Danada Forest Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
763 acres4.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
AOutdoors
Outdoors in Milton Township
18% of Milton Township’s land is conserved, and 98% of residents live within a half mile of a park
18% of Milton Township’s land is conserved, about 3,995 acres. 46 miles of mapped trail cross Milton Township, 1.3 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Danada Forest Preserve (4.8 mi), North Side Park (2.1 mi), Hidden Lake Forest Preserve (2 mi).
Ahead of 94% of U.S. towns · #37 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Conserved land
18%
3,995 acres · of 34.4 sq mi of land
Trails
46 mi
1.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,331 ac
20 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
98%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
41 mi
4.9 mi lanes · 33 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
18
2 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Milton Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Milton Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Milton Township is ahead of 94% of U.S. towns, #37 of 768 in Illinois. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Milton Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land18% of the land · typical IL town 4% · U.S. 4%ATrails1.3 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (46 mi) · IL 0.3 · U.S. 0.4APark land20 acres of park per 1,000 residents (2,331 acres) · IL 15 · U.S. 13BParks 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 94%
LessMore
Illinois towns of 2,500+ (768)Ahead of 95%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Milton Township ranks #43 on Outdoors.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A 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 Danada Forest Preserve, with 4.8 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
North Side Park
Managed by Wheaton Park District
66 acres2.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Hidden Lake Forest Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
385 acres2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Lincoln Marsh Natural Area
Managed by Wheaton Park District
122 acres1.6 mi of trail
South Marsh TrailWoodland TrailPrairie LoopOak Knoll Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Morton Arboretum
Nature preserve
844 acres1.5 mi of trail
Main Trail Loop 1 + 2Main Trail Loop 2 and 3
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto P24
Panfish Park
Managed by Village of Glen Ellyn
28 acres1.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Village Green Park
Managed by Glen Ellyn Park District
62 acres1.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
486 acres0.9 mi of trail
Lake Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 93 parks & preserves
Danada Forest Preserve763 acres · 4.8 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsNorth Side Park66 acres · 2.1 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsHidden Lake Forest Preserve385 acres · 2 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsLincoln Marsh Natural Area122 acres · 1.6 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsMorton Arboretum844 acres · 1.5 mi of trail
DirectionsPanfish Park28 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Village of Glen Ellyn
DirectionsVillage Green Park62 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsHerrick Lake Forest Preserve486 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsChurchill Woods Forest Preserve250 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsSeven Gables Park63 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsAtten Park37 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsMaryknoll Park27 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsChurchill Prairie Nature Preserve59 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsChurchill Park22 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsBriar Patch Park21 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
Lake Foxcroft Park10 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
Churchill Woods Glacial Ridge Forest Preserve9 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsCommunity Park61 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Carol Stream Park District
DirectionsWillowbrook Forest Preserve42 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Hoffman Park15 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsKensington Park9 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsDanada South Park11 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsAckerman Park50 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsNewton Park26 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsGraf Park18 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsGlen Oak County Forest Preserve17 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Pleasant Hill Park10 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Carol Stream Park District
DirectionsLake Ellyn Park28 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsFirefighters Park10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
Presidents Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
Dorset Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
Hull Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Wheaton Park District
Greenbriar Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Glen Ellyn Park District
Belleau Woods Forest Preserve95 acres · Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
DirectionsDuPage County Fairgrounds38 acres
DirectionsCentral Park16 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsSilverwood Glen Park11 acres · Winfield Park District
Memorial Park11 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsGerald R Weeks Memorial Park - West10 acres · Carol Stream Park District
Scottdale Park9 acres · Wheaton Park District
Spalding Park8 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Willow Point Conservatory8 acres · Wheaton Park District
Gerald R Weeks Memorial Park - East8 acres · Carol Stream Park District
Sunset Park7 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Toohey Park7 acres · Wheaton Park District
Rathje Park6 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsBriar Knoll Park6 acres · Wheaton Park District
Brighton Park5 acres · Wheaton Park District
Lawson Field5 acres
DirectionsKelly Park5 acres · Wheaton Park District
Jefferson Park5 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsArboretum Mews5 acres · Wheaton Park District
Glen Ellyn Manor Park4 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsHurley Gardens3 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsLincoln Park3 acres · Wheaton Park District
Rotary Park3 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsStacy Park3 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Appleby Park3 acres · Wheaton Park District
Adams Park3 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsAlbright Park3 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsChathum Park3 acres · Wheaton Park District
Surrey Park2 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsAmerican Legion2 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsNaper Commons Park2 acres · Naperville Park District
Scotts Grove Park2 acres · Wheaton Park District
