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| Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve | |
|---|---|
| Name | Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve |
| Location | DuPage County and Cook County, Illinois |
| Nearest city | Lemont, Darien, Downers Grove |
| Area | 2,492 acres |
| Established | 1950s |
| Governing body | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County |
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is a large wooded preserve in DuPage County and Cook County, Illinois notable for its glacial landforms, mixed hardwood forests, wetlands, and an iconic waterfall. The preserve is managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and serves as a regional destination for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, birdwatching, and environmental education. It lies near communities including Lemont, Illinois, Darien, Illinois, and Downers Grove, Illinois, and connects with regional corridors such as the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, Des Plaines River Trail, and Salt Creek Greenway.
Waterfall Glen is a diverse landscape featuring the Glen Ellyn Moraine, the Valparaiso Moraine, and remnants of the Wisconsin glaciation. The preserve includes the Prairie Bluff and the Argonne National Laboratory boundary, sits within the Des Plaines River watershed and the larger Illinois River basin, and interfaces with municipal parks like Herrick Lake Forest Preserve and Blackwell Forest Preserve. Prominent nearby institutions include Chicago State University, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Morton Arboretum, which collaborate on research and stewardship. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County implements plans that reference federal frameworks such as the National Environmental Policy Act and coordinates with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The region’s human history intersects with the Potawatomi and other Native American nations prior to European settlement, with trails later used during the era of the Illinois and Michigan Canal construction. European settlement brought families and land use changes tied to figures like Alexander Hamilton (New York)-era land systems in Illinois and agricultural expansion influenced by the Homestead Act. During the 19th and 20th centuries, rail lines such as the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and infrastructure projects connected nearby towns including Lemont, Illinois and Downers Grove, Illinois. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County acquired parcels in the mid-20th century, influenced by conservationists associated with organizations like the Illinois Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Modern stewardship has been shaped by conservation policy developments from entities such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.
The preserve’s terrain includes glacial till, kames, kettles, and the signature waterfall on a tributary to the Des Plaines River. Soils reflect the Noretown Series and other Midwestern profiles studied by the United States Department of Agriculture. Ecological communities range from oak-hickory forest with species typical of the Eastern Woodlands to mesic prairie restorations informed by research at institutions like the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and the Field Museum of Natural History. Fauna includes migratory birds tracked by the Audubon Society, mammals monitored through projects with the Chicago Zoological Society, amphibians surveyed in partnership with the Illinois Natural History Survey, and pollinators supported by programs from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The preserve is part of the Chicago Wilderness region and contributes to regional biodiversity goals along corridors connecting to Cook County Forest Preserves and Will County natural areas.
A popular 9.5-mile paved path circles the preserve and links with unpaved singletrack trails used by mountain bikers alongside equestrian bridleways used by stables from Will County and DuPage County. Trailheads are frequently accessed from roads such as Butterfield Road (Illinois) and 83rd Street, and amenities follow standards promoted by organizations like the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Outdoor programs include guided bird walks run in cooperation with the Audubon Society of Illinois, interpretive hikes supported by the Illinois Prairie Path advocates, cross-country ski grooming coordinated by local clubs, and orienteering events hosted by the Chicagoland Orienteering Club. Competitive events like trail races and cyclocross have been organized in partnership with regional athletic clubs linked to the Chicago Area Runners Association.
Key access points include parking lots and trailheads near Lemont, Illinois, Darien, Illinois, and Downers Grove, Illinois, with signage following guidelines from the Federal Highway Administration for wayfinding. The preserve contains equestrian staging areas, bike repair stations funded by local foundations such as the DuPage Foundation, and restrooms maintained under the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s operations. Public transportation connections involve commuter rail stations on lines operated by Metra and bus routes run by Pace (transit) serving nearby communities. Educational programs are offered in partnership with schools like Downers Grove North High School and environmental organizations including the Shedd Aquarium and the Lincoln Park Zoo for urban outreach.
Management is guided by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s comprehensive plan and aligns with conservation strategies advocated by groups like the Nature Conservancy, The Morton Arboretum, and the Openlands organization. Restoration methods include invasive species control consistent with protocols from the United States Geological Survey, prescribed burning coordinated with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and local fire districts, and native seeding informed by research at the Boyce Thompson Institute and university departments at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Monitoring and citizen science projects partner with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Illinois Natural History Survey to track species trends and habitat recovery. Funding sources combine public levies approved by DuPage County voters, grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, and private philanthropy.
The preserve serves as a community focal point for outdoor recreation, environmental education, and regional heritage interpretation linked to the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. Local friends groups and citizen volunteers collaborate with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and national nonprofits such as the Sierra Club and Keep America Beautiful to host stewardship days and festivals. Cultural programming has involved partnerships with arts organizations like the Morton Arboretum and community institutions including the Lemont Area Historical Society and the Downers Grove Museum. The preserve’s trails and natural areas contribute to public health initiatives promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health departments, and they form part of larger planning efforts coordinated with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
Category:Forest preserves of Illinois Category:Protected areas of DuPage County, Illinois Category:Protected areas of Cook County, Illinois