McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

McDowell Grove has mature woodlands, open fields with eastern bluebirds and Cooper’s hawks, and a floodplain forest with towering butternuts and black maples. A restored 3-mile stretch of the West Branch DuPage River flows naturally and provides improved habitat for a variety of aquatic wildlife. The preserve also has nearly seven miles of trails and two reservable picnic shelters and areas. McDowell Grove’s maples put on a spectacular show of colors in the fall.