The 1,149-acre Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in West Chicago offers trails, fishing, picnicking and is home to Kline Creek Farm, the Forest Preserve District's 1890s living history farm. It is the trailhead for the Great Western Trail and Illinois Prairie Path.
Timber Ridge consists of oak woodlands and savannas, restored and natural prairies, recreated wetlands and lakes. Spring Lake is one of only two natural lakes in the DuPage County Forest Preserve District and is not accessible by trails.
The preserve contains many other interesting natural features, including ephemeral ponds that are a haven for amphibians such as the northern leopard frog; rare and endangered plants; and colorful birds like scarlet tanagers and Baltimore orioles.
The main entrance is located at 1N600 County Farm Road. There are also two entrances along Prince Crossing Road, one 0.3 mile north of Geneva Road and another south of North Avenue just north of the West Branch DuPage River Trail.
Timber Ridge has 2 miles of trails for people on foot, bike, horseback or cross-country skis and is a trailhead for the Great Western Trail and Illinois Prairie Path. (Dogs, bikes and horses are not allowed within the Kline Creek Farm farmstead, though.)
An open-air picnic area is near the Timber Ridge Visitor Center, which has drinking fountains and restrooms.
Anglers can reach Timber Lake from the Kline Creek Farm parking lot on County Farm Road. A 0.5-mile crushed limestone footpath leads to the lake, which has largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish and crappie.
Anglers 16 or older who are not legally disabled must carry valid Illinois fishing licenses. Lake maps and regulations, including creel limits and minimum lengths, are on our Fishing page.
Kline Creek Farm offers educational programs including harvesting, canning, planting, maple sugaring and more. These programs are seasonal in nature and are available to school, youth and community groups. In the summer, the farm offers a unique, one-week day camp called Farmhands.
Kline Creek Farm is involved in a number of agricultural activities such as grain and hay production, caring for livestock such as Percheron workhorses, Southdown sheep, Shorthorn cattle, and chickens.
Depending on the season, a variety of activities take place at the 1890s farmhouse kitchen garden, like planting, weeding and harvesting. The produce grown in the garden is processed or canned in the summer kitchen.
The house and summer kitchen are available for guided tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily when the farm is open Thursday through Monday.
Before settlement, the preserve consisted of prairie and scattered woodlands. Many wooded areas survived into the 20th century, while the rest of the preserve was used for agriculture. Several home sites dotted the landscape.
The District began acquiring the preserve began in the mid-1960s and continued every decade through the 2010s.
The preserve is open daily from one hour after sunrise until one hour after sunset. Dogs must be on leashes under 10 feet long, and alcohol is prohibited. Read our Rules & Regulations.
Kline Creek Farm is open Thursday – Monday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and select holidays.
There's a suggested admission donation of $5 per person ages 3 and up to enter Kline Creek Farm.
Trail Map (PDF)
3S580 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
630-933-7200
forest@dupageforest.org
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Forest Preserve District is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. Contact 630-933-7683 or TTY 800-526-0857.