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
Entrance
Things to Do & Amenities
- Parking
- Accessible Indoor Bathroom
- Accessible Portable Bathroom
- Trail Access
- Hiking & Walking
- Bicycling
- Dogs
(on-leash only) - Cross-Country Skiing
- Birding Hotspot
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Indoor bathroom(s) open by Memorial Day in spring through Labor Day in fall, weather permitting. For planned gatherings, it is recommended to call and confirm availability with staff by calling 800-870-3666, option 1.
Picnic Groves
- Grove #1
(with shelter)- Capacity: 399 people
- Grove #2
- Capacity: 150 people
- Accessible Grove #3
(with shelter)- Accessible May 1 to October 31.
- Distance to parking: 95 ft
- Distance to accessible portable bathroom: 100 ft
- Capacity: 350 people
Hours
Year-round: Sunrise to SunsetClosures & Alerts
Wolf Lake Overlook
Location
Things to Do & Amenities
- No Parking
- No Fishing
- Birding Hotspot
Hours
Year-round: Sunrise to SunsetClosures & 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
PavedEstimated Total Length
11.5 milesHours
Year-round: Sunrise to SunsetClosures & Alerts
Events
Events
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Mushroom Walk
Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617Join us for a fun fungal walk as we search for mushrooms and learn about these fascinating organisms. DJ/Danielle is a local naturalist and Survey […]
Free -
Owl Prowl
Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617Join a naturalist for an evening walk while searching for owls.
Free • Registration Required -
Owl Prowl
Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617Join a naturalist for an evening walk while searching for owls.
Free • Registration Required -
Trunk or Treat
FeaturedEggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617Sponsored by the Forest Preserves and East Side Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy a family-friendly Halloween event, complete with candy!
Free -
Owl Prowl
Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617Join a naturalist for an evening walk while searching for owls.
Free • Registration Required -
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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:
- Eggers Grove Marsh Restoration Page
- Restoration Plan Developed for Critical Wetland Habitat (May 2016)
- What is Restoration? Page
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.