Details

Busse Woods (Ned Brown) Forest Preserve

The 3,558 acre Busse Woods Forest Preserve in Arlington Heights and Elk Grove Village, Illinois is one of the largest forest preserves in Cook County, Illinois. It contains stunning Busse Reservoir, a delightful elk pasture and more than 12 miles of paved trails. The main activities here are biking, boating (rentals available), fishing, hiking and observing the elk.

Location

Off Higgins Road between Arlington Heights Road and Interstate 290. A detailed map may be found here.

Managed By

Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Website(s)

Distance from Downtown Chicago

24 miles from the center of town

How To Get There

Bike, Walk, Drive, Bus

Accessibility

There are accessible parking spaces, bathrooms, picnic groves (grove nos. 5 and 20 are accessible May 1- October 31 and may be reserved online here), fishing areas (consult here) and at Busse Lake Boating Center, an accessible canoe launch. Paved trails are accessible.

Things To Do

Biking (bike rentals available at nearby 7 Miles Cycles, 45 Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village), Birdwatching (bobolinks, egrets, herons, sparrows, terns), Boating (rentals available), Cross-Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Ice Fishing, Ice Skating, Inline Skating, Jogging, Model Airplane Field, Picnicking, Running, Snowmobiling, Watchable Wildlife (elk, mink, muskrats) and Wildflowers (bloodroot, great white trillium, woodland phlox)

Fun Facts

The first elk entered the elk pasture in 1925 after a train journey from Yellowstone National Park.

Other Information

Rest rooms and water fountains are located throughout the forest preserve. Boat rentals are available on Busse Lake in season.

Eats

Grab a delicious takeout breakfast from Golden Brunch located at 31 East Golf Road in Arlington Heights and enjoy eating it by Busse Lake.

Nearby Public Lands Worth Visiting

Paul Douglas Forest Preserve containing a 7 mile paved loop trail, grasslands, wetlands and a heron rookery

Best Time To Visit

All year