Salt Creek Marsh Forest Preserve, Itasca, IL

Salt Creek Marsh Forest Preserve covers 214 acres in northeastern Itasca, providing direct access to 3.6 miles of marked trails that loop through cattail wetlands, restored prairie, and second-growth oak woodland. Visitors can launch non-motorized boats from the canoe/kayak launch on Salt Creek and fish the 12-acre pond stocked annually by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. A 0.8-mile accessible boardwalk crosses the marsh, offering elevated views of waterfowl and wading birds without disturbing nesting areas. The preserve connects to the 40-mile Salt Creek Trail, allowing cyclists and runners to reach downtown Itasca and Metra stations without crossing major roads. Picnic shelters, drinking fountains, and restrooms sit near the main parking lot on Irving Park Road, while the adjacent 27-hole Salt Creek Golf Course adds an on-site recreational option. The preserve’s location—less than two miles from Interstate 290—places commuters within a 30-minute drive of O’Hare and downtown Chicago while maintaining a quiet buffer of open space between residential neighborhoods and the highway.

Biking Paths Fishing Hiking Paths

Location

City Itasca

State Illinois

Averages

Taxes $13,306

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