Green Belt Forest Preserve, North Chicago, IL

Green Belt Forest Preserve spans 174 acres in North Chicago, offering residents direct access to 3.5 miles of maintained hiking trails that wind through oak savanna, wetland, and prairie ecosystems. The preserve features three parking areas with trail maps and picnic shelters, plus a fishing pond stocked by the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Visitors can observe more than 120 bird species along the Des Plaines River corridor, which forms the preserve’s eastern boundary. The site connects via the regional Des Plaines River Trail to adjacent forest preserves, extending opportunities for longer runs and bike rides. Its location along IL Route 137 places it within a five-minute drive of downtown North Chicago and the Naval Station Great Lakes main gate, while Metra’s Union Pacific North Line station is less than two miles away.

Biking Paths Cross-Country Skiing Fishing Hiking Paths Interpretive Center Parking Picnic Area Restrooms Shelter