Located at the northern start of the Thorn Creek Trail System, Sweet Woods is home to a mix of winding creeks, scenic remnant oak woodlands and sprawling floodplain forests. Here, visitors can host gatherings at the accessible picnic shelter or partake in a variety of activities including hiking, cross-country skiing and more. Bisected by Thorn Creek, the site offers diverse spring wildflowers and is excellent for migratory bird watching in the late fall and early spring.
On this page:
Location & Things to Do
Sweet Woods
Entrance
Cottage Grove Ave, north of Glenwood Lansing Rd
Cook County, IL 60476
(near Thornton)
Things to Do & Amenities
- Parking
- Accessible Portable Bathroom
- Trail Access
- Hiking & Walking
- Bicycling
- Dogs
(on-leash only) - Cross-Country Skiing
Picnic Groves
- Accessible Grove #1
(with shelter)- Accessible May 1 to October 31.
- Distance to parking: 350 ft
- Distance to accessible portable bathroom: 330 ft
- Capacity: 250 people
Hours
Year-round: Sunrise to SunsetClosures & Alerts
Trails
Thorn Creek Trail System
Extensive trail system of paved and unpaved trails that connect multiple forest preserves, winding past lakes, wetlands and woodlands.
Location: Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Lansing, Lynwood, Park Forest & South Holland
Surface
Paved & UnpavedEstimated Total Length
23.5 milesHours
Year-round: Sunrise to SunsetClosures & Alerts
*Please be a courteous trail user: Follow posted signs and our trail rules and etiquette.