Spears Woods Forest Preserve, Willow Springs, IL

Spears Woods Forest Preserve spans 278 acres of woodland and restored prairie in Willow Springs, with over four miles of trails open to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. The preserve includes a 1.25-mile crushed-stone loop around a central pond stocked with bluegill and largemouth bass, offering catch-and-release fishing. Picnic shelters with grills and restrooms are available near the parking area on Archer Avenue. The terrain ranges from flat meadow to rolling oak-hickory forest, providing year-round views of seasonal wildflowers and migrating waterfowl. Access is free and open daily from sunrise to sunset. The preserve sits less than two miles from the I-55/I-294 interchange, placing downtown Chicago, O’Hare, and the southwest suburbs within a 30-minute drive. Nearby Metra stations in Willow Springs and Lemont connect residents to Union Station in under an hour. The site is managed by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, which maintains trail surfaces and restrooms year-round.