Good walk, shared by bike riders so be careful as sometimes they come pretty quick (and wide) around corners. Some packed gravel paths and some dirt/grass paths as well.We took the path North from the parking lot the West once we got to the lake and eventually that will loop back South and East leading back to the parking lot.

Great area if you have kids or dogs. Beautiful scenery, great walking or biking paths and there’s also an area to launch a canoe or kayak. Tons of parking and enough open areas to be secluded away from people if you choose.

Just beautiful! The trees are so tall you feel like you have been taken away to a mystical land. All different types of different species of plant life and organisms growing all around. Beautiful scenery and a river area small trails off the main trail but beware venturing too far off the trails I to the forest the burrs will attack! Haha! But theres picnic benches to eat at, grassy areas, decent parking just a wonderful place to unwind and take a break from the busy world and get some real quiet time.

Recently rediscovered McDowell. This is a really lovely place. I remember calling it McDowell Woods in the 70s. Wonderful place to walk your dog, great paths for bikes.

I absolutely love this forest preserve. Its beauty is breathtaking and so, so peaceful.

Very serene place. Coming across an old dam and river for fishing was a great hidden surprise. Cant wait to go back and master the other trails.

One of the nicest nature preserves In dupage county with tons of wildflowers and wildlife. I even saw a coyote hunting ducks

Great hike! Paths are beautiful. Everyone respectful of social distancing.

Nice place to enjoy nature and get some exercise. My German Shepherd enjoyed the visit also!

Good network of hiking biking trails, west branch of DuPage river runs thru it. About 1/2 prairie 1/2 Forested

Excellent forest! Water, nice paths (both big and small, gravel, grass and dirt), river to inertube of kayak in. Beatufiul parking area to picnic in

Such a quiet and serene place. Beautiful scenery and the water is perfect for my kayak. Life is good!!!! Ducks a geese kept me company while I passed through to downtown Naperville. Decent little current too!!!!!

An gem of a walking place. Love the place, its cool breeze, lovely atmosphere. Only regret is this place was so close to my house just few hundred feet and took me so long to explore it. Lived across the forest preserve for so long but took two years to take the narrow hidden pathway nestled across the crossing of Raymond and River Road.

Great place to run and bike in the middle of the bust suburbia of Naperville. Runs along the river and brings you all the way to downtown if you want to run down the entire path. My run was peaceful and invigorating at the same time!

Awesome place to go in the fall

Nice paths and interesting history well worth looking into.

I caught a small mouth bass on my first cast. Good to see efforts paying off.

Good walking trails. Make sure you check trail map or youll be walking forever. Trails are great for bikes. Peaceful to sit along river. Nice picnic area.

Great place to walk bike,picnic and fish and Kayak.I really enjoyed the trails on the paths through the wood.They have a few picnic shelter and tables.The only down side no real bathrooms to use.

Great forest preserve! Its often pretty busy, but if you go at different times youll be fine. Nice to walk along the river on the bluff. Always is so pretty in the spring and summer. Just watch out for mosquitos in the late summer. They can be quite bad, so bring bug spray.

Ducks galore! Fall leaves are beautiful.

Gravel and dirt/gravel trails. Can get a 3 mile loop in one lap. As you run the area changes from water, shade and sun. Pretty river and openfield . Limited parking.

Great place for a walkout with family

It is convenient for me, and I love the peaceful setting and walking paths. I enjoy seeing kayakers and canoeers on the river!

Are your birds solar powered? Ive noticed a fast turn around rate on how quick your birds nap so Im just curious as to what kind of technology your birds possess that make that kind of magic possible

Beautiful park. Great picnic location. Lots of wonderful memories.

So many good walking trails.

Most beautiful place along the west branch Du Page river.Ideal for a walk/ biking and just spend some time in quiet with nature. Really very peaceful vibes in this place! Love it!Photo by : @theamazingexposure ( instagram )

Beautiful preserve. Ive visited several times. Looking forward to seeing how everything turns out with the bridge construction. It will be nice not having to travel over the one lane bridge. Lots of wildlife. Ive seen butterflies, deer, and a snapping turtle.

DuPage County Forest Preserve does a marvelous job at maintaining these beautiful grounds!

White gravel path though the fields and woods. Well maintained.

I love this place.we can go for long walk in woods.and also good place for kids to play and have picnic with family.

Love this place. Serenity

Very nice and clean, the path leading through from downtown Naperville over to Warrenville/Blackwell/Herrick Lake is in pristine condition.

Perfect for a hike with young kids

A hidden gem of DuPage Forest Preserve system. A great place to get out and enjoy nature with minimal walking. There is easy access to the water although I advise approaching slowly to see the most wildlife.

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve is one of my favorite DuPage County parks. As a runner, I can take the trailhead north along the river to Warrenville where it connects with the Illinois Prairie Path, or I can take it south toward downtown Naperville where it connects with the Naperville Riverwalk. Both routes are scenic with beautiful forest and prairie land + nice views of the river. Theres also a small launching area for kayaks/canoes and picnic tables.

Hidden gem for sure. Very peaceful and serene. Plan to go back and venture further.

Nice park to walk in, and so close to neighborhoods.

Good trails for walking..

