Fischer Woods

Fischer Woods Forest Preserve in Bensenville is a 148-acre patchwork of prairie, meadow, wetland, woodlands and swamps. The preserve features several rare plants, including maidenhair fern, winterberry and dozens sedges. It also features Fischer Farm, one of the county's oldest remaining homesteads where the Bensenville Park District hosts programs and events.

Natural Scene

A 100-year-old wet upland forest with calm, ponded areas offers chance sightings of elusive white-tailed deer, coyotes and minks and provides an abundance of fall colors courtesy of mature maples, elms, red and white oaks, and basswoods. 

Because of these diverse habitats, the forest preserve hosts a variety of birds, including long-eared owls, common nighthawks, common gallinules, Wilson’s snipes and other state and regionally rare species. Ecologists have also recorded southern flying squirrels, muskrats, red foxes, masked shrews, red-bellied snakes, and over 100 types of butterflies, moths and dragonflies here.

Driving Directions

Fischer Woods is on Church Road, one block north of Grand Avenue and 0.75 mile east of Route 83. The parking lot is on Old Grand Avenue in front of the farmhouse.

Trails

Fischer Woods is undeveloped, but if you're adventurous you can explore the forest preserve on foot via unmarked footpaths and deer trails.

History

Fischer Farm is believed to be one of the oldest remaining homesteads in DuPage County. The Fischers established the home around 1838, and the Forest Preserve District acquired the land in a series of purchases between 1937 and 2015.