Returning to McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
June 2024
McDowell Grove, A Hidden Oasis in Naperville
During our stay in Naperville, I enjoyed a couple of walks through McDowell Grove Forest Preserve, which was just a mile from our hotel. I had been here a few times back when we lived in the area, and it still looked beautiful and remarkably familiar.
This 465-acre preserve offers nearly seven miles of trails that wind through a diverse, changing landscape. I walked along a serene pond, past an open wildflower field, and through an oak woodland and low floodplain forest along the water. For an even longer hike, the trails also conveniently connect through a green corridor all the way to the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville.
The West Branch of the DuPage River is essential to the preserve. In 2006, three miles of the river were restored, removing old barriers and allowing the water to flow naturally. Walking here, I could see that the restoration has really paid off. Today, this preserve is a thriving wildlife habitat that offers a welcoming escape from the crowded suburbs and busy roads for both wildlife and humans alike.