George Ball Park2 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Hawthorne Junction2 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsMain Street Recreation Center2 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Walnut Glen Park2 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Clydesdale Park2 acres · Wheaton Park District
Marie Uhlhorn Presidents Park2 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Perry Nature Preserve2 acres
Blacksmith Park2 acres · Wheaton Park District
Co-Op Park2 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsFounders Park1 acres · Winfield Park District
DirectionsGlen Oak Park1 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Ridge Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
Danby Park1 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Orchard Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
Babcock Grove Park1 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Prairie Path Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
Madison Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
Herrick Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsFrank Johnson Park1 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsTriangle Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsClocktower Commons1 acres · Wheaton Park District
DirectionsAsa Douglas Harmon Wild Flower Preserve1 acres
DirectionsWexford Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
Westhaven Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
Coventry Park1 acres · Wheaton Park District
Ellynwood Nature Preserve1 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
Park on the Green1 acres · Carol Stream Park District
Pfuetze Park1 acres · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsWho protects it
3,995 conserved acres
18% of Milton Township’s land. Who manages Milton Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Regional agency2,563 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits966 ac
Town or city349 ac
State conservation146 ac
Private owners99 ac
Joint16 ac
County2 ac
Local Other or Unknown · 1,116 acLocal Park · 925 acPrivate Conservation · 889 acState Conservation Area · 549 acConservation Easement · 268 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 128 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 2 of 104 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morton Arboretum Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 847 | Open |
| Danada 1 Local Other or Unknown | Regional agency | 729 | Unknown |
| Herrick Lake Forest Preserve State Conservation Area | Regional agency | 493 | Closed |
| Hidden Lake 1 Local Other or Unknown | Regional agency | 387 | Unknown |
| Arrowhead Golf Club Unknown | Town or city | 212 | Open |
| Western Acres Local Park | Regional agency | 99 | Open |
| Northside Park Local Park | Regional agency | 68 | Open |
| Belleau Woods 1 Local Conservation Area | Regional agency | 67 | Open |
| Seven Gables Park Local Park | Regional agency | 67 | Open |
| Ackerman Park Local Park | Regional agency | 66 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
100 places to go in Milton Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Milton Township
Northside PoolIn North Side Park
DirectionsSunset PoolIn Sunset Park
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Milton Township
Practice Scoccer Fields
DirectionsSplash PadIn Maryknoll Park
Directions77 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Milton Township
Bark Park
DirectionsSpring Avenue Dog ParkIn Glen Oak County Forest Preserve
DirectionsBoat launches in Milton Township
2 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Peaks in Milton Township
Hemlock HillIn Morton Arboretum
DirectionsPine HillIn Morton Arboretum
DirectionsSpruce HillIn Morton Arboretum
DirectionsPicnic areas in Milton Township
East Picnic ShelterIn Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
DirectionsSouth Picnic ShelterIn Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
DirectionsWest Picnic ShelterIn Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
DirectionsPlus 9 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Disc golf in Milton Township
Maryknoll Disc Golf CourseIn Maryknoll Park · Glen Ellyn Park District
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Milton Township
1 community garden without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Trails & water
13 named trails and 18 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 1.9 miUnpaved · 8.2 mi
South Marsh Trail0.4 mi
Safari Trail0.2 mi
Woodland Trail0.2 mi
Russel R. Kirk Path 10.2 mi
Prairie Loop0.2 mi
Russel R. Kirk Path 20.1 mi
Main Trail Loop 1 + 20.1 mi
Russel R. Kirk Path 30.1 mi
Lake Trail0.1 mi
Main Trail Loop 2 and 30.1 mi
3 more trails
Oak Knoll Trail
0.1 miRussel R. Kirk Path 4 (rustic path)
0.1 miEscape Route
0.1 miBiking & sports
41 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
4.9 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
33 mi
off-road bike paths
3.2 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
101Tennis
53Baseball
46Soccer
25Basketball
19Pickleball
13Football
10Softball
10Tracks
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →14 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 2 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Chicago Golf ClubDistrict · listed 2020
About it2 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Milton 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) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 35 | 47 | 60 | 71 | 81 | 84 | 82 | 76 | 63 | 48 | 36 |
| Rain (in) | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.7 inches fall in May, the wettest month. The climate in Milton Township →
Next door
Milton Township and its neighbors
Milton Township has the second most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Lisle Township51 miMilton Township46 miYork Township34 miWinfield Township33 miNaperville25 miBloomingdale Township19 miWheaton8.1 miWinfield1.8 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Township | 18% | 1.3 | 20 | 98% | A |
| York Township | 6% | 1.0 | 11 | 94% | A− |
| Winfield Township | 15% | 0.9 | 37 | 92% | A |
| Bloomingdale Township | 9% | 0.5 | 10 | 98% | A− |
| Lisle Township | 11% | 1.4 | 19 | 96% | A |
| Wheaton | 7% | 0.7 | 10 | 99%+ | A− |
| Winfield | 17% | 0.6 | 16 | 99%+ | A |
| Naperville | 8% | 0.6 | 15 | 99% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Milton Township
Where can I hike in Milton Township?
The longest trail networks: Danada Forest Preserve, 4.8 miles; North Side Park, 2.1 miles; Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, 2 miles; Lincoln Marsh Natural Area, 1.6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Milton Township is conserved land?
18% 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 Milton Township’s trails?
Danada Forest Preserve and North Side Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Milton Township?
41 miles of bike routes are on the map: 4.9 of painted or protected lanes, 33 of off-road paths and 3.2 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Milton Township?
30,165 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Milton Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,337 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Milton Township have?
Ahead of 94% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #37 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 Milton 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 →