Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve
Location
Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve is located on Dutton Road, north of Goodenow Road, in Crete Township.
View Goodenow Grove interactive map
Hours
Preserve
8 a.m.-sunset
Visitor center
Wednesday-Sunday:
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday:
Closed
Trails
High Point Trail
Oak Ridge Trail
Plum Creek Greenway Trail
Scout Trail
Snapper Pond Trail
Visitor center
Plum Creek Nature Center
Phone
708-946-2216
815-727-8700
Covering 1,393 acres, Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve in Crete Township is home to large swaths of forests and open prairies. This scenic preserve offers immersive nature experiences for all.
The preserve’s visitor center, Plum Creek Nature Center, serves as both an educational hub and a welcoming entry point. The center features hands-on exhibits, interactive displays, resident reptiles, an extensive bird-feeding area and an educational honeybee hive and hosts seasonal programs for all ages.
Planning your visit
Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve is open 8 a.m. to sunset every day of the year except Christmas.
Plum Creek Nature Center welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For trail conditions or seasonal updates, visitors can call the nature center at 708-946-2216.
Dogs are not allowed on Oak Ridge Trail, located in the nature preserve section of the preserve.
Amenities and activities
- Camping: Nine rustic campsites suitable for families and groups offer a chance to extend your adventure. The campsites are on flat to hilly terrain in full shade to full sun. Each campsite can accommodate up to six tents and includes a fire pit and picnic table. An accessible latrine and a water fountain are located nearby. No electrical hookup is available.
- Picnicking: Meadow Lark (150 capacity) and Plum Creek (100 capacity) shelters are available for rental for gatherings and provide scenic views and nearby trails.
- Trails: Plum Creek Greenway Trail is a 3.15-mile crushed limestone route that runs through forest and prairie. It’s ideal for biking, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. This trail leads to the iconic “big bridge,” a 267-foot wooden bridge over a deep ravine that offers panoramic views. Shorter looped trails offer opportunities to explore quiet paths.
- Winter recreation: A 40-foot sled hill opens Dec. 1 if conditions allow, and there are miles of trails suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Ice skating is permitted at no charge at Snapper Pond when conditions permit. Snowshoe and snow tube rentals are available at the nature center. Visitors may bring their own sleds, but no steel runners, snowboards or steerables are allowed.
Flora and fauna
Wildlife thrives throughout Goodenow Grove. Birdwatchers often spot woodpeckers and migratory songbirds, especially near wooded edges and around Snapper Pond. Frogs and other amphibians occupy wetlands, while oak-hickory forests provide habitat for woodland species. Portions of the preserve support state-threatened species, including rare orchids and snakes, underscoring the area’s ecological significance.
Preserve history
Goodenow Grove is part of the larger Plum Creek preservation system, which protects more than 3,300 acres of habitats dedicated to conserving forests, wetlands and native grasslands in eastern Will County. More than 520 acres were designated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1996, safeguarding rare plant communities and habitat for threatened wildlife species. The first parcel of land at Goodenow Grove was acquired by the District in 1938, with the most recent acquisition in 2025.
Upcoming events
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Volunteer Morning: Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve
Get some fresh air and exercise while helping to make a difference in your community by attending one or more of the Forest Preserve’s volunteer mornings.
Tic-Tac-GO!
Turn this summer into a summer of adventure with weekly explorations at Monee Reservoir and Plum Creek Nature Center.
Nature Play Day After Hours: Bugs
Join us for our monthly nature-themed program for tots ages 3 to 5 years old. This month will be an introduction to the world of bugs.
Latest headlines
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Curious about beekeeping? Plum Creek class offers hands-on experience
Learn the basics of beekeeping from Plum Creek's resident beekeeper. The six-week course includes classroom instruction and hands-on experience in live hives.
Plum Creek art exhibit offers colorful, whimsical look at America’s state birds
Chicago artist and writer Marcia Whitney-Schenck brings humor and imagination to “Winged Ambassadors,” a summer art exhibit at Plum Creek Nature Center featuring creative interpretations of America’s state birds.
Project Update: Plum Creek Greenway Trail bridge repairs completed
Work to repair the Plum Creek Greenway Trail bridge at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve in Crete Township has been completed and the trail section has reopened. The bridge was damaged when a large tree fell on it.
Frequently asked questions
There is no admission fee for visitor centers because we are tax supported.
Camping permits may be obtained online or in-person at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township or Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet. Reservations also can be made online; reservations for campsites must be made two business days in advance of the reservation date.
Youth group camping can only be booked over the phone by calling any of the above visitor centers. A 50 percent discount is offered to youth group organizations.
Visit the camping page for more information.
There are no costs associated with visiting any of our preserves. Parking is always free, and so is admission to the nature center.
Absolutely. However, dogs must be leashed at all times and must stay on the paved trails. They are not allowed on natural surface trails in this preserve. Dogs are also welcome in the nature center. Cleaning up dog waste is required by Forest Preserve ordinance.
Plum Creek Nature Center has a meeting room for rental, equipped with tables and chairs. This is a flexible space perfect for business meetings, training sessions, birthday parties and more.