Wonderful trail for evening walk.

Great location to relax and clean

Beautiful fall foliage!

Theres a river and a lake. Im sure there are fish somewhere

Great place to enjoy nature and wildlife.

Beautiful place to fish and enjoy nature.

Beautiful forest embracing the Dupage river. Lots of different trails for biking and hiking and picnic areas around the entrance. This is another gem of a forest preserve here in Dupage county.

As a Naperville resident for nearly 30 years, VERY safe, beautiful, and peaceful natural environment to go on a stroll or get your workout in.The renovations in recent years have made this forest preserve even more marvelous!** My only warning for ALL, is to really stop and look both ways crossing Raymond Dr. (even when the Walk Now Light is a go). Unfortunately, the Naperville Police & Fire Department have been dispatched a handful of times at the intersection of McDowell Rd. and Raymond Dr. for pedestrians getting hit by vehicles, general car accidents, or out of town drivers not realizing the Southbound Right Turn onto McDowell Rd. from Raymond Dr. was built at a 60 Degree Angle, rather than a 90 Degree Angle.

Another forest preserve that is great. I can spend hours here and never get tired.Wide trails and very clean.

Well maintained. Port a potty available.

Lots of parking, picnic shelters and canoe launches

Fun little first preserve with short, well maintained trails. Links to other large trails so beware of when you are joining the next one. Fun to ride past the dam.

Beautiful bike path with soaring trees

For someplace so close, its a nice place for a walk. Whether its the main trail, or the one through the trees, it is a very nice place to go.

Nice place

There are multiple trails that you can take when you get into the main entrance. They range from 1 miles to 3.3 miles. There are trails that follow a nice river, and ones that go deeper into the actual forest.Overall, well maintained, open, and doesnt feel crowded. Theres a nice picnic area for anyone who wants to bring a grill and have a gathering. There are bins to dispose of coals and hot waste. There are not too many forest preserves that make me really want to continue to visit - Id rather go to a more remote forest and hike; however, this place is big enough that I feel I will return for some more long walks in the woods.

Great for walking, running and biking. Only saw 1 porta potty. No water fountain.

Great place to get back to nature

Large area, trails for walking around.right next to the lake.

Great place for running or biking. I like how the trails connect so well with the forest preserves north and south of it.

Ive been walking to this Forest Preserve for 35 years. I love walking through it all year round and I love riding my bike through it all year round. When everything is just right, Ill throw the kayak on the roof and go launch from there.

Neat Park!

If you want take a short hike, see some history, this is a great place to visit

Lovely little spot

Great place. Trails are well maintained and easily identified. We went in early winter. There were plenty of signs of wildlife but most of what we were able to see were birds. Leaves had already fallen which adds it own look to the trails. The plan is to hike again in spring or summer for a seasonal comparison. There is plenty of parking which was surprisingly well maintained. This is one of those obvious places tucked into a community that one drives by without realizing just how large it actually is. Overall a great place to hike. Will definitely be hitting the trails here again.

Very nice change of pace place

Going there again this morning for a stroll through the woods!

Really like the walking trails here, great place to get some exercise. Very peaceful.

Lovely gravel and grass hike with some river access. My dog loves it.

Beautiful, peaceful, huge. Pretty diverse scenery for our local forest preserves

I think this place is gorgeous and as long as it hasnt rained to flood stages. Great bike trails

Great trails for bike and wall

Awesome place. Beautiful scenes

The paths are pretty nice for a peaceful walk... good place to relax.

Beautiful park with scenic bike trails along the West Branch if the DuPage River

Very serene and well maintained. One of the nicer parks about.

So much nature, keep the humans out.

Its a great place! I hope there are fish on the stream!

Beautiful area

Beautiful walk in the woods.

Easy access and nice hiking trails

Best place for a long run (Marathon training)

Great trails, porta-potty

Went kayaking on Saturday of last week and the water was pretty shallow for kayaking. But managed to only bet beached a few times.

This Forest Preserve located conveniently near the corners of Ogden and New York Avenue in Naperville is it joy to go to. Fun for picnics long hikes bird watching and Ive seen many photographers shoot there for the background. It will also connect you to the Illinois Prairie Path.

Nice boat launch.

Its a great place for a walk and have a family picnic

Absolutely beautiful. You dont know that you are by an interstate and major roads.

My husband and I love walking along the river and on the paths!

Great running trails

Beautiful nature trails. An excellent place to bring the family. Watch out for ticks in the summer though.

Plenty of deer... IF you walk quietly along paths, wide variety of colorful birds, and good fishing spots!

Love walking through here its so peaceful and the people are so nice walking along the trial good for family outtings

Nice place for walking

Renovated bike paths

Looks this place. Good for walking or jogging.

Has some great fishing spots and the Forest Preserve did a great job with their bridge and river restoration projects. Connects to several bicycle trails. Its unfortunately mosquito heavy. Careful with small kids on the new bridge; they can squeeze right between the balusters.

Good cycling and walking place.. you cannot trek much, but the small lake area gives a peaceful time. Good to visit during Spring and Fall.

Awesome! Great size. Great parking, good restroom, friendly people. The trail system is very nice. I would live next door for sure!

Amazing beautiful and just awesome