Deer Grove Forest Preserve - Located in Dundee Rd, Palatine, Illinois 60067, USA
Situated in northwestern Cook County, Deer Grove was the first preserve acquired by the Forest Preserve District, beginning with 500 acres in 1916. With its long, rich history and extensive trails, the 1,800-acre Deer Grove has attracted generations of visitors, from serious botanists to weekend joggers. Deer Grove’s significant and varied acreage makes it a premier destination for a suite of activities, from hiking and birdwatching to cross-country skiing and horseback riding.
Deer Grove’s rolling upland forest is interspersed with wooded ravines and wetlands. Picturesque creeks meander through this tract, draining upland woods dominated by oak and hickory. Miles of trails make it easy for outdoor enthusiasts to access the preserve’s diverse habitats. Runners, cross-country skiers and cyclists can cruise the four miles of paved trail, while ten miles of unpaved trails appeal to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. The vast, looping trail system creates ample space for extended runs or hikes and is heavily used year round.
Deer Grove West is primarily wooded, while Deer Grove East is more open, with recently restored wetlands and prairie, including 23 wetlands restored by disabling drain tiles that drained former farm fields at the isite.
Because of its hills and turns, Deer Grove has become popular with cyclists. The Deer Grove Trail links with the Palatine Trail at Quentin and Dundee Roads, offering bicycling opportunities beyond the preserve boundaries. Cyclists can access the trail at both Deer Grove West and Deer Grove East parking lots. Unfortunately, the ravine areas of Deer Grove have been severely damaged by illicit off-trail use, primarily by mountain bikers. To preserve natural vegetation and stop soil erosion, bicyclists and equestrians are asked to use only marked, designated trails. Use of unauthorized trails for these purposes is subject to ticketing and a fine.
Deer Grove is also home to a sledding hill, located near the main Deer Grove parking lots off Quentin Road. Also near these parking lots is the five-acre Deer Grove Lake, which can be fished all year. A model airplane flying field at Deer Grove East is dedicated to the exploration of flight.
Deer Grove is home to a variety of habitats, some of which are protected within a state-designated nature preserve. Throughout the preserve, numerous small wetlands attract wildlife such as turtles, frogs and salamanders, including several rare species. Large swaths of wetlands, upland forest, woodland, savanna and prairie are maintained and restored with the help of Friends of Deer Grove East and Deer Grove Natural Areas Volunteers.
In the spring, look for vernal ponds (temporary springtime wetlands), which support many local amphibians, including blue-spotted salamanders and chorus frogs. Spring is an ideal time to see woodland wildflowers such as Dutchman’s breeches and wood anemone. The spring woodland offers cover and food for migrating birds. Listen for veeries and hooded warblers in the deep woods and savannah sparrows along the edge. Summer hikers can spot jewelweed along the ravines and beneath the trees, which is a favorite plant for hummingbirds.
Anglers can find largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish and bullhead in Deer Grove Lake.
Please enjoy the preserve from the existing trail system as much as possible, and avoid walking off trail when conditions are muddy. The best way to explore Deer Grove off trail is to join one or more volunteer workdays held in both Deer Grove East and West. You will get to know Deer Grove up-close and personal while restoring the land!
Deer Grove Forest Preserve Palatine, IL - Controlled burns February 2017
Deer Grove is 100 Years Old and is Cook County's oldest Forest Preserve!
way back in 1916—a committee of the fledgling Forest Preserve District of Cook County officially recommended the acquisition of some 1,000 acres in Palatine Township. The measure set in motion the purchase of the very first forest preserve in Cook County, what we know today as Deer Grove West.
Controlled burns are considered a natural resource manager’s most cost-effective tool available for managing natural communities. They help control invasive shrubs and trees. Without fire, buckthorn, honeysuckle and other aggressive non-native species invade local habitats and shade out native plants.
We Are One by Vexento
Music provided by Audio Library
Deer Grove Forest Preserve
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Join us at the Deer Grove Forest Preserve. The Deer Grove Forest Preserve is a heavily wooded nature preserve and was the first preserve acquired by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. It is located in Palatine, Illinois.
