McDonald Woods Forest Preserve — Attraction in Illinois

This +300 acre Forest Preserve is a part of the massive Lake County Illinois FP system. It’s highlights include rolling hills, open meadows, and a variety of water features. The 4 mile trail system includes both crushed limestone and wood chip pathways. The wood chip trail is quite lengthy, and traverses some of the best features of this Preserve. One caveat, however...it might be best to avoid the wood chip trail immediately after a heavy rain, as sections of the path are very thin on chips, but heavy on mud. While only 300 acres, the well-planned system of trails gives an impression that it is much larger. This Preserve includes and connects with the Millennium Trail. Amenities include a large, paved parking lot, a locking, two-person outhouse, and a...

Absolitely killer forest preserve! I hesitate to rate it so highly just because I almost want to keep it my little secret. This place is so beautiful during the winter, with an underpass route that leads to nearby neighborhoods, a beautiful path overlooking a lake, and a lovely trail through the woods. The majority of the trail is a large loop, so the scenery is totally fresh for most of the way. With plenty of places to enter and exit, it is very accessible by car, foot, or bike. My only complaint is that the public restrooms at the front don't lock, though I have never personally experienced any issues with it. That being said, this is a place I'll return to plenty of times in the future, and I hope you'll come...

OVERWHELMED by so much beauty! I like to search for beautiful places for my running trainings and so far Lake County keeps giving me nothing but amazing landscapes. I have been running at Nippersink, Grant, Round Lake, Rollins Savanna, Third Lake, Long Lake and several other gorgeous parks and lakes, yet, I must say McDonalds Woods has the most stoning views I ever had. Heads ip runners! It’s all about ups and downs! Hills all across the path. Be advised. You have the option of 5k and 6k. Yesterday I was going to run the 6k loop so I started fast but the ups and downs of the course made me go for the...