Swallow Cliff Woods Forest Preserve
This forest preserve located in Palos Park, Illinois is famous for its 125 limestone stairs which lead from a parking area to the top of a bluff which is a rarity in predominantly flat northeastern Illinois. There are beautiful wooded trails through the glacial moraine at the top of the bluff.
Details
Location
The vehicle entrance off Calumet Sag Road (Route 83), just west of LaGrange Road/96th Avenue in Palos Park, Illinois, is for the stairs and bluff. An additional vehicle entrance is on 119th Street just west of LaGrange Road/96th Avenue. A detailed map may be found here.
Managed By
Distance from Downtown Chicago
23 miles from the center of town
How To Get There
Accessibility
There are accessible parking spaces and restrooms but the cliff stairs are not accessible.
Things To Do
Biking, Birdwatching (eastern wood-pewees, great crested flycatchers, red-eyed vireos, summer tanagers, woodpeckers), Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Jogging, Other Features (Café; Indoor Pavilion Rental), Picnicking, Running, Sledding and Wildflowers.
Fun Facts
The Swallow Cliff Stairs were a depression era project of the Civilian Conservations Corps. The bluff was formed approximately 12,000 years ago from glacial meltwater.
Other Information
Restrooms and water fountains are available.
Eats
For a belt busting takeout breakfast try Dahlia’s Pancake House located at 10719 South Roberts Road, Palos Hills, Illinois. The delicious frittata is as big as your head and can easily feed two people.
Nearby Public Lands Worth Visiting
Cal-Sag Trail which is described on this website
Best Time To Visit
All year
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