For more information about the Deer Grove Forest Preserve, please visit:
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Deer Grove - Forest Preserve
This video is about Deer Grove - Forest Preserve
The Gates of Deer Grove | Apartment Complex Tour | Palatine, IL
The Gates of Deer Grove
125 West Dundee Road
Palatine, IL 60074
(847) 358-0331
Set in the heart of Palatine, IL, The Gates of Deer Grove is as convenient as it is beautiful! You're just 30 miles from experiencing all that Chicago has to offer -- plus you'll love being in the top-rated Palatine School District. We're also close to Jewel-Osco, Route 53, I-90, I-355, the Metra, and the pristine Deer Grove Forest Preserve. Stop by for a tour of our newly renovated studio and one-or two-bedroom apartments for rent. You'll find there's much more to enjoy -- and pets are welcome!
Discover the difference. Discover Home.
Deer Grove Forest Preserve Singletrack 2
Exploring Deer Grove..
Deer Grove West Side Single Track
This is one of the few legal sections of single track in the Deer Grove Forest Preserve.
Deer Grove Forest Preserve Singletrack 1
Illinois Singletrack using my Sony Action cam HDR AS100v. Took me about 2 hours to check all of the tracks. Trails are good for all MTB skills but mostly XC riding.
20120810 South (Friday) - Traffic on Quentin Road
Time-lapse video showing traffic for 24 hours in the intersection of Lake Cook Road and Quentin Road in Palatine, Illinois.
The images are taken by the Lake County Highway Department traffic camera mounted on the traffic light facing South.
Visit us at for more information about the Quentin Road expansion project and why we believe this traffic volume does not warrant a five lane highway cutting through the Deer Grove Forest Preserve.
Deer Grove Forest Preserve Wildfire Raw Video -- Unedited
March for Life - Palatine IL 1-17-2015
Northwest Families for Life hosted the annual March for Life in Palatine, IL on January 17, 2015. Eric Peterson of the Daily Herald covered the event where an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 took a public stand for LIFE. Make a difference in our culture and save mothers hearts and babies lives from abortion by volunteering with a pro-life organization. Learn more about opportunities in your area:
Northwest Families for Life website: NorthwestFamiliesforLife.weebly.com
Daily Herald article:
Wings Fire Palatine, Illinois June 18, 2010 (UNEDITED)
Unedited video of a fire that destroyed a building that housed the WINGS Resale Store and warehouse. Clothing and other household items were stored inside. The fire started after a thunderstorm and arcing commercial power lines were observed. The video is presented upon the one-year anniversary of the fire that occurred on June 18, 2010.
June 18, 2010
June 17, 2011
Raceway Woods - Carpentersville, Illinois
Riding Raceway Woods (clockwise).
Visit for trail updates and workday schedule.
Exploration of Abandoned Camp Reinberg - Cook County Illinois
The newly-formed Forest Preserve District of Cook
County (FPDCC) made their first purchase of 500
acres of land west of Quentin Road in 1916. Next
they acquired Wilson’s Deer Grove Park (giving the
preserve its official name) which ultimately
became Camp Reinberg – a nature respite for city
dwellers and campers. The preserve has since
expanded to 1800 acres including the 624 acres
east of Quentin Road known as Deer Grove East
and the Jens Jensen Preserve. The PLZ&W also ran through the camp, which was the Palatine, Lake Zurich, and Wauconda Railroad.
Forest Preserves of Cook County's Comments at Cal-Sag Trail Groundbreaking
Chris Slattery, with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, speaks at the Cal-Sag Trail Groundbreaking Celebration on June 7, 2014 at Freedom Park in Alsip, IL.
Morton Arboretum- full bike trail loop
Morton Arboretum bike trail
Gander Mountain Preserve IL
Hiking Northern Illinois park. The highest peak in Lake County Illinois. Abundant trails that take you through wide sweeping trails as well as tight in the woods type trails.
Music She Lit a Fire from the album Lonesome Dreams by Lord Huron.
Lonesome Dreams on iTunes:
How you can help build one of the largest bike trails in Illinois
News 10 WTHI
The North Branch Trail in 6 minutes
from Devon Ave to Glenview Rd on the North Branch Trail
clyton emano desplaines bike trail