Overview
Wood Dale Grove is comprised of an upland forest, a natural wet prairie, ephemeral ponds, and wetlands, which are home to owls, deer, amphibians, and other forms of wildlife — some rare — as well as rare plants. It is a rest stop for many avian migrants, such as common loons, yellow-rumped warblers, and ruby-crowned kinglets, and a nesting area for hooded warblers, black-cuckoos, and blue-gray gnatcatchers.
An upland savanna in the northern section of the forest preserve is home to native spring perennials like jack-in-the-pulpits, spring beauties, rue anemones, trout lilies and red trilliums.
A 0.5-mile limestone trail encircles Grove Lake; a second 0.5-mile limestone trail curves through restored woodlands on the northern part of the preserve. Both offer scenic journeys for hikers, bicyclists and cross-country skiers.