This is a beautiful trail that follows along the Des Plaines River. The walking trail is well marked and it is easy to find your way along this Forest Preserve path. We were able to observe Blue Jays, and a few different types of woodpeckers. We also saw if you types of migrating birds as well as waterfowl in the river. There are plenty of areas to park within the Potawatomi Woods

The pond side is a beautiful spot to have a family and friends outing. The trails are very good for walking with kids. Bike rides are another great way to enjoy the wooded greenery. We did some kite flying in the open are near lake. See the beauty yourself in the photos below. POINTS TO CONSIDER: Bring insect repellent for trails and do not leave any food items open as you may attract a lot of bees.

Amazing area especially in October..so picturesque. I love photographing families there. great bike and walking trail.

Stopped here with my cat and he really enjoyed himself climbing the tree trunks on the ground. Small pond, different sections of the woods, and quiet.

This place is just beautiful to see fall colors nearbyThe colors are in full bloom right nowIts peaceful, here .Love going here

What a lovely forest preserve! Its on Dundee Road in Wheeling, but you feel like youre in a wild forest, once on a path. Theres a nice stone picnic shelter with probably a dozen picnic tables, and good parking.

Amazing small forest with a beautiful pond and flamboyant fall colors.

A very serene place for both families and nature lovers alike. This trail covers 30 miles of extensive foliage on a dirt path. This location is a great fishing destination as well.

Really beautiful, very peaceful, not crowded. Love this woods!

Fall color around a pond. Cant resist the beauty. Cant imagine this pearl within hands reach.

Good place for walk in the woods, nice view during fall..

My favorite woods in the Buffalo Grove area. The trial starting from Potawatomi woods cover 30 miles. Trial follows the Des plaines river. Small streams join the river along the way, if lucky you can spot deers. Ample car parking, there is a shed( which you can book ahead of time) for organizing party. This woods look beautiful year around, and keep visiting across seasons to see it’s different shades. There are some good fishing spots as well. One of the best spots in Chicago for Fall photography.

Very scenic autumn colors and still so close to the city.

One of the best visits during fall colors...

The lake can get a little crowded in a nice day, and you can hear highway noise in the woods, BUT the woods are very pretty and the trails not heavily traveled. The bike trail next to the Desplaines River is lovely. A good place to get in a woodsy stroll.

Awesome place for picnic n fall photography

Loved the hike very comfortable one for beginners.

A nice loland area to walk around and enjoy some peace and quiet. Beware visiting after rain, many a puddles gather off of the smaller trails.We were able to see many a different waterfowl and migrating birds.

Nice place tu run

Great place to have some rest, especially when many people are at work. Unfortunately, some guys left trash (plastic packets), but it is not everywhere, just in one place. You should check-in to the place to realize, how wonderful it is. Trees, lake, a lot of parking lots and so on.

Beautiful bike/hike trail. We easily rode from northern Arlington Heights on a beautiful sunny day. Trails are light gravel, bumpy, but not too bad for most bikers. Pretty!

Excellent trail. Part of the Des Plaines river trail, running north and south. Biking and hiking friendly.

Beautiful place for fall colors.

Love walk under the brush in Potawatomi Woods !

Nice quite place, perfect for family gathering with a 6 feet Distance

I have been going to Potawatomi Lake in woods for my entire life. (61 Years). Cook County Forest Preserve was kind enough many many years ago to allow radio control model boaters to use this Lake. Thank you cook County Forest Preserve.

Was able to find a fresh Lemon Balm over here

Nice spot to have a Picnic or walk a dog. Fishing is decent.

It is a great, local woods with many pathways through woods, along the river and around the lake.

Where I hung out as a kid, still pretty much the same. Walk around a little lake.

Lovely trail, ponds to eat next to, creek to wait in. In early June there were many many mosquitoes.

A very serene place for nature lovers and exercisers. The cool fast flowing brooks, chirping birds and leafy paths make this an ideal walking/cycling track. But one has to bathe in bug spray before getting into the woods to avoid getting bitten by a million bugs. Fantastic place for children to explore nature.

