Arie Crown Forest
Managed by Forest Preserve District of Cook County
394 acres4.1 mi of trail
Yellow Unpaved TrailBlack Unpaved TrailOrange Unpaved TrailBlue Unpaved Spur Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0B+Outdoors
Outdoors in Lyons Township
98% of residents live within a half mile of a park in Lyons Township
The biggest trail networks: Arie Crown Forest (4.1 mi), Buffalo Woods (1.1 mi), Theodore Stone Forest Preserve (0.9 mi). 27 miles of mapped trail cross Lyons Township, 0.8 per square mile of land. 781 acres are parks and preserves, 6.9 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 67% of U.S. towns · #337 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Conserved land
3%
671 acres · of 36.4 sq mi of land
Trails
27 mi
0.8 per sq mi of land
Park land
781 ac
6.9 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
98%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
16 mi
15 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
6
2 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Lyons Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Lyons Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Lyons Township is ahead of 67% of U.S. towns, #337 of 768 in Illinois. The share of residents near a park holds the grade up; park acres per resident pull it down.
B+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Lyons Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land3% of the land · typical IL town 4% · U.S. 4%B−Trails0.8 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (27 mi) · IL 0.3 · U.S. 0.4B+Park land6.9 acres of park per 1,000 residents (781 acres) · IL 15 · U.S. 13C+Parks close to home98% 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 67%
LessMore
Illinois towns of 2,500+ (768)Ahead of 56%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Lyons Township ranks #286 on Outdoors.
Park acres per resident are where Lyons Township trails most U.S. towns: 6.9 per 1,000 against 12.6 typical, since 112,345 people share 781 acres.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to 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 Arie Crown Forest, with 4.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Buffalo Woods
Managed by Forest Preserve District of Cook County
233 acres1.1 mi of trail
Brown Unpaved Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Theodore Stone Forest Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of Cook County
137 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Summit Park
Managed by Summit Park District
57 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Walker Park
Managed by Pleasantdale Park District
45 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Spring Rock Park
Managed by Western Springs Park District
47 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Bedford Park
Managed by Bedford Park District
36 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 81 parks & preserves
Arie Crown Forest394 acres · 4.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsBuffalo Woods233 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsTheodore Stone Forest Preserve137 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsSummit Park57 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Summit Park District
DirectionsWalker Park45 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Pleasantdale Park District
DirectionsPrairie View Park19 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsSpring Rock Park47 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsBedford Park36 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Bedford Park District
DirectionsCommissioners Park19 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Bridgeview Park District
DirectionsCountryside Park12 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsChicago Portage National Historic Site40 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsEhlert Park35 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSedgwick Park22 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Park District of La Grange
DirectionsVeterans Park14 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsDenning Park9 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsHodgkins Park7 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Hodgkins Park District
DirectionsIdeal Park7 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBlackhawk Park6 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsSoehrman Park7 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Gilbert Park6 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsWest Field11 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Lyons Township High School District 204
Wierzba Park7 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Bridgeview Park District
DirectionsWaiola Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsKubicki Park3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Hodgkins Park District
DirectionsVeeck Park16 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Hinsdale Park District
DirectionsBrook Park8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSmith Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsFedor Memorial Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Bridgeview Park District
DirectionsTower Green1 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsOttawa Trail Woods South100 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsOttawa Trail Woods North58 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsKatherine Legge Memorial Park51 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Village of Hinsdale
DirectionsStoney Ford Woods33 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsArgo Park22 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Summit Park District
DirectionsGordon Park16 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Park District of La Grange
DirectionsSanta Fe Prairie16 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
Clark Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Western Springs Park District
Lenzi Avenue Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsAndrew Whiting Memorial Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsColumbia Woods72 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsCermak Woods60 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsWhite Eagle Woods South32 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsPlank Road Meadow21 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsWhite Eagle Woods North10 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsLake Carriage Way Park10 acres
Peirce Park10 acres · Hinsdale Park District
DirectionsMillette Memorial Park7 acres · Bridgeview Park District
DirectionsSpringdale Park7 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsFounders Park6 acres
DirectionsLions Park6 acres
Field Park6 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsJohn Husar I&M Canal5 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsSereda Park5 acres · Western Springs Park District
Timber Trails Park5 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsCity Park5 acres
DirectionsForest Hills Park4 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsRidgewood Park4 acres · Western Springs Park District
