Spotlight on Maple Grove

Nestled between two baseball fields, Avery Coonley School, and residential homes, Maple Grove in Downers Grove is easy to overlook. Located just a half mile west of the downtown area, this 81-acre forest preserve is a truly hidden gem. Managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Maple Grove is beautiful no matter the time of year, but winter is an especially magical season here.  

Deer are a common sight, and if you listen closely, you may hear the resident great horned owls hooting softly. Winter is an active season in the forest preserve as rodents run across the top of the snow in search of food, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a flash of red as a fox runs past in pursuit of mice. Mating season for coyotes is about to begin, so you may see their paw prints running in a straight line through the woods. Birds are abundant, and the sound of hammering echoes as woodpeckers search for bugs in dead trees. St. Joseph’s Creek winds through the northern section of the woods; a beaver dam is located on a private resident’s property, but its occupants can sometimes be seen swimming in the creek.

Getting Around

Maple Grove is a popular destination for dog walkers. In addition to the one mile of limestone path that stretches in a Y from the baseball fields to the Denburn Woods subdivision, there are a few “unofficial” paths that meander for another mile or so, allowing you to customize your walk. You can even wander through the woods if you want a more solitary experience.

Accessible by car from both Gilbert Park and Memorial Park, there is plenty of parking. You’ll have to bring your own poop bags, but garbage cans are available in both parking lots. The south lot has a port-a-potty and the north lot has permanent toilets on the east side of the playground. 

Park Safety

The main limestone trails are kept in good condition, but the side trails are not maintained, have a lot of trip hazards, and aren’t as well-traveled. If you’re concerned about safety, stick to the main trails. While the preserve isn’t bustling, it’s busy enough that if you twist your ankle, help will be along in a matter of minutes. Even if you leave the trail, it’s impossible to get lost in Maple Grove – all you have to do is walk in a somewhat straight line for about two minutes to find a trail or Maple Avenue. Otherwise, use common sense that you’d use in any forest preserve. Carry a cell phone and a bottle of water. 

Be aware that like most forest preserves, there are people who don’t follow the rules and have their dogs off-leash, so if your dog is reactive, steer clear of off-leash dogs. Coyotes are another reason to follow the rules and keep your dog leashed. They often get a bad rap, but they mostly prefer to stay hidden and are generally harmless as long as you keep your dog on a leash. They have a good supply of rabbits, squirrels, and other rodents, but will be interested in pursuing an off-leash dog, especially if that pup gets too close to their den. However, if a coyote does approach you, make yourself seem bigger and get loud, and they will run away. If you have a smaller dog, pick it up until the coyote is gone, just in case it proves too tempting for a young and inexperienced coyote. Don’t let our warnings about coyotes deter you – sightings are rare. We just want you to be prepared!

Final Thoughts

Volunteers cut down invasive species like buckthorn and honeysuckle two weekends a month from October to May, so if you’d like to get involved, be sure to check out the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s calendar for upcoming workdays.

If you’re looking for a peaceful winter walk, Maple Grove is the perfect destination. Be sure to follow all preserve rules, especially keeping your dog leashed. If you visit, be sure to let us at Floofins know what you think!

Vital Info

• South (Main) Parking: East side of Memorial Park, 1602 Maple Avenue
• North Parking: West side of Gilbert Park, 1500 Gilbert Avenue
• Preserve Hours: dawn to dusk