlier this year…read more What a hidden gem! (I didn't put this comment on the first line so that it can continue to be somewhat hidden. lol) I happened to be looking at local launches for my kayak and discovered a beautiful little park. Dean nature sanctuary is right on salt Creek and therefore also runs along salt Creek Trail. It has a beautiful pond and an old barn among many other things Here are some of the other highlights: Kayak/canoe launch Accessible fishing pier Gravel, dirt and paved trails Dog friendly. Bag/garbage station Separate recycling bins Gazebo and picnic tables I've been here several times this year, but of my photos are from April 2024. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how it looks during the winter months. My dog loves walking here and it's such a peaceful place to enjoy nature.

Beautiful park with a large variety of birds. If bringing a small dog there beware of coyotes. We…read moresaw one lady's small dog being chased by two good size adult coyotes. She was able to pick up the dog and after several shouts the coyotes finally left. We did call the oak brook police that showed up immediately with animal control. This happened on Mother's Day 2025

A mom-of-two's (a toddler and preschooler) straight-forward review -…read more Pros: 1) The playground is vast with various activities that applies to younger and older children - climbing ropes, bridge, rock climbing wall, various slides, zip line, monkey bars, etc. My younger daughter is 2.5 years old and love walking across the bridge. There are ropes to hold to but the little daredevil in her would just run across so it is important to be watchful of the child and be sure they won't trip and fall through the ropes. 2) The whole playground has a rubbery ground so it is very comfortable and safe. 3) There is a splash pad in between the toddler and older children sections. I am uncertain when it actually turns on. We have been twice, once at 9 AM and a second time at 3:30 PM. It was on in the afternoon and several kids were running in and out of the splash pad. It's a great option to have when it's hot and sunny out. 4) There are six tennis courts nearby and this works out perfectly for our preschooler to squeeze in a tennis session with her daddy before or after the playgrounds. Cons: 1) Not a con at all - But the playground is so vast that I can barely capture the whole frame in one picture!

Such a great park to play at. Lots of tree cover which is great for the hot summer daysread more

Burr Ridge has some parks, including this small one in a residential area. It supposedly is open to…read morethe public but it feels exclusive to the houses around it. Lake Carriage Way Park is in a subdivision. Good quiet atmosphere in spite of not much to do. The main thing is a big pond. Coming here is a little confusing. It's on a residential street of the same name so it's pretty easy to find it. The trouble about it though is what to do when you're here and trying to get into this. It's like, where do you park? There's no parking spaces. It's that which makes it seem like it's only for the residents around here. There's only a street. Apparently you can park on it. The park itself is small but nice. It has a big pond that takes up the majority of space that's easy to walk around. There's also a playground so kid can have fun. Have fun for a few minutes at most then go somewhere else. It doesn't have bathrooms or any amenities like that so it's not intended as somewhere you go for long. The only parking option is on the street, but look out for Karen residents who think they own this.

Lake Carriage Way Park is a tiny Pleasant Dale (Burr Ridge) Park District park located in the…read moreCarriage Way subdivision, near 55 and County Line. Though it is in the subdivision it is of course open to the public and is frequented by those looking to fish or just relax. There is no actual parking lot but you can park on the side streets of the subdivision, which is very quiet and never crowded. The main feature of the park is the large central lake with fountains. Throughout the summer there are many birds present (mainly ducks and geese) and there are various benches set up all along the pond for viewing. Many come to fish in the pond, so it is stocked. There is a large gazebo with the best view of the park. To the right of the gazebo is a small playground where children from the subdivision often play. There is a paved trail all along the pond, which meanders back into the woods at the northern most portion of the pond. This trail continues back into the subdivision a little way. Though it offers few amenities, it is a wonderful place to walk if you are in the area. It is very tiny and you can walk the duration of the pond in about 5 minutes. The park is dog and child friendly. Unless you're looking to fish, I'm not sure that it is someplace that you'd drive to specifically to spend time at, but if you're looking for a quiet location to go on a lunch break and work in the area, it is a great place to check out!

A beautiful place to bring your kids, dog, or lunch. The setting is epic. You're in a wide open…read morespace vetween the train tracks, the I&M canal, and beneath the highway curving hundreds of feet overhead. It's everything Lemont. There's a beautiful paved walking track, lots of picnic tables, a playground for kids, and a little fenced dog park with some agility features. Tons of parking. What a little gem!

For frame of reference, this trail isn't far from the IKEA store in Bolingbrook. The trail is about…read morea 10 minute drive from there and is a great trail for biking, running or walking. The trail is saddled by nature on one side and beautiful homes on the other. While we visited this approx. 3 to 4 mile trail during the winter, it still provided all of nature in its glory with a small creek, tall trees and wildlife. One of the best parts about the trail is there's one house that leaves painted rocks with inspirational messages right along the trail for people who pass by. Next to the rocks there's a message that says "Take one, Share one, Leave one." As I bent down to pick one up a fellow walker on the trail yelled out he had five at home. He said the inspirational messages really helped make his day, and we agreed.

We have done swimming classes through the park district and they were fantastic…read more A disappointment has been the parent and tot gymnastics. We paid $120 for 10 sessions. I didn't expect my two year old toddler to learn actual gymnastics but the problem is there is really no instruction. The teacher leads stretches and then says "ok go do the obstacle course" for 30 minutes. I was so confused during our first class that no other parent looked confused and just started doing the obstacle course. However, I learned that most of the parents this was their second time doing gymnastics at the park district. I felt so lost. I wasn't sure how my son should be doing the obstacle course, and I thought there would at least be some sort of instruction when I signed up. This is definitely not a class because no one teaches. This should just be "pre-pay for 10 sessions of open gym time." 10 weeks is way too long to do the same obstacle course every Saturday without instruction. The kids in the ninja class look happy but I'm skeptical now if I'll even sign my child up for this in the future.

Beautiful area along the river. Great for picnics,walking,birding etc. Plenty of parking and picnic…read moretables. Paths are crushed limestone or grass.

I never knew these lush, gorgeous woods were here! I work just 5-7 minutes away by car, and came by…read moretoday to Churchill Woods, on my lunch hour. I regret missing out on the last few years of lunch time walks here!! I will definitely come by more often. The hiking trail is off the far end of the parking lot. The lake is to the right as you pull into the lot. I saw ducks and bunnies and heard all sorts of other animals along the path in the woods. The path can be a little rugged in some parts, requiring you to step over tree roots, or duck under a fallen tree branch, but is mostly easy to navigate. There were only 3 people at this lot at noon on a Wednesday. Perhaps the crowds pick up on the weekend?

This trail is a nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. I love how our…read moreChicagoland forest preserves offer so much nature only steps away from the chaotic urban environment of a big city. Twenty-Sixth Street Woods offers paved paths as well as unpaved paths. You truly get the best of both worlds. This is great because if you go on a beautiful, dry, sunny day, it's nice to walk along the creek on the unpaved paths and enjoy an even more rustic experience. However, the paved paths are also wonderful to walk and bike on...even when the ground is wet. That a huge benefit of finding the woods that have paved trails. Be aware that snow is not removed during the winter months. These paved paths are also great for biking and for individuals who need accessible paths. I've been here several times and plan to continue enjoying all that these woods have to offer. In fact, I understand they have a boat and canoe launch. I'll be on the lookout for it.