Allison Woods

At River Trail Nature Center in Allison Woods, part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, visitors can walk through sugar maple woods along the river on self-guiding trails, learn about the past and present in the exhibit building, and visit a few native animals. This location also features accessible picnic shelters, making it a welcoming spot for all visitors to enjoy nature comfortably.

For the benefit of recreation and conservation, the Lake and Cook County Forest Preserve Districts have protected long stretches of the Des Plaines River by developing a Des Plaines River greenway and bike path along its banks. The trail is a natural oasis within a short drive of Chicago and its northern suburbs. Having such a long, lush trail just outside of such a densely populated urban area is truly a wonderful asset to the surrounding community.

Together, the forest preserve districts are implementing a plan to link all the forest preserves with a regional greenway trail and have developed and promoted the recreational use of the river by creating canoe launch sites along the northern and middle sections of the river.