Caldwell Woods

bike riders and a walker on the North Branch Trail at Caldwell Woods.

Caldwell Woods, located on the northwest side of Chicago, features picnic groves, activity areas, a wellness shelter, sledding hill and access to the popular North Branch Trail. Although small in size, this preserve is big on diversity, with habitats ranging from flatwoods and floodplain forests to open savanna and oak woodlands.

On this page:


Location & Things to Do

Caldwell Woods

Things to Do & Amenities

Picnic Groves

  • Grove #1
    (with shelter)
    • Capacity: 150 people
  • Grove #2
    • Capacity: 150 people
Event Permits PageGrove PDF Map of Caldwell Woods

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts


Trails

North Branch Trail System

The North Branch Trail System offers paved and unpaved trails along approximately 20 miles of the North Branch of the Chicago River, making it a premier biking route in the northern suburbs.

Location: Chicago, Glenview, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Skokie & Winnetka

Surface

Paved & Unpaved

Estimated Total Length

36.7 miles

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts

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

Volunteer Opportunities

This beautiful preserve is just one example of the rich diversity that once was the vast Illinois landscape. Its open savanna, oak woodland and river bluff ecosystems offer interesting views in all seasons. Join North Branch Restoration Project volunteers as they remove buckthorn and other weedy species, protecting these high-quality natural areas.

Bunker Hill Flatwoods


Oxbow Prairie