Paw Paw Forest Preserve, Willow Springs, IL

Paw Paw Forest Preserve in Willow Springs covers 280 acres along the Des Plaines River and features 3.5 miles of crushed-limestone trails open to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. The preserve contains three fishing ponds stocked by the Forest Preserve District and maintains a small boat launch for non-motorized craft. Picnic shelters and a playground sit near the main parking area on 87th Street, while the adjacent Centennial Trail provides a paved commuter route into Cook County’s larger network. The property borders the Village of Willow Springs and is a short drive from the I-55 and I-294 interchange, giving residents direct access to downtown Chicago and the western suburbs. Oak-hickory woodlands and river floodplain offer seasonal wildlife viewing and a quiet buffer between residential neighborhoods and the highway corridor.