Lincoln Marsh - Wheaton, IL

Ubaldo Melo

Hermoso lugar

A M

Amazing preserve, feels like you've entered a National Geographic video! You can hear birds everywhere. Saw herons and egrets! The trails are a perfect combination of tall shade trees on one side and open spaces on the other.

Artur Ciegotura

I fell in love with this park. It is full of wildlife within a reach of your palm. I had many early morning walks when there were not too many people around. Very peaceful and calming. I walked every possible path out there. I was amazed to see both the great white egret and a great blue heron just about 50 feet from each other (included a picture). As an amateur bird watcher, this was a perfect place to be at. Many, many bird species to be photographed and heard. Great place for daily walks. Btw, make sure to bring a bug spray!!!

TravelFan96

Nice hidden gem in the Western Suburbs for nature lovers and forest lovers!

Small preserve that contains a big prairie field, some forest patchs, mini swampy boardwalks, as well as a small pond that you can walk out too via a deck. Also part of the Illinois Prairie Path goes through this preserve and is what i took to enter the Lincoln Marsh via a bike.

For my first visit i did the short mile loop that went through all of these lands scapes and found that I was alone with few people during the week on a cloudy March day. The short hike was easy, flat, as well as very peaceful for being right in the middle of the suburbs. However, if done in the summer i have heard it gets buggy so bug spray is recommended for summer months. In winter early spring however this isn't an issue.

The pond deck was also very nice and peaceful as well with a sign about ut the local birds in the area.

Bikes are not allowed on any woodchipped trail/the main trail through the marsh. There is a bike rack at the western entrance to lock up to walk the trail. If coming from the Illinois Prairie Path follow until you see the pond le ft left and Prairie on the right. Their should be a sign on the left after seeing these landmarks as you will see a small bike trail with a slight down incline to the left as well. Take this into the preserve to the bike rack and bathroom.

Very nice for locals to unwind, for nature/bird lovers as well as a nice place to bring a date or family. As well as for picture taking. Highly recommend if you want to unwind from the metro of Chicagoland or as a destination for a long bike ride on The Illinois Prairie Path!

DWH

Amazing preserve. Beautiful all year round.

Stephanie “The Chicago Mom”

A very pretty not so frill, but all be it fairly large and another fantastic free nature filled escape located just about an hour away from the city, set in the western burbs. It’s a great spot to step out for a stretch and step away from the screen. No beaches to wade away but great hiking or catch a planed park district event or go geocaching. Loads to take in and lots of places to play. It’s a great spot to spend an hour or afternoon. Read all the signs 1st. Good spot for kiddos ( that is with proper supervision of course as there is a large body of open water accessible) please note there’s really no places to go for help immediately near by after 4pm or people working there. Just always practice caution as you would with any body of water or open water source. It’s also shorter to access from the office easy side on Lincoln. It’s behind the house off the drive way side.

No major stairs or hills that I saw. Lots of dust/dirt kicked up though and wood chips galore. I’d also say to Bug spray all day if your gonna play, IL has ticks for days. Unfortunately we went to grab a nature kit but had to cut it short due to a weirdo at the park. So we will have to wait to add a few more pics here on a later date, as this visit was sadly cut short after a man acting all sketchy suddenly showed up hiding and parking like in a tree and stayed there watching us unload the car 😳🚨 (light hair late 30-40’s crusty looking white guy not properly dressed for a run or a hike ( looked like he walked off a job site, not out for a jog) nor did he fit on the the mini teal “Vespa” like moto scooter he rolled up by a good 50 or so lbs. but hey who am I to talk to personal tastes, I’m just saying. We reloaded a booked it out quick cause this mama don’t play.

Again, just always be vigilant of your surroundings and stay safe especially in the woods. Now this is not to detour as we will definitely be back very soon in daytime hours when it’s staffed and hopefully my awesome 6’3” wall of hubby can come too. So grab friend go and get outside into nature. This is one spot you should tally go!

Read more see our links @ thechicagomom.com

Tomek Rynkiewicz

The Lincoln Marsh offers woodchip and boardwalk trails looping around a large, quiet wetland and through forested areas. Trails link to the Prairie Path, and south to Manchester Rd. Parking is available on Harrison Rd.

Madeleine England

What a find. I can’t wait to come back. Wear bug spray. Waterproof hiking shoes are essential after rains. You can easily get lost here so don’t be in a hurry the first time you come.