Ned Brown Forest Preserve

Great place to fly my model airplane or watch others fly their planes. Grass is taken care of but last time i was there the asphalt on the landing area was cracked and its easy to get wheel stuck.
I would like to see a north-​south runway but in future since there is more room to take off/​land in those directions.
Nice area for family picnic or party. Close to major stores so if you forget something the store is less then a mile away.
Local hobby shop is also not to far away so it makes it convenient for when I need a new prop after a bad landing.

I needed to find a place to get a couple of miles in to hit my daily walking goal… and this was the perfect place for it. A very beautiful place to go for a walk, the trail is kind of narrow so it gets difficult when 2 bikes try to pass each other, but people seem aware of that so they are pretty cautious. It was incredibly muggy out, but at least the trees overhead kept things shady.

A wonderful forest preserve with great trails to get away and relax from the busyness and noise of everyday life. I first discovered this preserve two years ago when I had a bridge project on Higgins Rd over Salt Creek and would go for walks during my lunch breaks. I haven’t been back until this week when I decided to check out the trails again but this time for runs.
So far I’ve tried two different sections of the trails. The first section of the trail was when I parked in the Busse Forest– North lot which is off of Elk Grove Rd. I took the trail heading East towards Arlington Heights Rd and then curving south, parallel-​ish to Arlington Heights Rd. This trail I really enjoyed since it is mostly enclosed and far away from the streets. I saw 2 adorable deer on my run in this area and it really makes you feel like you’re much further away from the city/​burbs.
The next section of the trail I ran was starting from the Elk Pasture heading south, crossing Higgins Rd, running along Arlington Heights and then slight west to the South Dam on Salt Creek (Basically a continuation from where I left off on my first run).
I definitely preferred the first section of the trail scenery-​wise since it was more forest and naturey but the second was much less populated so it was quieter and more serene. Either way, no matter which part of the trail you start at you really can’t go wrong. This forest preserve is huge and is great for walking, biking, skating, running. basically anything! Also, side note about the washrooms. I’ve only used one of the washrooms but I assume they’re all the same? They are basically just stalls WITHOUT DOORS. This is just a heads up but they do the job when you are desperate so it really isn’t a big deal.
So come for the trails or if you’re hungry, go to Tensuke Market across the street, pick up sushi and then chill with the elk. Either way it’s a win!

Yeah great trail for biking or jogging. I think its like 10 miles. It is a little far from where I live but, it is best trail with nature and avoid traffic areas because it is enclosed compared to other trails I tried.

Awesome park! We came here early morning to bike. It’s a big forest preserve — I think the total bike trail is ~12 miles. It is very peaceful and all the people that go there are very respectable of each other. You’ll find lots of bikers, runners, rollerbladers, and casual walkers. It smells like nature. The plus — ELKS! Big elks are fenced on the other side. There are so many of them — you can’t feed them but you’ll get to watch them. There’s also deers running around the area. It is a really awesome place to be with nature. I think we found our favorite biking place!

10.8 miles of bike/​jogging trail, boat rental, picnic areas, an area for flying planes, open fields, brazen deer, lakes full of waterfowl, cross-​country skiing, and plenty of parking – what else could you ask for in a forest preserve? The variety of habitats is excellent. You can find:
–mature Great Lakes hardwood forest
–a smaller section of flatwoods forest
–wetlands
–bodies of water including creek, stream, natural lake, and man-​made lake
–open prairie
The bathrooms are gross, I give you that, and there could be a few more trash cans. I’d also like to see more monofilament collection containers, and there’s a reason why a stoner band named an album after the Busse Woods section (hint: the teenagers you see coming out of the trees smelling like a skunk were not, in fact, skunked). Still, this place is pretty awesome. There’s a reason why it gets so crowded on nice summer weekends!

A big enough park so that I literally managed to get lost when I stayed here past sundown, and experience I won’t forget for awhile because it got very dark deep in the woods here!!! quite large heavily wooded park with a pretty extensive bike path network and a medium sized lake, Fall colors look very nice. lots of runners and cyclists, some of whom look quite nice also. I was staying in a hotel in the enormous rather drearily monotonous business/​industrial park in Elk Grove Village nearby, was very happy to find this park which is welcome respite from the suburban and industrial sprawl of the vicinity.

