Daniel Wright Woods Lake County Forest Preserve

Pileated Woodpecker. Photo: Doug Reitz

 

This 750-acre Preserve with 4 miles of trails offers excellent spring birding for migrants. The bridge over the Des Plaines River is a popular area in spring with sightings of up to twenty warbler species such as prothonotary warbler, cerulean warbler, oven birds plus orioles and tanagers. The trails to the southeast out of the parking lot often have red-headed woodpeckers. This preserve also has incredible displays of white trilliums and other spring wildflowers in early May. if you want a longer trail to hike, the preserve is part of the Des Plaines River Trail that connects it to Half Day Forest Preserve (south) and Old School Forest Preserve (north).

Location: Mettawa (Southeast Lake County)
Best Time of Year: Spring, Fall
Key Species: Spring & Fall Migrants, Warblers, vireos, flycatchers, pileated & red-headed woodpeckers, Barred & Great Horned Owls
Official website