Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
2,814 acres13.7 mi of trail
Tear-Thumb TrailRocky Glen Trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Photo: Anonymous · CC BY-SA 4.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in Downers Grove Township
13% of Downers Grove Township’s land is conserved, and 99% of residents live within a half mile of a park
13% of Downers Grove Township’s land is conserved, about 4,240 acres. 51 miles of mapped trail cross Downers Grove Township, 1.0 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve (13.7 mi), Ty Warner Park (2.4 mi), Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve (2.2 mi).
Ahead of 93% of U.S. towns · #42 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Conserved land
13%
4,240 acres · of 49.7 sq mi of land
Trails
51 mi
1.0 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,854 ac
26 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
48 mi
5.5 mi lanes · 35 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
13
1 beach · 2 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Downers Grove Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Downers Grove Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Downers Grove Township is ahead of 93% of U.S. towns, #42 of 768 in Illinois. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; the share of residents near a park ranks highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Downers Grove Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land13% of the land · typical IL town 4% · U.S. 4%A−Trails1.0 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (51 mi) · IL 0.3 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land26 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,854 acres) · IL 15 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home99% of residents within a half mile of a park · IL 88% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 93%
LessMore
Illinois towns of 2,500+ (768)Ahead of 95%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Downers Grove Township ranks #48 on Outdoors.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, with 13.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
107 acres2.2 mi of trail
North LoopSouth Loop
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Harvester Park
Managed by Burr Ridge Park District
46 acres1.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
McCollum Park
Managed by Downers Grove Park District
49 acres1.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Whitlock Park
Managed by Downers Grove Park District
23 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 119 parks & preserves
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve2,814 acres · 13.7 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsTy Warner Park37 acres · 2.4 mi of trail
DirectionsOldfield Oaks Forest Preserve107 acres · 2.2 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsHarvester Park46 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Burr Ridge Park District
DirectionsDarien Community Park20 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMcCollum Park49 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsWhitlock Park23 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsTimberlake Park16 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsBurns Field Park7 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
Robbins Park21 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsOak Grove Park11 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Burr Ridge Park District
DirectionsBellerive Park8 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsWood Ridge Forest Preserve246 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsMaple Grove Forest Preserve69 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsHoopers Hollow Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
Ruth K. Powers Park9 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsLindenwood Park13 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsVeterans Memorial Park12 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsBirchwood Park8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
Highland Park5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Hinsdale Park District
DirectionsWaterford Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Patriots Park27 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsEbersold Park20 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsIde's Grove West Park13 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Woodridge Park District
Creekside Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Spring Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsSmart Oaks Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWillow Pond Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBurlington Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsDoerhoefer Park33 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsWestminster Park20 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Woodridge Park District
O'Brien Park17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
Smith Woods14 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsConcord Square Park12 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
Meyer Woods Park10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHosek Park8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Memorial Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsWashington Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsHolly Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
Stough Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBlackhawk Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Little Creek Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Constitution Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsFishel Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Downers Grove Park District
Directions2nd & Cumnor Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Bruce Lake Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Eleanor's Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMallard Landing Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Des Plaines Riverway Forest Preserve125 acres · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsFox Hollow Forest Preserve73 acres · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Tony and Florence Borse Memorial Community Park26 acres
DirectionsProspect Park25 acres
DirectionsSouth Grove Park #120 acres
DirectionsMilness Famey Memorial Park20 acres
DirectionsDiane Main Park18 acres
DirectionsWallingford Park15 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Dunham Place Park14 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Hummer Park11 acres · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsSouth Grove Park #211 acres
Mar-Duke Farm Park10 acres · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsPalisades Park10 acres · Burr Ridge Park District
DirectionsDeer Creek Park9 acres
McCullough Park9 acres · Burr Ridge Park District
DirectionsRutgers Park9 acres · Woodridge Park District
Hinsbrook Park8 acres
DirectionsRobert W Bernas Park8 acres
DirectionsVincente Natural Area7 acres · Woodridge Park District
Whittaker Park7 acres · Burr Ridge Park District
DirectionsLions Park7 acres · Westmont Park District
DirectionsLee and Grant Park6 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Ridgewood Park6 acres
Ide's Grove East Park6 acres · Woodridge Park District
Gilbert Park6 acres
DirectionsPinewood Park6 acres
Stevens Park6 acres
DirectionsPrairie Trail Park5 acres
Park Avenue Park5 acres
Stonewall & Concord Park5 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Darien Eisenhower Field5 acres
Randall Park4 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Muddy Waters Park4 acres · Westmont Park District
Mertz Memorial Park4 acres
