Highmoor Nature Preserve, Highland Park, IL

Highmoor Nature Preserve covers 135 acres of mature woodland, restored prairie, and wetland in Highland Park. A 2.3-mile loop trail system winds through oak-hickory forest and open meadows, linking to the 20-mile Skokie Valley Trail for extended walks, runs, or bike rides. The preserve’s central parking area provides restrooms, drinking fountains, and a picnic shelter. Birders can view warblers, woodpeckers, and waterfowl from a 600-foot boardwalk that crosses a cattail marsh. In winter, the same trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The preserve sits within a mile of Metra’s Union Pacific North line, downtown Highland Park shops, and the lakefront beach, allowing residents to reach both commuter rail and Lake Michigan in under ten minutes by car or bike.

Trails