Winter Activities

Exhilarating ways to experience a special season

Cross-Country Skiing

Most of the individual trails in the forest preserves below allow cross-country skiing. However, a handful of forest preserves may have trails or sections of trails that do not, such as those that pass through sensitive habitats. Please refer to individual forest preserve maps, if available, for details.

When conditions permit, rangers groom trails for classic and skate-style cross-country skiing at forest preserves marked with an asterisk. For information on trail conditions, call the Outdoor Report at (630) 871-6422, press 3 for the winter sports current conditions report and then 2 for cross-country skiing conditions.

Cross-Country Skiing Trails

Forest Preserve	Activity	Surface	Map
Blackwell in Warrenville	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn	H,B,C,HR	limestone, turf
Cricket Creek in Addison	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Danada in Wheaton	H,B,C,HR	limestone, wood chip
Egermann Woods in Lisle	H,B,C,HR	mowed
Fullersburg Woods  in Oak Brook	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Greene Valley in Naperville	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Hawk Hollow in Hanover Park	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Herrick Lake  in Wheaton	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Hidden Lake in Downers Grove	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Mallard Lake in Hanover Park	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Maple Grove in Downers Grove	H,B,C	limestone
Mayslake in Oak Brook	H,B,C,HR	limestone
McDowell Grove in Naperville	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne	H,B,C,HR	limestone, turf
Salt Creek Greenway in Elmhurst	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Salt Creek Marsh in Itasca	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Songbird Slough in Itasca	H,B	paved road
Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale	H,B	asphalt
Springbrook Prairie  in Naperville	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Timber Ridge in West Chicago	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Warrenville Grove in Warrenville	H,B,C,HR	limestone
Waterfall Glen in Darien	H,B,C,HR	limestone, wood chip
West Branch in Bartlett	H,B,C,HR	limestone
West DuPage Woods  in West Chicago	H,B,C,HR	limestone, turf
Wood Dale Grove  in Wood Dale	H,B,C	limestone, wood chip
York Woods in Oak Brook	H,B,C	asphalt
H Hiking  B Bicycling  C Cross-Country Skiing  HR Horseback Riding

 

Cross-Country Skiing Guidelines

• The use of Forest Preserve District trails does not require a permit or have an associated fee.
• Ski single file on the right edge of the trail; reserve the inside of the trail for other users.
• Announce “passing on your left” when doing so.
• Approach horses slowly, and allow extra room. Never pass a horse on a bridge; bridges can make even experienced animals nervous.
• Be aware of wildlife both on and off the trail. Remember, you are a visitor in their habitat. 
• Practice “leave no trace.” Whatever you bring into a forest preserve, take out.
• To preserve nature’s quiet and solitude, refrain making any loud sounds. 
• “DuPage County Forest Preserve Trails” contains maps for 21 forest preserves and one state park. E-mail forest@dupageforest.com or call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248 for a free printed copy, or download Forest Preserve Trails.

Ice Fishing

• Visit Fishing for complete fishing information.
• Note number 10 under Rules and Regulations for ice-fishing-specific information.

Snow Tubing

The snow-tubing hill is located at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.

• The 800-foot run is open December through February on weekends and school holidays, except Dec. 25, when the hill is covered with 3 or more inches of snow.

• Participants must use District-rented inner tubes.

• Rentals, which are at the base of the hill, are $4 per tube per day (cash only).

• Updated hours of operation and snow conditions are available at (630) 871-6422.

Sledding and Ice Skating

Unless otherwise posted, the Forest Preserve District allows sledding and ice skating in all forest preserves.

• Neither sledding nor ice skating requires a permit or has an associated fee.
• Rangers do not monitor ice conditions.
• All ice-related activities are done at the user’s own risk.
• As a guideline, not a guarantee, a minimum of 4 inches of ice is recommended for any ice activity.
• Sledding is always prohibited at Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve, the closed landfill sites at Greene Valley and Mallard Lake forest preserves and any slopes at Spring Creek Reservoir Forest Preserve.

Dog Sledding

When snow conditions allow, mushers can “gee” and “haw” on select trails at two forest preserves.

• Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville Regional, Bobolink and connector trails north of Mack Road in the McKee Marsh area
• Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville Thunderbird Spur Trail at the parking lot on Thunderbird Road
• The use of Forest Preserve District trails does not require a permit or have an associated fee.
• For the safety of other forest preserve visitors and the protection of the county’s natural resources, mushers must remain on the trails and travel in a controlled, safe manner.
• During the rest of the year, unless otherwise posted, dog sledders may use wheeled training carts up to 4 feet wide on any forest preserve trail that is also designated for Bicycling.
• “DuPage County Forest Preserve Trails” is a publication that contains maps for 21 forest preserves and one state park. E-mail forest@dupageforest.com or call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248 for a free printed copy, or download Forest Preserve Trails.