Seasonal Amenities Access

Seasonal Amenities Access

DuPage forest preserves are open daily from one hour after sunrise until one hour after sunset, unless otherwise posted. 

The Forest Preserve District closes some forest preserve parking lots, amenities and areas for the winter season, December 1, 2019 ‒ February 29, 2020. All areas are scheduled to reopen on March 1, 2020, weather permitting. These lots, areas and latrines are inaccessible not only for safety reasons but also to accommodate snow and ice removal and trail grooming at our most frequented areas. This seasonal plan also allows us to open off-leash dog areas and winter-activity areas as soon as safely possible to best serve forest preserve visitors.   

Portable latrines are available all winter season at the following locations:

• Blackwell's winter-activity parking lot near Mount Hoy
• Churchill Woods' central parking lot
• Greene Valley's off-leash dog area parking lot
• Salt Creek Park's main parking lot.

The following parking lots, amenities and areas are unavailable December 1, 2019 ‒ February 29, 2020. (Mild weather conditions may result in extended availability at some areas.)

Blackwell

• Road system will be closed starting at the Family Campground entrance (East Shelter and Hawthorne Grove) 
• Beginner and interactive archery ranges
• Silver Lake boat launch area and parking lot
• Latrines at Hawthorne Grove 
• Latrines near east shelter

Churchill Woods

• Crescent parking lot closed; central and shelter lots remain open
• Shelter latrines 
• Portable latrine

Cricket Creek

• Model boat parking lot
• Fullerton Ave. main parking lot remains open

Fullersburg Woods

• Riverbend trail latrines

Fullerton Park

• Portable latrine
• Model helicopter lot closed

Greene Valley

• Northern area of north parking lot
• Latrines at Greene Valley North parking lot

Herrick Lake

• West lot of Butterfield Road Main lot with snow piles and barricades
• Herrick Road South lot after first snowfall, areas will be blocked off with snow piles and barricades

McDowell Grove

• Southern area of main parking lot (after the first snow-plowing event)
• Back lot

Pratt’s Wayne Woods

• Back parking lots and roads (youth camping accessible via Powis Road)
• Special-use parking lot east of Powis Road (accessible only to special-use permits or contracts as needed)
• New Model Airfield after first snowfall, back half blocked with snow piles

Salt Creek Park

• Northern area of parking lot
• Latrines

Spring Creek Reservoir

• Eastern half of the main parking lot
• Winter recreational activities (sledding, ice fishing, ice skating, etc.) are prohibited due to fluctuating water levels within the reservoir

St. James Farm

• Parking lot off Hoy Ave.; use entrance at Winfield Road 

West Branch

• Main lot after first snowfall, north half of lot will be blocked with snow piles
• Fair Oaks parking lot

West Chicago Prairie

• West Chicago Prairie parking lot
• To access West Chicago Prairie by foot, park at Reed-Keppler Park and walk across the bridge at the Prairie Path; park hours may not be the same as preserve hours
• Portable latrine

West DuPage Woods

• West half of parking lot area blocked after first snow-plowing event
• Park in eastern area of lot

Wood Dale Grove

• North parking lot area
• North latrine

York Woods

• North parking lot
• Portable latrines