Salt Creek Park Forest Preserve
Location
The entrance is located on Elizabeth Drive between Addison and Wood Dale Roads south of Irving Park Road.
Outdoor Recreation
The 90 acres of Salt Creek Park Forest Preserve sit along the banks of Salt Creek and are perfect for that short lunch break during the week or a family or group gathering on the weekend.
Picnicking
The preserve features a reservable picnic shelter with a 100-person capacity, a smaller, non-reservable shelter, and numerous picnic tables available on a first-come, first-served basis. In remote areas of the preserve, a blanket on the ground can serve as a makeshift table. Ground fires are prohibited, but visitors may bring their own grills and dispose of coals in the on-site hot-coal containers. Latrines and a water pump are available to make visits more enjoyable.
Fishing
A moderate 65-yard walk down a gravel trail leads anglers to Salt Creek's fishing opportunities. The creek is stocked with smallmouth bass and also features largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, northern pike and walleye. All anglers 16 and older (except legally disabled persons) are required to have valid Illinois sport fishing licenses in their possession and must follow District and state regulations.
Trails
Nearly two miles of clearly marked, looped trails meander through the preserve. These mowed turf trails are ideal for hiking and cross-country skiing through many of the 83 acres of grassy fields and woodlands in the forest preserve.
Preserve History
The eastern section of Salt Creek Park Forest Preserve was once part of Dunkley's Grove. It was named after Ebeneezer and Hezekiah Dunkley, two of the first white settlers in the Salt Creek area. This heavily wooded area was undoubtedly protected from forest and prairie fires carried by the westerly winds because it rests against the east bank of Salt Creek.
Salt Creek flows in a southeasterly direction from its headwaters in northwestern Cook County through eastern DuPage County and then back into Cook County, where it meets the Des Plaines River.
Since DuPage's massive growth began back in the 1960s, the creek has posed a constant threat of flooding to those who live in its flood plain. One of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's main goals is to provide storm-water control through the acquisition of flood-plain property.
Land for the preserve was purchased in 1931, which makes it one of the oldest in the District. More recently, a large reservable picnic shelter was built in the same style of an existing Civilian Conservation Corps shelter originally built in the 1930s.
With Salt Creek on its western boundary, Salt Creek Park Forest Preserve invites visitors to enjoy its woodlands and open space, while remembering that it provides area residents and businesses with valuable flood plain land.
Accessibility
For special accessibility needs or concerns, please contact the District's ADA coordinator at (630) 933-7683 or TTY (800) 526-0857 at least three business days in advance of your visit.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5000, Wheaton, IL 60189-5000
email: forest@dupageforest.com (630) 933-7200 Fax: (630) 933-7204 TTY: (800) 526-0857