Halfway Between Milwaukee And Chicago Is Illinois' Pretty Preserve With Fishing And Scenic Trails

When one is living the big city life, there's often a feeling of wanting to take a break and get away from it all, but you may not have the time or energy to drive for hours and still make the most of your time there. For Milwaukee and Chicago residents, the Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve is a lovely, easily accessible place to enjoy a weekend of relaxing fishing, hiking, and spending time around beautiful trees and meadows.

Walking alongside tall, green grass, crossing over still waters, and meandering through lush underbrush is absolutely idyllic in this preserve. The songs of swallows and sparrows soothe the ears, as soft sunlight filters through the tree branches. With the Des Plaines River flowing through and Sterling Lake glittering in the sunlight, the loveliness of this place makes it easy to let go of any stress and just breathe. The natural beauty of this pretty preserve is a huge draw for visitors, with one Google review remarking that it is a "beautiful, heavenly place to appreciate nature and walk your dogs." 

The preserve is a mere 40-minute drive south of Milwaukee and an hour north of Chicago, while being close enough to Lake Michigan to get some lakeside beach time in. It's free to visit, yet shelters are available to reserve and rent. Restrooms and parking lots are dotted about the preserve for your convenience. Permits are required for certain attractions, like off-leash dog areas, horse trails, camping, and special use. Plus, this preserve even has a model aircraft-flying area!

Fishing is a joy in the Van Patten Woods Preserve, with Sterling Lake being populated by crappie, bass, catfish, and several other species, according to iFish. Boat ramps for non-motorized watercraft are available here, as well as an ADA-accessible floating dock and fishing piers. As always, be sure to have your Illinois fishing permit on hand. Cast a line from the forested banks of the Des Plaines River or bring a canoe to fish along the lake. Van Patten Woods is also the start of the scenic 31.4-mile Des Plaines River Trail, where you can escape the city bustle by walking alongside the water through the woods or paddling down the calm waters.

Take in the lush, green beauty of the preserve as you languidly traverse the preserve's trails. The shortest trail is the Van Patten Woods Yellow Loop, a 1.7-mile route that leads through wetlands and forest, and is wonderfully secluded. You can take your time, stop and take pictures, or simply sit under a tree to read or gaze up at the green leaves and blue skies. A longer loop, at 4.3 miles, is the Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve Loop, which circumnavigates Sterling Lake. It is good for bicycling, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding, with one AllTrails reviewer saying that its "beautiful lake views with a nice breeze [make] a magical evening." Enjoy watching the waterfowl on the water and the sun setting as its calming colors are reflected on the lake.

These trails are as splendid as those at the lush Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve just outside of Chicago. Waterfall Glen is about a 1.5-hour drive from Van Patten, but it is just minutes away from the laid-back Chicago suburb of Willow Springs. If you're flying into O'Hare International Airport (ORD), you can take a few days to explore these beautiful, peaceful nature retreats via day trips after enjoying the lively food and music of the city.