Reservable Areas
Family Camping
Blackwell Forest Preserve's family campground offers campers a choice of locations in wooded and semi-wooded sites. Of the 60 sites available, about half are suitable for motor homes and trailers.
Each campsite includes a gravel parking pad, fire grill and picnic table. Latrines, shower building with flush toilets, water pumps, refuse and recycling containers are also within easy walking distance. Some sites offer electricity for an additional fee. Firewood can be purchased at the campground entrance. The preserve also features boating, fishing and hiking.
Family campsites allow a maximum of eight people per site and two tents per site.
The campground is open weekends only May through mid-October. Additional nights are available during holiday weekends. For more information, visit our camping page.
Youth Camping
The District offers a variety of sites for youth groups to camp. Organized youth groups are defined as follows: organized with by-laws; have Articles of Incorporation on file with the Secretary of State; insured on forest preserve property; leaders must be 21 or older; youths must be 17 or under; and groups must maintain a leader/youth ratio of 1:10 for the duration of their stay. The campgrounds are semi-private camping areas for tent camping only. Fire rings, picnic tables and a limited supply of firewood are available at all sites. Campsites have latrines, refuse and recycling containers and water pumps nearby. For more information, visit our camping page.
| Preserve | Site/Area | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwell | Sites 1 through 12 | 25 each |
| Churchill Woods | Site 1 Site 2 | 25 each 50 each |
| Greene Valley | Site 1 Sites 2 through 9 Site 10 | 100 25 each 75 |
| Herrick Lake | Youth Group Cabin | 26 |
| Pratt's Wayne Woods | Sites 1 & 2 | 25 each |
| Waterfall Glen (may be used as an education camp) | Sites 1 & 2 | 25 each |
Picnicking
The following preserves offer reservable picnic areas ranging from 25- to 300-person capacities. Built-in grills and electricity are available at some shelter areas. Alcohol is prohibited in all forest preserves.
| Preserve | Shelter Capacity | Area Capacity |
|---|---|---|
|
Blackwell North shelter (small) ** South shelter (small) * East shelter (small) * West shelter (small) Large picnic area |
50 50 50 50 |
100 100 100 100 300 |
|
Churchill Woods East shelter (large) * Central picnic area West picnic area |
100 |
100 50 50 |
|
Cricket Creek Central shelter (small) |
50 |
50 |
|
Greene Valley West shelter (small) East shelter (small) |
50 50 |
100 100 |
|
Herrick Lake East shelter (large) ** West picnic area South picnic area South shelter |
100 150 100 50 |
100 150 100 50 |
|
Mallard Lake Shelter (small) |
50 |
50 |
|
McDowell Grove Central picnic area North shelter (small) |
25 |
150 25 |
|
Pratt's Wayne Woods Upper shelter (large) * |
100 |
100 |
|
Salt Creek Park North shelter (large) |
100 |
100 |
|
Songbird Slough Shelter (small) |
50 |
50 |
|
Spring Creek Reservoir South shelter (small) |
50 |
50 |
|
Wood Dale Grove North shelter (small) South shelter (small) |
50 50 |
100 100 |
|
York Woods South shelter (large) * |
100 |
100 |
* = Built-in Grill, ** = Electricity & Built-in Grill
Special Use Areas
| Preserve | Activity |
|---|---|
| Blackwell | Off-leash dog area Dog sledding area |
| Cricket Creek | Model boat area |
| East Branch | Dog water training area |
| Fullerton Park | Model helicopter field |
| Mallard Lake | Off-leash dog area |
| Mayslake | Off-leash dog area |
| Pratt's Wayne Woods | Model aircraft field Off-leash dog area |
| Springbrook Prairie | Model aircraft field Off-leash dog area |
General Information
Reservations can be made by mail or in person at the District headquarters in Wheaton, or by phone using a Visa or Mastercard. Cash, check, Visa/MC can be used for in-person and mail-in reservations. All reservations for reservable areas must be made at least 3 business days in advance. Holiday weekend reservations should be planned several months ahead to avoid disappointment. Fees are not refundable. Reservation changes are subject to two week's notice and a $5 fee.
For detailed information on any reservable area, call (630) 933-7248 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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