I like big elks and I cannot lie…
I’m a sucker for nature, specifically animals and more specifically, not spiders. (die, die, die)
Ned Brown makes eyeing elk easy with partially gated woods and a safe area where the elk are free to graze without the threat of being approached by jerk-​ass humans or fed poison or gummy bears or something else that acts as elk kryptonite.
You can do an on-​your-​own type walkabout/​run and try to catch nature in a semi natural roaming state, or park near the fenced in area where several dozen elk, ranging in size and age can be seen at any given time grazing in the field.
I recommend going Yogi style and bringing along a few pic-​a-​nic supplies and the whole family for a unique bonding experience. Don’t hide yo wife or yo kids for this one, folks. Ned Brown takes preserve peeping to a whole new (not creepy) level.

Not gonna lie to you… I’ve become semi-​obsessed with the Ned Brown Forest Preserve. I’ve been going during my lunch break at work on occasion, sometimes before work for a relaxing walk, and I take out of town people to show them and school them on elks.
The biggest draw for me is being able to watch the elks. You can get so close to them and it’s a nice little reward for myself after gallivanting through the forest for a brisk walk. I’ve decided my most favorite time to go is in the early morning because the animals are much more active than at high noon. I’ve seen a couple of the male elks sparring with their antlers while making some little noises, males rubbing their antlers on trees and heard one male make this loud, long screechy noise — all just this week. Apparently this noise is called bugling and according to the ever reliable Wikipedia they do this in order to establish «dominance over other males and attract females.» It seems it’s mating season! Interesting because only the males were up and active in the mornings this week while all the females were just chilling in the forest. I look like a total creeper while I’m standing there in work clothes staring at the animal’s doing their normal behaviors in the big habitat. I’m becoming an elk expert!
I totally want to get a bike so I can join the masses that go for rides at the forest preserve. There are usually a decent amount of people so it seems safeish for a single gal like myself. Plus there is always parking in the front parking lot off of Arlington Heights Road. Ned Brown is a pleasant, chill place to find your moment of zen and peace.

The Ned Brown Forest Preserve is huge — there are some nice walking/​biking paths, picnic areas, and places to just go and enjoy nature and the great outdoors! It’s easily accessible as well. I love coming here on lunch breaks to relax and get some fresh air! I have yet to really explore the whole area, but so far I’m in love!

This is probably the best forest preserve for biking/​walking/​running in the NW Suburbs. I use this trail for biking but it has facilities for plenty of other activities like fishing, boating, picnics, etc. If you’re on the trail you only have to stop to cross a main road once, other than that its pretty smooth and uninterrupted 8 mile loop (which cant be said of the other forest preserves in the area). There are lots of ponds and bridges and a good portion of the trail is under tree cover which provides some relief on those hot, sunny days that we’ve been seeing of-​late. It does get crowded at times on weekends but you’ll notice this only at the parking lots. There are plenty of ponds for fishing and lots of spots for sunbathing if that’s what you’re looking for.
Here is a video I made of my ride…

I worked about a ¼ mile from here when I first moved to Chicago back in the late 90’s. I would stop off at lunch every now and again to get some p and q away from the insanity that was that particular office.
I stopped back recently and it was pretty much exactly as I remembered. Elk
feeding distance and the beauty that is Busse.
Just do it, etc.

The perfect outdoor destination for recreation of all types. I stumbled upon this suburban oasis a year ago when I started training for long-​distance running races. The 7.7-mile paved loop is perfect. There’s plenty of shade, water sources, bathrooms and scenery. I’ve come within arm’s reach of deer and regularly enjoy the captive elk. This morning, I saw an adorably fuzzy pack of baby geese!
I like running here because it’s never crowded, but it passes the «scream test»: if I screamed, someone would hear me. There are people fishing and kayaking, as well as picnicking and running. Now that I’m into cycling, I appreciate the paved, flat course, which has several off-​shoots to pad my mileage. There’s lots of parking, too.
Between the fishing, boating and running, you could easily pack a lunch and make a day of it.

