Picnicking
Picnickers can use any of the tables located throughout Hidden Lake Forest Preserve.
Ground fires are prohibited, but visitors may bring their own grills and use the on-site hot-coal disposal containers.
For everyone’s convenience, Hidden Lake offers drinking fountains and restrooms with flush toilets.
Trails
Over 2 miles of limestone trails wind through the preserve, making it a great destination for hikers, joggers, birders and other wildlife watchers.
Fishing
The true Hidden Lake is a glacier-dug pond tucked away among mature oaks and hickories. For anglers, the 15-acre Round Meadow Lake, created in conjunction with I-355, and the 10-acre Eagle Lake, dug in the shape of a soaring eagle by a previous owner as a memorial, offer bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish.
Anglers 16 and older who are not legally disabled must have valid Illinois sport fishing licenses in their possession. All anglers must follow all District and state regulations.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome at Hidden Lake but must be on leashes no greater than 10 feet in length.
Boating
Visitors with valid Forest Preserve District permits can use nongasoline-powered watercraft — boats, canoes, kayaks and multichambered inflatables with factory-installed hardened floors and transoms — up to 20 feet long on Round Meadow Lake. Watercraft must be transported on or in a vehicle (no trailers) and carried to the lake.
Watercraft must have valid Illinois Department of Natural Resources registrations and Forest Preserve District private-boating permits. A steel lockbox is available near the visitor information sign to collect fees for daily District permits. Annual permits are available through Visitor Services at District headquarters in Wheaton weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and through the rental area at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, when open. Additional permit information is available through Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248.
Federal and state regulations require that watercraft contain one well-fitting, Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for each member on board and that children under 13 wear their PFDs at all times. In addition, the District requires that all individuals, regardless of age, must wear PFDs in canoes and kayaks.