3 Best Hiking Trails in Naperville, IL

“Greene Valley Forest is a mile of crushed limestone trails offering wooded and prairie sections to enjoy. The elevation gain of the trail is 108 feet. The trail is loop type. The 1,388-acre Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville is home to over 540 native plant species, making it one of the most botanically varied places in the county. From May through October, the 190-foot-tall scenic overlook offers a birds-eye perspective of the terrain and the Chicago cityscape on weekends. The trail is a fantastic place for a picnic or to view migratory birds. Greene Valley also has 12 miles of defined trails, picnic areas, an off-leash dog area, a model craft area, a youth group camping, and other amenities. Greene Valley also has about 370 distinct types of natural animals. Waterfowl, herons, egrets, and other aquatic species thrive in its wetlands, and choruses of toads and frogs sing throughout the spring breeding season.”

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“Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve ensures the total length of the trail is 5.9 miles and the elevation is 131 feet. The trail is loop type. The time taken to complete the total trail is approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes. In addition to paths, picnic spots, an off-leash dog park, a model craft field, and a state-designated nature preserve and land and water reserve, the 1,829-acre Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville is a birder's dream. The trail has some of the most beautiful displays of summer blossoms. Springbrook Prairie is a regionally important grassland for breeding and overwintering species, including meadowlarks, dickcissels, grasshopper sparrows, woodcocks, and bobolinks, as well as state-endangered northern harriers, short-eared owls, and Henslow's sparrows.”

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“McDowell Grove provides fishing opportunities and attracts waterfowl also has nearly seven miles of trails and two reservable picnic shelters and areas. The West Branch DuPage River flows through the 465-acre McDowell Grove, drawing waterfowl and shorebirds such as egrets and great blue herons. In the autumn, the maples at McDowell Grove put on a spectacular show of color. McDowell Grove is home to old forests, open fields teeming with eastern bluebirds and Cooper's hawks, and a floodplain forest with tall butternuts and black maples. A three-mile length of the West Branch DuPage River has been rehabilitated, providing improved habitat for various aquatic animals. Visitors can also explore the types of plant life and organisms growing all around the park and use the picnic shelter and tables in the preserve.”

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