In training for my first half marathon this June with my husband, I’ve had to part with my BF, the treadmill, for the harsh open road. So I’ve been trying to push myself to do outdoor runs more often and changing it up with different routes.
Julie R. and I met up at Busse Woods on a weekday morning. (Great half way spot for me to meet up with my city friends and then shop/​have lunch at Woodfield.)
We parked near the bathrooms. Ugh. I imagine that’s what prison bathrooms would be like. No stalls. Stanky stank. Metal toilet bowls. Ok, I know it’s a park, but ew. So use the bathroom before you get here.
I’m directionally challenged so I need obvious signs directing me where to go. We must have started off in one of the side trails because we never found the 7.7 mile main trail. Instead we ran 3 mi around a couple ponds with people fishing and over a bridge that crossed Route 53/290…that incline was brutal and then back tracked to finish our 6 mile run. I’ll have to check out a map online before heading out for another run here.
Plenty of bikers here, I think more than runners. Didn’t eat as many bugs as I normally do when running through a wooded trail. Good mix of asphalt and crushed limestone to keep the knees happy. Very neatly kept. Actually my husband’s coworker is in charge of maintaining Busse Woods on a volunteer basis, so high five to him!

I am a huge fan of Busse Woods. The main trail is a 7.7mi loop with very good pavement (for the land of potholes, aka Illinois), and there are roughly 15 parking lots which give you access to very different parts of the forest preserve.
And… the elk! I’ve been coming here since I can remember to feed them (you’re not «supposed to»… but who am I to deny an elk a piece of apple?). They love apples. Don’t let anyone, or any sign, tell you otherwise! ;) If you come not bearing fruit, they are wonderful to just look at as well.
This place comes alive in the summer and gets pretty packed. It’s a beautiful place, though, and allows you to escape the absolute chaos of the Woodfield area. Some of the twists and turns here make you feel like you’re a lot farther away than you are (in a good way).
There are picnic tables galore, and you’ll find people BBQ’ing or throwing a party at every one of them during the summer.
Come on out and enjoy the great suburban outdoors!

The scene:
— Grazing deer that don’t run when you bike up to them chattering loudly to your friend
— Fenced-​in elk pasture full of these large, smelly, beautiful creatures
— Wonderful, curving, slightly hilly trails
— Lovely bridges surrounded on water by both sides
— Grassy, swamp-​like fields full of overhead lines flanking some of the well-​paved paths
The numbers:
45 — min drive from the city
7.7 — miles on the main trail (red)
5 — side trails (purple, yellow, green, orange, brown)
1 pm — the time you should be off the trail to minimize the claustrophobic
effect of everyone having their weekend outing when you are
The verdict:
Short trails that are relatively narrow compared to other forest preserves I’ve checked out, but this is still a great suburban escape for those who are tired of cycling/​running into the yocals on Chicago’s lakefront path.

It is a 45 minute drive from my home but I wanted to bike a new trail. It is a 7.7 mile black top path. Path alittle too narrow for the crowd. Path is shared by walkers, runners, rollerbladers, cycists and fishermen. Scenery is beautiful but I wish there was more shade on the path, especially since it was 80 out today.
There is a fenced off area where ELK stay! That was awesome to see!
Will be back in 2 weeks, when I have to do my 7 mile training run.

The park system is probably what I found most impressive about the Chicago area during my recent visit. We don’t have parks quite like this smack in the middle of populous suburban areas. Busse Woods in particular is quite the oasis, providing a sizable chunk of green space just outside the corporate-​headquarters-​burb of Schaumburg.
I came here for a run on a Monday. Even then, there was a fair number of people using the path. I could easily see this becoming very crowded on weekends, but as it was, it was peaceful and visually appealing, with wide vistas overlooking meadows, weedy sloughs and lazy, murky ponds. I’d love to be able to throw this into my running-​route rotation.
Even though I’m giving 5 stars, I really wish there was a mountain bike trail in this park. It would seem to me that the space exists to build some nice singletrack with minimal or no real damage to the woods and surrounding environment. While I would have enjoyed biking the paved path if I’d had my bike, I’d prefer the less-​sterile experience of riding miles of tight singletrack through woods and meadows.

Great place to run … when there is absolutely NO fundraising anything walking groups around. I understand that what they are doing is for a great cause, but this track is just way TOO narrow for big groups like this. They don’t adhere to the lane divider. You can yell «ON YOUR LEFT» at the top of your lungs and yet they still won’t move out of the way.
Busse Woods is such a big huge public area, if organized groups like to use the 7.77 Elk path, they need to be more considerate of other people.
Otherwise, it’s great for runners, it’s shaded on some parts, open sky on other parts.

A pocket of forest in the middle of a bustling area. Can’t go wrong with hanging out at Busse. If you like to be outdoors, to run, to bike, to rollerblade, to play volleyball, to do Yoga amidst nature, to cross country ski… well you get the idea. Its located in a great area that is easy to get to, and it holds a dear place in my heart.
Busse is the best place to get your nature on!