Heritage Park
Managed by Wheeling Park District
121 acres2.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: bogdanstepniak · CC BY 3.0B+Outdoors
Outdoors in Wheeling Township
5% of Wheeling Township’s land is conserved, and 98% of residents live within a half mile of a park
The biggest trail networks: Heritage Park (2.5 mi), Potawatomi Woods Preserve (1.4 mi), Frontier Park (0.9 mi). 19 miles of mapped trail cross Wheeling Township, 0.5 per square mile of land. 5% of Wheeling Township’s land is conserved, about 1,179 acres.
Ahead of 71% of U.S. towns · #291 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Conserved land
5%
1,179 acres · of 35.9 sq mi of land
Trails
19 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,315 ac
8.5 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
98%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
51 mi
6.8 mi lanes · 39 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
5
1 beach · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Wheeling Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Wheeling Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Wheeling Township is ahead of 71% of U.S. towns, #291 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 Wheeling Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land5% of the land · typical IL town 4% · U.S. 4%BTrails0.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (19 mi) · IL 0.3 · U.S. 0.4B+Park land8.5 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,315 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 71%
LessMore
Illinois towns of 2,500+ (768)Ahead of 62%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Wheeling Township ranks #265 on Outdoors.
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 Heritage Park, with 2.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Potawatomi Woods Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of Cook County
333 acres1.4 mi of trail
Des Plaines River Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Frontier Park
Managed by Arlington Heights Park District
31 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Hasbrook Park
Managed by Arlington Heights Park District
13 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Centennial Park
Managed by Arlington Heights Park District
23 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Camelot Park
Managed by Arlington Heights Park District
12 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Lake Arlington Park
Managed by Arlington Heights Park District
94 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Willow Trails Park
Managed by River Trails Park District
12 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 93 parks & preserves
Heritage Park121 acres · 2.5 mi of trail · Wheeling Park District
DirectionsPotawatomi Woods Preserve333 acres · 1.4 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsFrontier Park31 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Hasbrook Park13 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsCentennial Park23 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Camelot Park12 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Lake Arlington Park94 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Willow Trails Park12 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · River Trails Park District
DirectionsHusky Park11 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Wheeling Park District
Raven Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Wildwood Park8 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Hill Street Nature Center5 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsArlington Greens Park5 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsDam Number 1 Woods Preserve607 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsRecreation Park18 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsChamber Park6 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsVolz Park5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsGreen Slopes Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsCreekside Park15 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Flentle Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Carriage Walk Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Virginia Terrace Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
North School Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsDam Number 2 Woods101 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsCamelot Connector Parkway13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Childerley Park12 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Wheeling Park District
DirectionsRand-Berkley Park12 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsMill Creek Park12 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Buffalo Grove Park District
Busse Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsBison Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Buffalo Grove Park District
Aspen Trails Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · River Trails Park District
DirectionsFairview Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Mount Prospect Park District
Lake Terramere Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Hickory Meadows Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsProspect Meadows Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Mount Prospect Park District
Sunset Ridge Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Emerson Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Mount Prospect Park District
Westgate Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Arlington Heights Park District
Portwine Preserve197 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsLake Avenue Woods Preserves90 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsMelas Park69 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsWoodland Trails Park50 acres · River Trails Park District
DirectionsCamp Pine Woods Preserve47 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsWillow-Sanders Preserve43 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsSunset Meadows Park36 acres
DirectionsPatriots Park35 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsForest Preserve District of Cook County23 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsPioneer Park21 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsWillow Park20 acres
Sycamore Trails Park18 acres · River Trails Park District
DirectionsEmmerich Park18 acres · Buffalo Grove Park District
DirectionsLions Park18 acres · Buffalo Grove Park District
Meadows Park15 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsGregory Park12 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsNickol Knoll Park12 acres
DirectionsTamarack Trails Park11 acres · River Trails Park District
Horizon Park11 acres · Wheeling Park District
Burning Bush Park9 acres · River Trails Park District
Methodist Park9 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Greenbrier Park9 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsCambridge Park7 acres · Buffalo Grove Park District