Laidlaw Park4 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsWestern Springs Service Club4 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsWhispering Willow Park4 acres · Hodgkins Park District
White Buffalo Park3 acres · Pleasant Dale Park District
DirectionsHealing Waters Park3 acres
Hanover Park3 acres · Summit Park District
DirectionsWoods Pool3 acres · Burr Ridge Park District
DirectionsRidge Acres Park3 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsLegion Park2 acres · Summit Park District
Urlich Park2 acres · Bridgeview Park District
Garywood Park2 acres · Burr Ridge Park District
Elm Park2 acres
Bemis Woods Preserve1 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsWillow Springs Woods1 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsMemorial Park1 acres
DirectionsWillow Park1 acres
Spring Ave Park1 acres
Larry Robb Park1 acres
DirectionsSavoy Park1 acres
Santa Fe Park1 acres
Srejma-Michalek Memorial Tot Lot1 acres
Veterans Memorial Park1 acres · Western Springs Park District
DirectionsStone Park1 acres
DirectionsCountry Club Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
671 conserved acres
3% of Lyons Township’s land. Who manages Lyons Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Regional agency339 ac
Town or city313 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits14 ac
State conservation11 ac
Local Park · 637 acUnknown · 15 acState Conservation Area · 14 acConservation Easement · 11 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Park Local Park | Town or city | 67 | Open |
| Katherine Legge Memorial Park Local Park | Town or city | 53 | Open |
| Walker Park Local Park | Regional agency | 45 | Open |
| Spring Rock Park Local Park | Regional agency | 41 | Open |
| Community Park Local Park | Regional agency | 38 | Open |
| Ehlert Park Local Park | Town or city | 33 | Open |
| Indian Gardens Park Local Park | Town or city | 29 | Open |
| Commissioners Park Local Park | Town or city | 28 | Open |
| Justice Park District Local Park | Regional agency | 26 | Open |
| Sedgwick Park Local Park | Regional agency | 22 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
141 places to go in Lyons Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Lyons Township
111 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Lyons Township
Large Dog ParkIn Lions Park
DirectionsOff-Leash Dog AreaHours: Apr-Oct 06:00-10:00,18:00-21:00; Nov-Mar 06:00-10:00;16:00-20:00 · In Katherine Legge Memorial Park
DirectionsSmall Dog ParkIn Lions Park
DirectionsPlus 1 dog park without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Boat launches in Lyons Township
2 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Scenic views in Lyons Township
Des Plaines River
DirectionsFlagg Creek RapidsIn Walker Park
DirectionsPicnic areas in Lyons Township
Arie Crown Forest Picnic Shelter Grove 3In Arie Crown Forest
DirectionsBuffalo Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 2In Buffalo Woods
DirectionsBuffalo Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 3In Buffalo Woods
DirectionsBuffalo Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 4In Buffalo Woods
DirectionsCermak Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 1In Cermak Woods
DirectionsColumbia Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 1In Columbia Woods
DirectionsKatherine Pavilion - North Picnic ShelterIn Katherine Legge Memorial Park
DirectionsOttawa Trail Woods Picnic Grove 1In Ottawa Trail Woods South
Directions10 more picnic areas
Ottawa Trail Woods Picnic Grove 3In Ottawa Trail Woods North
DirectionsOttawa Trail Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 2In Ottawa Trail Woods North
DirectionsSouth Picnic ShelterIn Katherine Legge Memorial Park
DirectionsSundown Meadow Picnic Grove 3In Arie Crown Forest
DirectionsSundown Meadow Picnic Shelter Grove 1In Arie Crown Forest
DirectionsSundown Meadow Picnic Shelter Grove 2In Arie Crown Forest
DirectionsTheodore Stone Forest Picnic Grove 2In Theodore Stone Forest Preserve
DirectionsTheodore Stone Forest Picnic Shelter Grove 1In Theodore Stone Forest Preserve
DirectionsWhite Eagle Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 1In White Eagle Woods North
DirectionsWhite Eagle Woods Picnic Shelter Grove 2In White Eagle Woods South
DirectionsPlus 3 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Lyons Township
Peirce Park Community GardenFee · In Peirce Park · Hinsdale Parks and Recreation
DirectionsTrails & water
7 named trails and 6 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 5.2 miHorses · 1.1 miUnpaved · 7.0 mi
Yellow Unpaved Trail2.3 mi
Brown Unpaved Trail0.9 mi
Black Unpaved Trail0.8 mi
Salt Creek Greenway Black Unpaved Trail0.6 mi
Orange Unpaved Trail0.3 mi
West Field Track0.3 mi
Blue Unpaved Spur Trail0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
16 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
15 mi
off-road bike paths
0.8 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Arie Crown Forest Unpaved TrailsBike route
3.4 miSalt Creek TrailBike route
0.6 miCourts & fields
87Tennis
80Baseball
43Basketball
39Soccer
27Pickleball
7Football
5Skate park
4Beach volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Lyons 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) | 32 | 36 | 47 | 60 | 71 | 81 | 84 | 83 | 76 | 63 | 49 | 37 |
| Rain (in) | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.6 inches fall in May, the wettest month. The climate in Lyons Township →
Next door
Lyons Township and its neighbors
Lyons Township has the second most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Palos Township80 miLyons Township27 miProviso Township23 miRiverside Township7.4 miLa Grange2.5 miStickney Township2.0 miLyons2.0 miLa Grange Park1.8 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyons Township | 3% | 0.8 | 7 | 98% | B+ |
| Palos Township | 15% | 2.4 | 6 | 84% | A− |
| Proviso Township | 3% | 0.8 | 2 | 99%+ | B |
| Stickney Township | 3% | 0.2 | 5 | 99% | B− |
| La Grange | 4% | 1.0 | 5 | 99%+ | B+ |
| La Grange Park | 7% | 0.8 | 2 | 99%+ | B+ |
| Riverside Township | 9% | 1.8 | 9 | 98% | A |
| Lyons | 1% | 0.9 | 2 | 95% | B− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Lyons Township
Where can I hike in Lyons Township?
The longest trail networks: Arie Crown Forest, 4.1 miles; Buffalo Woods, 1.1 miles; Theodore Stone Forest Preserve, 0.9 miles; Summit Park, 0.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Lyons Township is conserved land?
3% 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 Lyons Township’s trails?
Arie Crown Forest and Buffalo Woods don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Lyons Township?
16 miles of bike routes are on the map: 15 of off-road paths and 0.8 of shoulders and shared lanes. Named routes: Arie Crown Forest Unpaved Trails and Salt Creek Trail.
Is there public land near Lyons Township?
19,534 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Lyons Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 794 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Lyons Township have?
Ahead of 67% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #337 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 Lyons 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 →