Maple Grove Forest Preserve is a transportation-friendly hike located near the Downers Grove Train Station. It also connects two playgrounds together which can make this hike fun for your littlest adventures!
Overall Thoughts on Maple Grove Forest Preserve
Difficulty (Lower is Easier)
Amenities
Transportation & Accessibility:
Crowding:
Views & Wildlife:
Overall Rating:
Difficulty
Maple Grove has two trails, Maple Grove and Trout Lily, which can connect to make a loop that is about 1.5 miles long. Since I was walking from the train station, I stayed only on the limestone Maple Trail. The route was easy and flat.
Transportation
Via Public Transportation
The Metra: BNSF
From Chicago, you can catch a BNSF train at Union Station. The BNSF train will take you to Downers Grove Main St Station. The train ride is about 45 minutes or so. It is a 24-minute walk, 1.1 miles to Maple Grove from the train station.
The Walk to Maple Grove Forest Preserve
Although the walk from the Downers Grove Train Station is 1.1 miles away, it is an easy and pedestrian-friendly area to get around. Plus, I found that starting at the train station gave me a different kind of walking loop that not only included Maple Grove Forest Preserve but also took me downtown Downers Grove. This only added to the experience, as I got a bit of boutique window shopping in before my nature hike.
The walk to/from the park has sidewalks and crosswalks. The only thing is the forest preserve parking lot by Memorial Park had no sidewalks, so I had to walk in the parking lot for a bit. It is a very long parking lot!
Via Car
It is a 37-minute drive from Chicago to this Maple Grove Forest Preserve. This forest preserve offers two parking lots.
Beauty & Wildlife at Maple Grove Forest Preserve
In November with the bare trees, you could really see the nearby houses. However, in the Spring, Summer, and early fall most of them may be hidden with the foliage. You could also hear the trains and some other neighborhood noises.
However, the trail embraced nature while still being a part of the neighborhood and within close proximity of downtown. Which is always a feat.
There was a pretty creek towards the Gilbert Park side of the trail. When I went, there were a lot of ducks on the creek, just hanging out.
Know Before You Go
to Maple Grove Forest Preserve
Amenities
There were park benches throughout this Dupage County Forest Preserve. There is a porta potty at the trailhead and a beautiful shelter at Gilbert Park with picnic benches.
Activities Beyond Hiking:
Playgrounds: This trail connects to Memorial Park and Gilbert Park. Both of these locations have playground equipment and baseball fields. Gilbert Park also has basketball hoops.
Pack a Picnic: There were several places to stop and eat a picnic lunch between the two parks.
Downtown Downers Grove: This forest preserve is within walking distance to/from Downers Grove Downtown. Add on to your day with shopping and dining. For recommendations check out “Downers Grove: a Day Trippers Guide to This Near West Suburb”.