Beautiful park

Its the best place to visit during the Falls if you are in the northern suburbs of Chicago.In winters, it looks like a frame out of the fairy tale stories.

Amazing place for walking time with family!!

Great park to relax. Beautiful trails with great picnic area with shelter. River access for fishing or kayaking. The lake is beautiful. Highly recommend.

Pretty fun if you know where to go

Great place for a picnic!

We were walking down memory lane. The park was lovely. Not sure whether we hit the best time for fall colors. We tried.

It has beautiful lake

Park was dirty. Parking lot was full of pot holes. Lake had garbage in the water. It just not maintained.

Great place for a walk

Great place

Relaxing place

Beautiful park.

Awesome woods

Lovely trails

Nice area, but not really camping. I would recommend going further for a more realistic camping experience

Nice trails. Needs some benches along Cook county trail. Musqito problem all along the Trail. Cant something be done?

Miles upon miles of trail.

Wonderful place

You can get some good fish

Great place!!

My home away from home.

I was there for family photo shoot. I captured some great images

Very peaceful. Great for lunch by the lake.

I love coming here every fall season

A good place to spend some time with friends

Walk along the river with your beautiful wife! What could be better?

Go, get out in nature

Excellent place to spent with friends and family.Tennis courts maintenance is exceptional.

Enjoyed it!

Between the river and the lake, you feel like youre farther away from everyone then you actually are.

Quiet. Plenty of parking. Easy access to river trail and other trails. Large picnic shelter. Nice size deep pond for fishing. Easy access for dundee and Milwaukee rds.

Beautiful trail along streams and woods.

Super

Great gravel/singletrack

All around nice park.

Small hike but good one

Newly remodeled semi urban grove for camping.

Nice

Beautiful place for hiking and biking

A lovely slice of nature.

Peaceful and serene.

Great place to visit for cook county residents during fall season. Heart touching scenic and natures beauty. Ample of parking space as well.

Well maintained trail. Excellent parking. Wish there was a restroom or port o john at the pavilion though. Lots of mountain bikers, but everyone generally follows trail etiquette.

Exellent place for a nice stroll.

Great hiking/biking trail (gravel), connects with Des Plaines River Trail south all the way to OHare, and north to Lake County FPD trails for 30 more miles, despite Cook Co. FPD map not showing Lake. Clean, pleasant, mostly flat trail with good flora and fauna and great views of river.

Great place to get away with it driving far.

Beautiful fall colors and the little lake inside adds to the beauty. There is a trail along the Des Plains river. The trail across the river stream branches off midway inside the woods, make sure to take that, as it was a short and beautiful trail. The river stream is very thin with not so clear water. Not too crowded. Will be a good place in summer too. Can visit with friends and family and have a little picnic. Dogs will love the place probably.

Very good place and well maintained

Its beautiful in fall

Always well maintained, Potawatomi Woods has become one of my favorite public wooded spots in the area. The trails and fields are all very well maintained, and theres never a shortage of nice places to chill out and mentally decompress.

Very beautiful, silent and peaceful place

Perfect camp ground for a local overnighter. The way its tucked right in the middle of Lake and Cook county in the Des Planes River forest preserve tract makes this camp ground easy for families and groups like scout troops. CCFPD has made some great improvements the last few years so the amenities are actually quite nice. Its worth checking out.

Excellent public woods / park with trails.

BEAUTIFUL place

Great trail

My childhood♡

Short easy paths that are good fit running hiking or biking.

Nice place for evenings

Good place for outing

Sew

Really awesome place and have to visit at least once in a year..nice garden and trees and flowers, fall colors..nice staffs

Great park

Good place for have fun with friends. Ppl usually have liquor and food there. Best part is you can go to this place and have liquor or fun around small lake. Ppl often go to this place for jogging as well.

Its a great place to catch the Des plaines river trail. The down side is that there are creepy guys who back into parking spaces looking for other pervs.

No garbage strewn around, taken care of

Beautiful Park

Excellent spot to take flower photos.