Dan Ryan Woods

Dan Ryan Woods is one of the few forest preserves located within the city of Chicago, offering 257 acres of green space on the South Side. A popular destination for families and community gatherings, the preserve features playfields, picnic groves, a sledding hill, and a paved trail—making it a welcoming spot for recreation year-round. In addition to its role as a gathering place, Dan Ryan Woods is home to a diverse array of native plants, wildlife, and migratory birds.

The preserve also serves as the northern gateway to the Major Taylor Trail, named in honor of the African-American bicycle racer and civil rights advocate. This paved, multi-use trail begins at the eastern edge of the northernmost parking lot and extends for about 1.5 miles along the edge of the preserve to 91st Street. From there, the trail continues southeast for another 5.5 miles—partially routed on city streets between 95th and 105th—before eventually connecting to Whistler Woods, just south of the Little Calumet River.