Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County We are a nationally recognized conservation agency that connects people to nature. Programs at six centers serve over 80,000 participants each year.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County owns and manages more than 60+ forest preserves made up of 26,000 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Each year, more than 6.2 million visitors enjoy the 166 miles of trails and preserves that offer a variety of scenic views and leisure activities.

Help shape the future of two popular forest preserves! We're working to develop the master plans for Fullersburg Woods a...
06/10/2026

Help shape the future of two popular forest preserves! We're working to develop the master plans for Fullersburg Woods and Mayslake. Take our brief surveys to share your input and plan on attending an in-person meeting to learn more.

Fullersburg Public Meeting
Tuesday, June 16
6 – 8 p.m.
Mayslake Peabody Estate, Library
Learn more https://www.dupageforest.org/projects-fullersburg-woods-master-plan

Mayslake Public Meeting
Tuesday, June 23
6 – 8 p.m.
Mayslake Peabody Estate, Library
Learn more https://www.dupageforest.org/projects-mayslake-master-plan

06/04/2026

The babies are in the house! The Great Plains Mudbug eggs have started hatching at the Urban Stream Research Center, and the young are keeping mom busy. They will hang out on mom for a few days to a week after hatching, as mom provides great protection and makes sure they have plenty of oxygenated water by continually fanning them. Within days they’ll be moving off of mom and exploring the world on their own for the next year, at which point they’ll be released back into the wild to help augment habitat for the federally endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly.

See juvenile crayfish clinging to and climbing on mom. The floating material in the video is food and other particulates stirred up by mom as she fans the young and moves around.

The babies are in the house! The Great Plains Mudbug eggs have started hatching at the Urban Stream Research Center, and...
06/04/2026

The babies are in the house! The Great Plains Mudbug eggs have started hatching at the Urban Stream Research Center, and the young are keeping mom busy. They will hang out on mom for a few days to a week after hatching, as mom provides great protection and makes sure they have plenty of oxygenated water by continually fanning them. Within days they’ll be moving off of mom and exploring the world on their own for the next year, at which point they’ll be released back into the wild to help augment habitat for the federally endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly.

Photo shows juvenile crayfish clinging to and climbing on mom. The floating material in the photo is food and other particulates stirred up by mom as she fans the young and moves around.

🚧 Heads up, folks! On Wednesday, June 3, the Woodchuck Way trail that connects the parking lot to the Coyote Loop trail ...
06/02/2026

🚧 Heads up, folks! On Wednesday, June 3, the Woodchuck Way trail that connects the parking lot to the Coyote Loop trail at Willowbrook Forest Preserve will be closed. Crews will be repaving the asphalt. As always, work is weather dependent. Thank you for your patience while we make improvements!

Congrats to our Finance Department! 🏆The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been awarded the Popular Annual F...
05/28/2026

Congrats to our Finance Department! 🏆

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been awarded the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA of the US & Canada). Learn more about this impressive achievement here https://www.gfoa.org/pafr-award

🚧 Heads up, folks! On Wednesday, June 3, the Greene Valley off-leash dog area will be closed until 2 p.m. Crews will be ...
05/27/2026

🚧 Heads up, folks! On Wednesday, June 3, the Greene Valley off-leash dog area will be closed until 2 p.m. Crews will be resurfacing the trail. As always, work is weather dependent. Thank you for your patience while we make improvements!

Happy World Turtle Day! Watch out while driving on the roads from April through October when turtles are most active. St...
05/23/2026

Happy World Turtle Day! Watch out while driving on the roads from April through October when turtles are most active. Stay alert, follow the speed limit, and be prepared to brake if you see one of these slow moving reptiles.

Turtles, such as the state-endangered Blanding's turtle, can be long lived, so the loss of even one mother to a road collision can cause ripple effects in the population for decades to come. Every egg counts when it comes to saving an endangered species.

Learn more here https://www.dupageforest.org/turtle-crossing-season-2026

These Blanding’s turtles are ready to face life in the wild! By raising them in captivity over the winter with the help ...
05/22/2026

These Blanding’s turtles are ready to face life in the wild! By raising them in captivity over the winter with the help of our dedicated volunteers, the Forest Preserve has increased their odds of survival dramatically. This helps boost the overall population of these state-endangered turtles in our region.

🚧 Heads up, folks! The McKee Marsh parking lot at Blackwell Forest Preserve will be CLOSED May 26 – 29. Crews will be in...
05/22/2026

🚧 Heads up, folks! The McKee Marsh parking lot at Blackwell Forest Preserve will be CLOSED May 26 – 29. Crews will be installing water and sanitary sewers for the District's new Grounds and Natural Resources Management and Maintenance Campus. As always, work is weather dependent.

Address

3S580 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL
60189

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+16309337200

Website

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