The Fox River Forest Preserve in Port Barrington is a marina and boat launch first and foremost. This Lake County Forest Preserve is a perfect spot to rotate large boating crews, as the area offers hiking trails and other amenities to keep your ‘land’ time full of adventure.
However, as a hiker and in this case, a non-boater, some of the great boat amenity features add quirks to the trail.
Difficulty (Lower is Easier)
Amenities
Transportation & Accessibility:
Crowding:
Views & Wildlife:
Overall Rating:
Difficulty of the Fox River Forest Preserve Yellow Loop
Difficulty-wise the trail is fairly unchallenging being mostly flat, relatively short, and made of graded gravel/dirt or sidewalks. The path takes you around the Marina, walks you by the Fox River, and takes you into the woods. There are also park benches around to take in the views or grab a spot to rest.
Transportation
When it comes to transportation, the Fox River Preserve located in Port Barrington, Illinois is not accessible via public transportation. However, the marina is only about an hour’s drive away from Chicago and has a significant amount of parking.
The park was so car-heavy that we joked the houses across the street, which are visible to those in the park, would even take their vehicle here! The area however did have nice views of the Fox River. And there were prairie plants and woods.
Beauty & Wildlife
Even though we went in early November, the area still felt fairly busy. Granted, it was an unseasonably warm day, but still, the foot traffic made me wonder what the busy season looked like.
The quirks of the boating amenities snuck up on the trail. At a portion, several large boat sheds butted up against the yellow trail. The Park District painted the shed brown and green in an attempt to blend into the surroundings, but the large structures still managed to stand out.
Beyond that, there were the portions of the trail that walked along the parking lots. I understand the need for space and ample parking at a marina, but these trail portions pulled you out of nature and asked you to cross through the lots several times.
You could also see a decent number of houses from the trail. Now I don’t always mind seeing houses from the trail, yet those houses didn’t give community vibes. The park seemed fairly self-contained without easy access to the surrounding neighborhood.
Know before you go to the Fox River Forest Preserve:
Beyond Hiking
This park offers fishing, kayaking/canoeing, boating, and more. There is a boat launch and docks.
The park offered flushing toilets, picnic areas, drinking water, and shelters that can be reserved.
What to Bring to the Fox River Forest Preserve
I would suggest bug spray as even late in the season, it still felt like it was a bit buggy! And of course, if you are bringing bug spray, bring sunscreen too!
There are also several spots for a picnic. For a longer adventure make sure to bring a lunch!
I would also suggest bringing water! Even on an easy walk, it can be quite handy.
