Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve

Distinguished by its peat bog ecosystem cradled by rolling upland woods, the 372-acre Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve is a relic of the glacial era and supports habitats uncommon this far south.

At 15,000 acres, the Palos Preserves in southwest Cook County are the largest concentration of preserved land in the Forest Preserves. Thanks to more than three decades of habitat restoration, they also hold some of the highest-quality natural areas in the county. These trails join many popular sites, such as the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Pulaski Woods, Saganashkee Slough and Maple Lake which is home to a mountain bike staging area that provides access to almost 40 miles of unpaved trails.