Recreational Opportunities
There are a variety of recreational opportunities throughout the Salt Creek watershed. Some activities you wouldn't expect so close to home, some are real gems.
The Salt Creek has several forest preserves along it shores providing habitat for wildlife. And there are many trails in these forest preserves and communities along the creek. Hiking, bird watching and fishing are common family activities along the creek. And the forest preserve districts, communities, and counties along the creek are working together to build the Salt Creek Greenway Trail, a multi-purpose, multi-county trail system.
Explore the Salt Creek watershed!
Biking and Hiking
The forest preserve districts, communities, and counties along the creek are working together to build the Salt Creek Greenway trail, a multi-purpose, multi-county trail system.
DuPage County Bikeways and Trails
Multi purpose trails are situated in most area forest preserves.
Cook County Forest Preserves recreation
Birding
Any forest preserve along the creek will provide bird watching opportunities. The riparian corridor is home to many bird species that you won't find in the typical backyard.
Canoeing / Kayaking
Paddling Salt Creek can be a real joy, and there is a lot to see throughout the seasons. However, certain problems persist with water quality, and water levels can fluctuate greatly and quickly because of its urban setting. For example, people should not paddle in high water situations after storms.
The USGS web site maintains real-time water levels at select areas along Salt Creek. These links can also be found in the right side column of our web pages.
- Rolling Meadows
- Elk Grove Village
- Brookfield
- Western Springs
- Wood Dale
- Elmhurst
- Oak Brook
- Near the confluence with the Des Plaines River in Riverside
Fishing
For more information on fishing in Northeastern Illinois visit these websites:
Fishing Headquarters
Chicago Paddling
DuPage County Forest Preserves
Fishing in Illinois
Cook County Forest Preserves
To read the success story of one avid Salt Creek fisherman, see our Winter 2007 edition of the 'Confluence'. You can download a copy from our 'Newsletter and Publications' webpage - link in the left column.
Ecological Monitoring
Local chapters of the Sierra Club are currently monitoring Salt Creek at two locations in Elmhurst. Click here to view their data.
Nature Education
Fullersburg Woods Education Center is situated along the Salt Creek in Oakbrook, Illinois. Trails with interpretive signs follow the Salt Creek.
Wolf Road Prairie at Wolf Road and 31st Street in Westchester is a well known birding site. The Salt Creek is situated a little south of 31st Street in Bemis Woods. Save the Prairie Society (STPS) was chartered in 1975 as a non-for-profit organization. Since then, dedicated volunteers have worked to preserve and restore the 80 acre Wolf Road Prairie and bufferlands in Westchester, Cook County, Illinois. STPS partners with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to promote and protect the natural resources of Wolf Road Prairie and the c.1852 Franzosenbusch Prairie House Nature Center and Museum located at the north end of the preserve.
The Cook County Forest Preserve District operates six nature centers for your enjoyment and education.