DirectionsCarousel Park6 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Windsor Parkway Park6 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Allison Woods Preserve5 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsWindsor Ridge Park5 acres · Buffalo Grove Park District
Ridge Park5 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsKiwanis Park4 acres
DirectionsBluett Park4 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
Northside Park4 acres · Wheeling Park District
DirectionsWeidner Park4 acres · Buffalo Grove Park District
DirectionsDryden Park4 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsSalceda Park3 acres
DirectionsHappiness Park3 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
School Street Park3 acres
DirectionsEvergreen Park3 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Kylemore Greens Park2 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Klehm Park2 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Rand Connector Parkway2 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsMaple Trails Park2 acres · River Trails Park District
DirectionsCraig Manor Park2 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Berbecker Park2 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Cronin Park2 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsRose Garden Park2 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Sandpebble Drive Park1 acres
DirectionsGloria Dei Presbyterian Church Walking Ground and Park1 acres
Shaag Park1 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Jaycee Park1 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
Roth Park1 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
Banta Park1 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
Memorial Park1 acres · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsClaire Lane Park1 acres · Prospect Heights Park District
East Wedgewood Park1 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
Harmony Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
1,179 conserved acres
5% of Wheeling Township’s land. Who manages Wheeling Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city641 ac
Regional agency536 ac
State natural resources9 ac
Local Park · 951 acUnknown · 226 acConservation Easement · 9 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Orchard Country Club Unknown | Town or city | 103 | Open |
| Heritage Park Local Park | Regional agency | 98 | Open |
| Lake Arlington Park Local Park | Town or city | 92 | Open |
| Melas Park Local Park | Regional agency | 69 | Open |
| Rob Roy Golf Course Unknown | Town or city | 57 | Open |
| Woodland Trails Park Local Park | Regional agency | 48 | Open |
| Sunset Meadows Park Local Park | Town or city | 40 | Open |
| Aquadome Indoor Pool at BGHS Unknown | Town or city | 33 | Open |
| Wheeling Park Local Park | Regional agency | 26 | Open |
| Frontier Park Local Park | Town or city | 24 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
134 places to go in Wheeling Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Wheeling Township
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Wheeling Township
Arlington Ridge center Playground
DirectionsChildren's PlaygroundIn Sandpebble Drive Park
DirectionsSchool Street PlaygroundIn School Street Park
Directions116 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Wheeling Township
Canine Commons Dog ParkIn Melas Park
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Wheeling Township
Dam No. 2 Woods Canoe LandingIn Dam Number 2 Woods
DirectionsFishing spots in Wheeling Township
Potawatomi PondIn Potawatomi Woods Preserve
DirectionsScenic views in Wheeling Township
1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Wheeling Township
Camp Pine Woods Grove #1In Camp Pine Woods Preserve
DirectionsDam No. 1 Woods-East Grove #1In Dam Number 1 Woods Preserve
DirectionsDam No. 1 Woods-East Grove #2In Dam Number 1 Woods Preserve
DirectionsDam No. 2 Woods Grove #1In Dam Number 2 Woods
DirectionsLake Avenue Woods-West Grove #2In Lake Avenue Woods Preserves
DirectionsMassasauga Family Picnic AreaHours: sunrise-sunset · In Dam Number 1 Woods Preserve
DirectionsPotawatomi Woods Grove #1In Potawatomi Woods Preserve
DirectionsPlus 1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Wheeling Township
Camp Baden Powell (Defunct)In Dam Number 2 Woods · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsCamp Dan BeardFee · In Potawatomi Woods Preserve · Billy Casper Golf
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Wheeling Township
Frontier Park GardensFee · In Frontier Park · Arlington Heights Park District
DirectionsTrails & water
3 named trails and 5 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 2.8 miUnpaved · 0.9 mi
St. Peter Cross-Country Course and Exer-Trail0.3 mi
Des Plaines River Trail0.1 mi
Busse Park Path0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
51 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
6.8 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
39 mi
off-road bike paths
5.2 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
131Tennis
101Baseball
52Basketball
48Soccer
19Football
10Pickleball
6Field hockey
4Volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
September is the best month for walking in Wheeling Township
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 | 14.6 | 15.2 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 35 | 46 | 58 | 70 | 79 | 84 | 82 | 75 | 62 | 48 | 36 |
| Rain (in) | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.6 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Wheeling Township →
Next door
Wheeling Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Northfield Township58 miPalatine Township52 miVernon Township44 miWheeling Township19 miArlington Heights10 miPalatine6.8 miWheeling4.0 miRolling Meadows2.4 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling Township | 5% | 0.5 | 9 | 98% | B+ |
| Northfield Township | 9% | 1.7 | 15 | 91% | A |
| Palatine Township | 10% | 1.4 | 8 | 97% | A− |
| Vernon Township | 18% | 1.2 | 47 | 97% | A+ |
| Arlington Heights | 5% | 0.6 | 8 | 99% | B+ |
| Wheeling | 3% | 0.5 | 6 | 95% | B |
| Palatine | 5% | 0.5 | 8 | 99% | B+ |
| Rolling Meadows | 4% | 0.4 | 7 | 93% | B |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Wheeling Township
Where can I hike in Wheeling Township?
The longest trail networks: Heritage Park, 2.5 miles; Potawatomi Woods Preserve, 1.4 miles; Frontier Park, 0.9 miles; Hasbrook Park, 0.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Wheeling Township is conserved land?
5% 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 Wheeling Township’s trails?
Heritage Park and Potawatomi Woods Preserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Wheeling Township?
51 miles of bike routes are on the map: 6.8 of painted or protected lanes, 39 of off-road paths and 5.2 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Wheeling Township?
19,403 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Wheeling Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,364 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Wheeling Township have?
Ahead of 71% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #291 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 Wheeling 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 →