Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve — Attraction in Blackberry Township

For runners, this park is a gem. The main paved road is 0.75 miles for the complete loop, and the hill ("mound") is amazingly steep to do your hill repeats. The traffic flows counter-clockwise, and the paved road is narrow so you'll need to be vigilant. But drivers do not speed through the park as the road is winding and narrow and has steep sections. There is a pavilion at the parking lot, and at the top of the mound there is a potty house (pit toilet) and a stone shelter with more picnic tables. I like doing loops on the roadway, but if you wish to get cardio and avoid automobiles altogether, you can start at the base and run up the grassy hill in dry weather. It's an amazing workout. Compared to, say, Mount Hoy in Blackwell FP, this hill is just as steep, but about 50% the length. I like that the park has Forest Preserve Police driving through and making sure everything is safe. There are, as in all wooded forest areas, the usual folks who fail to leash their pets, but the majority are law-abiding, responsible pet owners who keep dogs on leash (which is the law here). Before driving to this park, check the hours as there is a locked gate at the entrance that will prevent one from even parking if the park is closed. I do recommend this...

Was taking a trip down memory lane, reminiscing if you will. I began bicycling in 1975 and was a serious cyclist by 1980. I rode with the bicycle club from St Charles. I would bicycle from my home in Wheaton to St Charles to participate in a 50 to 60 mile or more ride with the club then bicycle back to my home in Wheaton. One ride took us to Johnson's Mound and we all attempted riding to the top without stopping. Sadly, I only made it about 3/4 of the way up that attempt. However, my next two trips to the mound were more successful and on a bicycle geared for road riding, not hill climbing! Left most everyone behind as I made it to the top without stopping both times. Continued serious riding until 2005 when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Prior to that I was regularly covering ,50 to 60 plus miles per ride, doing that multiple times per week and riding TWELVE MONTHS per year? There were some rides when rain would hit around the Fox River and it would be a slow and doggy ride home. Did not go out in the snow, intentionally, but rode for about three hours in at least Minus 20 degree temps. I miss.being able to for a ride because I found them relaxing and recharging even after spending over four hours sitting on that...

A lovely, relatively short winding path with varying degrees of incline completely ruined by ignorant individuals driving their cars down the path. Sure, there's a picnic spot at the top, but these people are not stopping there. My husband and I and our dog had to step off the walking path and into the mud 5 times to move out of the way of these cars just casually driving through. Granted there are no visible signs warning these cars to not drive through unless necessary.. shame on whoever manages the preserve and shame on any person who drives through it more than once (after they've hopefully realized what an obnoxious mistake...