Greene Valley Forest Preserve
Location
The north picnic area and shelters are located on Greene Road, one-third mile north of 75th Street and south of Hobson Road. The Thunderbird Youth Camp is located on 79th Street one-half mile west of Greene Road. The south parking lot is located south of 79th Street along Greene Road.
Preserve Maps
- Greene Valley Forest Preserve map (267 KB PDF)
- Greene Valley Youth Campground map (162 KB PDF)
- Greene Valley Trail map (269 KB PDF)
Outdoor Recreation
Bicycling
Although bicycling is limited to the 8-foot-wide gravel or mowed-grass multipurpose trails, cyclists can still choose from a quick 30-minute jaunt to a leisurely afternoon exploration of this preserve's varied landscapes. Bicyclists should be considerate of horses and other trail users. To prevent soil erosion and damage to plants, riding off the trails is strictly prohibited.
Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiers will enjoy the even terrain at Greene Valley as well as some of the hillier areas, like those away from the river. Skiers are asked to stay to the outside of the trail, leaving the inside area for hikers and other trail users. When conditions permit, trails are groomed for classical and skate-style cross-country skiing.
Horseback Riding
Riders are encouraged to use the many multipurpose trails at Greene Valley. Horseback riding in picnic areas and in the youth-group campground is prohibited.
Picnicking
Picnic tables, water pumps and latrines are available for all visitors, and two picnic shelters are reservable. Ground fires are not allowed, but visitors are welcome to bring their own grills and use the hot-coal disposal containers on site. Permits for reservable areas must be obtained at least three business days in advance; call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248.
Trails
Over 10 miles of marked multipurpose trails lead through a variety of ecosystems in the preserve, including woodland, savanna and wetland. Dog sledding is allowed on the turf trail.
The Tricky-Tree-Key trail is a self-guided nature trail that gives visitors a chance to make and use their own leaf identification keys. Participants can study a tree while blindfolded and later try to locate the same kind of tree. Solving a crossword puzzle using a tree finder to identify trees along the trail is also part of the fun. Reservations and materials are available from Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center in Oak Brook. For more information, call the center at (630) 850-8110.
Special-Use Areas
Greene Valley Hill
The 190-foot Greene Valley hill is open to the public on weekends from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., spring through fall. A road leads from the base of the hill to a parking lot at the top, where visitors can get a bird's-eye view of DuPage County as well as the Chicago skyline. Revenue generated from Greene Valley disposal operations, which ended in 1996, covered construction costs.
The introduction of native grasses and shrubs on the hillside will combine conservational and recreational objectives, attracting native songbirds and wildlife while providing visual relief for preserve passersby.
Model-glider and sail-plane owners with valid District permits can fly their crafts from the hill. For permit information, call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248.
Off-Leash Dog Area
Dogs with Forest Preserve District off-leash dog-area permits can enjoy Greene Valley's fully fenced, 16-acre off-leash area, which includes a separate section for dogs that weigh 25 pounds or less. Water and a restroom are adjacent to the facility. Call Visitor Services Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at (630) 933-7248 for permit applications and information. Rules for the area, which is off Greene Road, are posted at the preserve. Dogs must be leashed in all other areas of the preserve.
Youth-Group Camping
Thunderbird Youth Camp is located in the southwestern part of the preserve and has 10 wooded or semi-wooded campsites, including one that can accommodate groups up to 100. One campsite is handicap accessible.
Open year-round, these camping areas are set aside for use by youth groups. Youth groups are defined as recognized, nonprofit organizations. Only members of these groups, with their accompanying leaders, may camp in these areas. Camping permits and adult supervision of one leader over 21 years of age for every 10 children are mandatory for campsite use. For information and permits, call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248.
Preserve History
In 1835, William Briggs Greene purchased 200 acres of land from Daniel Greene, his uncle. When the land was surveyed in 1840, those who mapped it stated they "… left Brill's wheat field and entered hazel and red oak brush and scattering timber."
Descriptions like this of scattered and stunted oak trees interspersed with thorn thickets and wooded ravines give present-day visitors an idea of how the area once looked.
In 1841, William Greene built the first section of Oak Cottage, a farmhouse that stands today on the corner of Greene and Hobson roads. Though the District acquired the first sections of the preserve in 1926, the land that includes the farmhouse and that makes up the northern portion of the preserve was not purchased until 1969. The preserve was officially named for its historic owners that same year.
Natural History
Greene Valley boasts a collection of plants and trees not commonly found in other areas of the county. The wooded area north of 79th Street was set aside by the Hinterlong family for wildlife and wildflowers more than half a century ago. This high-quality oak woodland is now home to many native birds, mammals and plants and provides a spectacular display of spring wildflowers in May.
The open, wooded savanna east of Greene Road and the aged oak woodland in the youth camp provide excellent examples of Illinois plant communities. The savanna between Greene Road and the East Branch of the DuPage River illustrates the appearance of certain areas of DuPage County more than a century ago. Management techniques such as prescription fires allow more light into dense forest areas and create a more open and natural condition by encouraging the growth of native plants. Reforestation and wetland restoration projects are underway and will continue in the next few years to replace ecosystems lost long ago.
The wildlife at Greene Valley is plentiful. In the wetlands, waterfowl, herons, egrets and other aquatic life flourish; choruses of toads and frogs call during the spring breeding season. In the meadows, an observant eye may catch a glimpse of a passing red fox or coyote or hear the songs of meadowlarks and bobolinks. A venture into the forest may flush a great horned owl from its roost or startle a white-tailed deer and fawn.
Accessibility
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. At Greene Valley, the south parking lot off Greene Road includes barrier-free latrines and access to the preserve's trail system.
For special accessibility needs or concerns, please contact the District's ADA coordinator at (630) 933-7683 or TTY (800) 526-0857 at least three business days in advance of your visit.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5000, Wheaton, IL 60189-5000
email: forest@dupageforest.com (630) 933-7200 Fax: (630) 933-7204 TTY: (800) 526-0857