Camp Pine Woods

Marsh blazingstar in bloom at Camp Pine Woods. Photo by Joerl Porterfield.
Marsh blazingstar in bloom at Camp Pine Woods. Photo by Joerl Porterfield.

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Location & Things to Do

Camp Pine Woods

Entrance

W Lake Ave/E Eucilid Ave, east of N Des Plaines River Rd
Cook County, IL 60056
(near Mount Prospect)

Things to Do & Amenities

  1. Portable bathroom open May 1 to October 31 depending on weather conditions.

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts

  • CLOSURE 12/02/2024 - 03/31/2025: Closed for land management.
  • ALERT 03/05/2025 - 04/04/2025: Hazardous trees and those impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer are being removed in this area.

Trails

Des Plaines River Trail System

The unpaved Des Plaines River Trail follows its namesake river through more than a dozen forest preserves, allowing visitors to enjoy casual strolls, full-day adventures and anything in between.

Location: Chicago, Des Plaines, Glenview, Melrose Park, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, River Forest, Rosemont, Schiller Park & Wheeling

Surface

Paved & Unpaved

Estimated Total Length

28.4 miles

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts

  • ALERT 07/31/2017 - ?: Trail officially ends on either side of the railroad tracks, just north of Golf Rd. Please do not attempt to cross the railroad tracks on Des Plaines Trail System - Yellow Unpaved near Big Bend Lake and Beck Lake.
  • ALERT 03/12/2025 - ?: Construction is underway on sections of the Des Plaines River Trail, with repair and upgrade work taking place between Lawrence Ave and Irving Park Rd. To ensure safety during these improvements, trail users should expect intermittent closures and occasional full trail closures as necessary. Additionally, select parking areas and picnic groves at both Robinson Woods-South and Schiller Woods-West (Groves 1-4) will be closed throughout this period. Work is anticipated to continue through fall 2025. Des Plaines River Trail System - Yellow Unpaved near Schiller Woods-West. More information >
*Please be a courteous trail user: Follow posted signs and our trail rules and etiquette.

a volunteer at Camp Pine Woods
Photo by Kris DaPra.

Volunteer Opportunities

Camp Pine contains a wide variety of natural areas, including sedge meadow, savanna, swamp white oak flatwoods, upland oak-hickory woodlands, and oak-maple forests. Help monitor and restore this site.