McDowell Grove Forest Preserve by Patricia Hayden
The main entrance to McDowell Grove is on the east side of Raymond Drive approximately 0.25 miles south of Diehl Road. The parking lot has ample parking as well as a portable washroom. I parked by the “Information” sign which informed me this area is a coyote habitat. A short distance from the information sign is a 25-person picnic shelter.
I chose to walk the Black Walnut trail which is approximately 1.2 miles. This trail is mostly a loop that connects with the West Branch DuPage River trail near the end to bring walkers back to the parking lot. Black Walnut is mostly turf and limestone and has several areas where the trail decreases in size to a single-track trail. There are a number of elevations and uneven spots to watch out for and the trail can get muddy if there’s been a recent rain.
This forest preserve has very easy to read trail markers interspersed along the route –very helpful since there are multiple trails. As I walked, the west branch of the DuPage River was on my left for a while. Boating is allowed in the river and can be accessed near the Fawell Dam (south of where I was walking). Fishing is allowed at Mud Lake (north of where I was walking).
I saw a few other walkers and bikers along my walk, but overall it was not crowded. In addition to several picnic benches I saw along the walk, I also spotted Brown-eyed susan, Tall goldenrod, Riverbank grape, Black walnut, and some very beautiful Staghorn sumac.
More information about the site can be found here: https://www.dupageforest.org/places-to-go/forest-preserves/mcdowell-grove.
This post is part of the “Take a Hike” series by Patricia Hayden. To learn more about this blog and see information about all other featured hikes click here.
To make it even more fun, we’re launching the Take-A-Hike Challenge!
The challenge is open to everyone. From May through October 2025, simply take the month’s featured hike whenever your schedule allows. Capture a photo of one of the points of interest mentioned in that month’s column, then either:
Post your photo on the Greater DuPage Wild Ones Facebook page, or
Email it to [email protected].
Each hike you complete will be recorded in our challenge log. All participants will be recognized at our Seed Exchange in November!
We hope this inspires you to lace up your shoes, hit the trails, and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.