Eggers Grove

open woodland at Eggers Grove

The landscape at Eggers Grove moves from dry, wooded ridges where spring wildflowers thrive to long, narrow wetlands filled with sedges, marsh grasses and waterfowl. The site has picnic groves and open space for recreation, as well.

On this page:


Location & Things to Do

Eggers Grove

Things to Do & Amenities

  1. Indoor bathroom open April 1 to October 31 depending on weather conditions.

Picnic Groves

  • Grove #1
    (with shelter)
    • Capacity: 399 people
  • Grove #2
    • Capacity: 150 people
  • Grove #3
    (with shelter)
    • Capacity: 350 people
Event Permits PageGrove PDF Map of Eggers Grove

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts


Wolf Lake Overlook

Things to Do & Amenities

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts


Trails

Burnham Greenway Trail System

This trail on a former railroad right-of-way includes numerous on-street segments and links Eggers Grove to the north with the Thorn Creek Trail System to the south.

Location: Burnham, Calumet City, Chicago & Lansing

Surface

Paved

Estimated Total Length

11.5 miles

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts

*Please be a courteous trail user: Follow posted signs and our trail rules and etiquette.

a large marsh at Eggers Grove
A large hemi-marsh dominates the southeast corner of Eggers Grove.

Nature Notes

The land where Eggers Grove now stands once lay under the waters of Lake Michigan’s larger ancestor, Lake Chicago. As the water retreated, it left behind sand ridges. Between the ridges, long wetlands formed. Today, Eggers is a unique habitat, combining dry, wooded ridges where spring wildflowers thrive with long, narrow wetlands filled with sedges, marsh grasses, wildflowers and waterfowl.

The large marsh to the southeast is one of the few remaining local wetlands where Virginia rails nest. Other bird species include gray catbirds, yellow warblers, song sparrows, eastern kingbirds and red-eyed vireos. The varied woodland and wetland landscape attracts spring and fall migrations of waterfowl and songbirds. Ongoing restoration work helps maintain this ecologically significant area.

Learn more about restoration efforts at Eggers Grove:


a group of volunteers posing near wetland plants they just finished planting

Volunteer Opportunities

Help remove invasive species that threaten to crowd out native plants. Trained leaders show you how to identify plants that don’t belong and demonstrate how to safely use hand tools. Workdays may also include native seed collection, hand pulling invasive plants, and nature walks to enjoy the preserve.