The Best Places in the 'Burbs to Check Out Fall Colors

Illinois isn’t widely known for it’s beauty, but here in the suburbs, we do indeed have some beautiful spots! With Fall colors are peaking this week, I want to make sure you know some of the best places to enjoy it! If you want to zip right to the interactive River listener suggestions, scroll to the bottom!

Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL): This 1,700-acre living museum of trees is a prime location for experiencing fall colors. You can explore a variety of landscapes and habitats, including woodlands, wetlands, and prairies.
Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby, IL): While not directly in the Chicago suburbs, it’s just a short drive away and features stunning canyons, waterfalls, and forests that burst with color in the fall.
The Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe, IL): The garden’s 385 acres include numerous gardens and natural areas with a variety of trees and shrubs that create a lovely fall display.
Cantigny Park (Wheaton, IL): This park features beautiful gardens, walking trails, and an array of trees that come alive with color in the fall.
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve (Darien, IL): This forest preserve offers hiking and biking trails through woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, providing a great opportunity to see fall foliage.
Busse Woods (Schaumburg, IL): Also known as Ned Brown Preserve, this large forest preserve includes a 7-mile bike trail and walking paths that take you through woodlands and along Busse Lake.
Deer Grove Forest Preserve (Palatine, IL): This preserve features diverse landscapes, including woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, making it a great spot to enjoy fall colors.
Blackwell Forest Preserve (Warrenville, IL): This preserve offers hiking, biking, and equestrian trails that wind through woodlands and around Silver Lake.
Kettle Moraine State Forest (Illinois and Wisconsin): While this is a bit further from Chicago, the Kettle Moraine State Forest offers an exceptional fall color experience with rolling hills and scenic drives.
Spring Valley Nature Center (Schaumburg, IL): This nature center has walking trails that wind through woodlands and wetlands, providing a serene environment to enjoy the changing leaves.