Details

Salt Creek Trail

The main section of the Salt Creek Trail meanders for approximately 7 miles along the banks of the Salt Creek through the towns of Brookfield, LaGrange Park and Western Springs. The trail is paved in a bucolic, wooded setting, and exceptionally friendly deer can often be sighted particularly near the eastern end of the trail.

Location

East end at McCormick Avenue just north of 31st Street in Brookfield and west end borders Interstate 294 (Tristate Tollway) just south of 31st Street in Western Springs. Consult here for a list of parking areas including those which are accessible. A detailed PDF trail map may be found here.

Managed By

Forest Preserves of Cook County

Website(s)

www.fpdcc.com/places/trails/salt-creek-trail-system

Distance from Downtown Chicago

About 14 miles from the center of town to the eastern end of the trail in Brookfield Woods and 20 miles to the western end of the trail in Bemis Woods

How To Get There

Bike, Walk, Drive, Bus, Metra Rail

Accessibility

The trail is accessible. There are accessible parking spaces along the trail. Accessible picnic groves are located at Bemis Woods-South, Brezina Woods and Brookfield Woods. These may be reserved online here.

Things To Do

Biking, Birdwatching, Boating, Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Inline Skating, Jogging, Picnicking, Running, Watchable Wildlife and Wildflowers

Fun Facts

According to legend, Salt Creek got its name in the 1830s when a wagon hauling supplies got stuck crossing the creek and barrels of salt capsized into the creek.

Other Information

There are a number of parking areas along the trail, and some of them have restrooms nearby.

ONE-WAY BIKING/HIKING OPTIONS WITH MASS TRANSIT: Put your bicycle on the train at Union Station on the BNSF Railway Line and get off at Brookfield which is about 1.5 miles from Brookfield Woods, the eastern terminus of the trail. Ride west as far as Wolf Road or to the western end of the trail and double back to Wolf Road; then ride on Wolf Road south about 1.5 miles to the Western Springs Metra Station on the BNSF Railway Line where trains depart for Union Station. This itinerary can also be done in reverse. Please consult the Overview section for more information on transporting bicycles on mass transit.

Eats

Good takeout breakfasts are available at Mother’s Day Restaurant located at 8815 West Cermak Road in North Riverside, not far from the eastern end of the trail. For a special treat, grab some delicious pastries at Kirschbaum’s Bakery located at 825 Burlington Avenue in Western Springs, not far from the western end of the trail.

Nearby Public Lands Worth Visiting

Brookfield Zoo, the Chicago area’s largest zoo, is located very close to the eastern end of the trail

Best Time To Visit

All year