McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
Location
Located on the east side of Raymond Drive, south of Interstate-88. The main entrance is south of Diehl Road, approximately one mile north of Ogden Avenue (Route 34).
Preserve Maps
- McDowell Grove Trail map (312 KB PDF)
Outdoor Recreation
Trails
McDowell Grove features more than five miles of looped, unmarked trails for hikers, bicyclists, cross-country skiers and horseback riders. The trails meander through the 439-acre preserve, which sits on the banks of the West Branch of the DuPage River.
Picnicking
Picnickers can enjoy a reservable 25-person capacity picnic shelter at the river's shore and a 150-person capacity reservable picnic area to the southeast. Ground fires are prohibited, but visitors may bring their own grills and dispose of coals in the on-site hot-coal containers. Latrines and a water pump are available to make visits more enjoyable.
Fishing
Anglers can access the 22-acre Mud Lake and the West Branch of the DuPage River from the preserve. Smallmouth bass have been stocked in the river for catch and release. Catfish, bass, carp, sunfish and bluegill can be caught in Mud Lake. Some of the best times to catch fish are in the early morning or late afternoon hours. Please be careful when fishing, and remember that daily creel limits are in place to preserve the long-term fishing program. All anglers 16 and older (except legally disabled persons) are required to have valid Illinois sport fishing licenses in their possession and must follow District and state regulations.
Boating
Canoeists and kayakers can paddle up the DuPage River from the launch near the parking lot. McDowell Grove can also be used as a takeout location when floating down the DuPage River from the North. Access to the river is free, but paddlers must bring their own watercraft. All watercraft must be registered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and must contain one well-fitting personal flotation device for each member on board. District regulations require that all paddlers wear their PFDs at all times.
Preserve History
From 1933 to 1938, the U.S. government used a portion of McDowell Grove to operate a work camp for President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps. The stated goal of Camp McDowell was to create a "first-rate picnic area" out of the woods of a preserve. Housed in army-fashion barracks, the 3,800 workers who passed through the camp constructed many bridges and picnic shelters in various area preserves, as well as a boathouse, bridle paths and a limestone dam on the West Branch. Corps workers also spent a year dredging McDowell's lagoon.
The U.S. Defense Department acquired the land adjacent to the original McDowell Grove shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Army needed a secret installation site to test and develop its new radar technology. Camp McDowell was chosen as the site to train men in this new military science. During World War II, the camp housed half of the world's radar equipment under strict security.
Camp McDowell's period in DuPage County came to an end when the land was purchased by the District in 1946 as open space, when the federal government felt the facility was no longer needed for military purposes.
Accessibility
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