Recreational Opportunities
There are a variety of recreational opportunities throughout the Salt Creek watershed. Some activities you wouldn't expect so close to home, some are real gems.
The Salt Creek has several forest preserves along it shores providing habitat for wildlife. And there are many trails in these forest preserves and communities along the creek. Hiking, bird watching and fishing are common family activities along the creek. And the forest preserve districts, communities, and counties along the creek are working together to build the Salt Creek Greenway Trail, a multi-purpose, multi-county trail system.
Explore the Salt Creek watershed!
Biking and Hiking
The forest preserve districts, communities, and counties along the creek are working together to build the Salt Creek Greenway trail, a multi-purpose, multi-county trail system. The system includes a paved trail through woodlands, wetlands, prairies, and a number or recreational and picnic areas. Points of interest identified by people hiking and biking along the Cook County portion of the Greenway Trail are shown on this interactive map. Additional information can be found by clicking on these forest preserve links:
DuPage County Bikeways and Trails
Multi purpose trails are situated in most area forest preserves.
Cook County Forest Preserves recreation
Natural Sites
Salt Creek Greenway Association
Birding
Any forest preserve along the creek will provide bird watching opportunities. The riparian corridor is home to many bird species that you won't find in the typical backyard.
Canoeing / Kayaking
Paddling Salt Creek can be a real joy, and there is a lot to see throughout the seasons.
Bring your own or rent a kayak or canoe during the warmer months in Dupage https://www.dupageforest.org/things-to-do/get-outdoors/boating
or Cook County https://fpdcc.com/things-to-do/boating-canoeing-kayaking/
More on paddling fun along the Watershed and preserves in Dupage and Cook at https://www.dupageforest.org/news/conservationist/2018/spring/paddling-in-the-preserves
Keep in mind, certain problems persist with water quality, and water levels can fluctuate greatly and quickly because of our urban setting. For example, people should not paddle in high water situations after storms. The USGS web site maintains real-time water levels at select areas along Salt Creek.
Fishing
For more information on fishing in Northeastern Illinois visit these websites:
To read the success story of one avid Salt Creek fisherman, see our Winter 2007 edition of the 'Confluence'.
Ecological Monitoring
Local chapters of the Sierra Club are currently monitoring Salt Creek at two locations in Elmhurst.
Nature Education
Fullersburg Woods Education Center is situated along the Salt Creek in Oakbrook, Illinois. Trails with interpretive signs follow the Salt Creek.
Wolf Road Prairie at Wolf Road and 31st Street in Westchester is a well known birding site. The Salt Creek is situated a little south of 31st Street in Bemis Woods. Save the Prairie Society (STPS) was chartered in 1975 as a non-for-profit organization. Since then, dedicated volunteers have worked to preserve and restore the 80 acre Wolf Road Prairie and bufferlands in Westchester, Cook County, Illinois. STPS partners with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to promote and protect the natural resources of Wolf Road Prairie and the c.1852 Franzosenbusch Prairie House Nature Center and Museum located at the north end of the preserve.
The Cook County Forest Preserve District operates six nature centers for your enjoyment and education.