Trail #2: Check!
Located in Bolingbrook, on Schmidt Road just north of Boughton, lies another hidden trail system complete with a big nature center and things for people to explore. The driveway into the preserve is made of pavers leading back into the woods and the main building. Parking was fairly easy and the nice lady at the table directed us to the start of the trail which was past the gazebo and over a large grassy area where a dirt path promptly disappeared into a dense copse of trees and shrubs. (Left picture, below.) From there the terrain was all downhill and somewhat uneven. It wasn’t long, however, before we emerged from the woods onto a paved trail stretching in both directions. The Woods Walk sign indicated that we should go to the right. We followed it, impressed by the open areas and waterway that dominated the walk. (Middle and right pictures, below.)
The trail was wide – and bustling with walkers, runners, and cyclists. (I know it doesn’t look like it in the photos but I chose my moments.) What surprised was that soon after we started on the paved path we came across another parking lot that was virtually empty. So for anyone who needs a smooth surface, this is the place to start! Simply drive past the first Hidden Oaks Preserve sign, down the winding (narrow!) road, and voila! There you are. You can hop on the trail from there. It also includes wooden bridges, like a boardwalk, where you can stop to take in the view. (Photos below.) The landscape was lush and green and the entire hike was peaceful. We may come back once the leaves start to turn to see the color show . . .
Here’s another interesting twist we discovered on our little adventure: this trail leads directly to Whalon Lake!!! This is where we kayak!! (See photo below.) There’s a path that goes around the entire lake and there are even other spurs that take you to other parts of this particular preserve. Unfortunately the Goosechase checkpoint was where the paths converge and it told us to turn back. We ended up going a bit further to the lower parking lot where the boat launches are, then turned around and headed back. This was even busier than the Woods Walk trail but still lots of fun. Definitely worth visiting any time you’d like an easy, paved trail to just enjoy. 😉
We really enjoyed our experience here at Hidden Oaks Preserve. It turned out to be pretty warm but it wasn’t a very long path – less than a mile, unless you choose to extend your stay and explore Whalon Lake for a while. Whatever you do it’ll be enjoyable. Word of caution: there’s almost no shade so lube up and bring plenty of water. Although, if you forget, there’s a little place on the corner of the parking lot called The Tackle Box that has drinks and snacks . . .
Happy hiking!
#woodswalk2026
#hiddenoakspreserve
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