Carroll Park4 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Williams Cove Park3 acres
Hinsdale Community Swimming Pool3 acres
DirectionsKraml Park3 acres · Burr Ridge Park District
Sunshine Park3 acres
DirectionsNed Bell Park3 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Citizens Park3 acres · Burr Ridge Park District
Melin Park3 acres
DirectionsSterling North Park2 acres
Walker Park2 acres · Clarendon Hills Park District
DirectionsFritz Werley Park2 acres · Westmont Park District
DirectionsMidway Park2 acres · Village of Willowbrook
DirectionsZimmerman Park2 acres · Golfview Hills Park District
Sentinel Park2 acres
DirectionsGarden View Park2 acres · Darien Park District
DirectionsEastern Park2 acres
Rotary Park2 acres
Prince Park2 acres · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsBowl Park2 acres
Maple & Sherman Park2 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Black Partridge Woods Nature Preserve1 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Chestnut Park1 acres
Liberty Park1 acres
DirectionsBHA Park1 acres
Dietz Park1 acres
Brookeridge Lake Park1 acres
Blodgett & Elmwood Park1 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Directions62nd & Brookbank Park1 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Wiseman Park1 acres · Golfview Hills Park District
Lebeck Park1 acres · Westmont Park District
DirectionsWeber Park1 acres
Directions62nd & Carpenter Park1 acres · Downers Grove Park District
Ide's Legacy Park1 acres · Woodridge Park District
Ehret Park1 acres
DirectionsSomerset Park1 acres · Woodridge Park District
Kiwanis Park1 acres · Westmont Park District
Internationale Estates Park1 acres · Woodridge Park District
Who protects it
4,240 conserved acres
13% of Downers Grove Township’s land. Who manages Downers Grove Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Regional agency3,986 ac
Town or city248 ac
State conservation75 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits11 ac
Private owners3 ac
Local Conservation Area · 3,017 acLocal Park · 762 acUnknown · 195 acLocal Other or Unknown · 160 acConservation Easement · 99 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 18 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 2 of 135 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfall Glen Local Conservation Area | Regional agency | 2,706 | Open |
| Wood Ridge 1 Local Conservation Area | Regional agency | 231 | Restricted |
| Oldfield Oaks 1 Local Other or Unknown | Regional agency | 94 | Unknown |
| Des Plaines Riverway Unknown | Regional agency | 85 | Open |
| Maple Grove 1 Local Conservation Area | Regional agency | 80 | Restricted |
| Fox Hollow 1 Local Other or Unknown | Regional agency | 55 | Unknown |
| Mccollum Local Park | Regional agency | 49 | Open |
| Green Meadows Golf Course State Conservation Area | Regional agency | 42 | Open |
| Harvester Park Local Park | Regional agency | 39 | Open |
| Ty Warner Park Local Park | Regional agency | 36 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
182 places to go in Downers Grove Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Downers Grove Township
Westman Beach
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Downers Grove Township
954In Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
DirectionsSt Mark Church Playground
DirectionsTy Warner Spray ParkIn Ty Warner Park
DirectionsWillow Pond PlaygroundIn Willow Pond Park
Directions159 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Downers Grove Township
Oldfield Oaks Dog ParkIn Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve
DirectionsOldfield Oaks Dog ParkIn Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve
DirectionsPlus 1 dog park without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Boat launches in Downers Grove Township
2 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Fishing spots in Downers Grove Township
1 fishing spot without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Downers Grove Township
Canyon Creek CascadeIn Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
DirectionsCanyon Creek FallsIn Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
DirectionsSawmill Creek WaterfallIn Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
DirectionsScenic views in Downers Grove Township
Des Plaines River Scenic OverlookIn Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
DirectionsSEPA Station weirs
DirectionsSawmill Creek Bluff OverlookIn Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
DirectionsPlus 1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Peaks in Downers Grove Township
Signal HillIn Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
DirectionsPicnic areas in Downers Grove Township
7 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Disc golf in Downers Grove Township
O'Brien Park Disc GolfIn O'Brien Park · Downers Grove Park District
DirectionsTrails & water
8 named trails and 13 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 7.6 miHorses · 1.8 miUnpaved · 19.2 mi
Tear-Thumb Trail1.2 mi
North Loop1.1 mi
South Loop0.6 mi
RIdgemoor Park Path0.3 mi
Willow Pond walking path0.2 mi
Rocky Glen Trail0.2 mi
Eastern Shoreline Foot Path0.2 mi
Ridgemoor Park Path0.1 mi
Biking & sports
48 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
5.5 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
35 mi
off-road bike paths
7.9 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Illinois and Michigan Canal TrailBike route
0.8 miCourts & fields
130Tennis
87Baseball
51Basketball
34Soccer
34Pickleball
12Volleyball
9Football
8Beach volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Downers Grove Township: April, July and September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 35 | 47 | 60 | 71 | 81 | 84 | 82 | 76 | 63 | 48 | 36 |
| Rain (in) | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
February is the driest month (1.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.6 inches fall in May, the wettest month. The climate in Downers Grove Township →
Next door
Downers Grove Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Lemont Township53 miLisle Township51 miDowners Grove Township51 miYork Township34 miLyons Township27 miDowners Grove13 miWestmont9.1 miWillow Springs1.4 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downers Grove Township | 13% | 1.0 | 26 | 99% | A |
| Lemont Township | 3% | 2.6 | 9 | 88% | B+ |
| York Township | 6% | 1.0 | 11 | 94% | A− |
| Lisle Township | 11% | 1.4 | 19 | 96% | A |
| Willow Springs | 1% | 0.3 | 6 | 95% | B− |
| Downers Grove | 10% | 0.9 | 13 | 97% | A |
| Lyons Township | 3% | 0.8 | 7 | 98% | B+ |
| Westmont | 6% | 1.8 | 9 | 99% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Downers Grove Township
Where can I hike in Downers Grove Township?
The longest trail networks: Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, 13.7 miles; Ty Warner Park, 2.4 miles; Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve, 2.2 miles; Harvester Park, 1.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Downers Grove Township is conserved land?
13% of its land, against a typical 4% for an Illinois town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Downers Grove Township’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Downers Grove Township?
48 miles of bike routes are on the map: 5.5 of painted or protected lanes, 35 of off-road paths and 7.9 of shoulders and shared lanes. Named routes: Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail.
Is there public land near Downers Grove Township?
23,817 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Downers Grove Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,931 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Downers Grove Township have?
Ahead of 93% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #42 of 768 in Illinois. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Downers Grove Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →