Hidden Oaks Preserve
Location
Hidden Oaks Preserve is located at 419 Trout Farm Road, north of Boughton Road in Bolingbrook.
Hidden Lakes Trout Farm is located at 475 Trout Farm Road in Bolingbrook.
Hours
Preserve
April to October: 6 a.m.-sunset
November to March: 8 a.m.-sunset
Visitor center
Wednesday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Hidden Lakes Trout Farm
April to October: 6 a.m.-sunset
Trails
DuPage River Trail
Hidden Oaks Nature Trail
Note: The road leading down to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm, as well as the parking lot, closes each year on Nov. 1 (or after the first snowfall if it occurs sooner) and reopens on April 5. However, the trail leading down to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm is open year-round.
Phone
815-722-4121
(Hidden Oaks Nature Center)
815-722-4612
(Hidden Lakes Trout Farm and Tackle Box bait shop)
At 36 acres, Hidden Oaks Preserve in Bolingbrook offers a landscape rich with natural diversity, including prairie, forest and savanna habitats. Its trails and fishing access make it a convenient destination for outdoor recreation and exploration.
The preserve’s visitor center, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, provides a place to learn, explore and connect with nature. Visitors can enjoy live reptiles, a nature playscape, trail maps and Forest Preserve publications, along with year-round programs. Private rentals are also available.
Planning your visit
Hidden Oaks Preserve is open 8 a.m. to sunset every day of the year except Christmas.
Hidden Oaks Nature Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
Hidden Lakes Trout Farm is open 6 a.m. to sunset April to October (or until first snowfall).
Amenities and activities
- Fishing: Shoreline fishing is available at four lakes at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm. The Tackle Box bait shop offers bait, tackle, concessions, and fishing poles with closed-face spincast reels are available for free daily use.
- The Tackle Box bait shop has variable seasonal hours:
Early April-August: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
September-October: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- The Tackle Box bait shop has variable seasonal hours:
- Picnicking: Burr Oaks Shelter accommodates up to 50 people and is available for rental.
- Trails: A 0.39-mile paved segment of the DuPage River Trail runs through the preserve and connects to an additional 3.71 miles at Whalon Lake via a bridge over the East Branch of the DuPage River. The trail is suitable for biking, hiking, running, in-line skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. A separate 0.74-mile natural surface trail is available for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Flora and fauna
Hidden Oaks Preserve supports a mix of prairie, forest and savanna habitats. Wildlife commonly seen includes songbirds such as wrens, blue jays, robins, chickadees and brown creepers, along with raptors like hawks and bald eagles. Mammals such as fox squirrels, gray squirrels, raccoons and opossums are present, as well as deer, wild turkey and garter snakes.
Plant life includes prairie species such as bergamot and goldenrod and spring ephemerals such as Dutchman’s breeches, cut-leaved toothwort and Virginia bluebells. Trees in the preserve include bur oak, maple and black cherry.
Preserve history
Hidden Oaks Preserve was acquired in 2022 and was previously owned and managed by the Bolingbrook Park District. The preserve includes Hidden Lakes Trout Farm, a popular fishing destination that hosts annual fishing derbies for adults and children, and Hidden Oaks Nature Center, a community hub for nature programs and events. Hidden Oaks is part of the DuPage River preservation system, which protects nearly 1,800 acres.
Upcoming events
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Pumpkin Smash
Come smash and bash pumpkins at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in the name of saving the Earth!
Hibernation Hike
Join a naturalist on a hike through the woods to find out who’s hibernating and who’s not.
Wild Child
Answer the call of your wild child by getting outside at our monthly nature-themed program geared toward children ages 3-5.
Latest headlines
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Smash and bash your Halloween jack-o'-lanterns at Pumpkin Smash events
Two nature centers are hosting Pumpkin Smash events to raise awareness about composting and keeping pumpkins from landfills.
Boat launches, bait shops to close Nov. 1
Winter preparations include closing boat launches and bait shops as well as turning off water fountains and closing lower parking lots.
Blast from the past: See 18th-century weaponry demonstrations at Isle a la Cache
Program aims to be an immersive look at 18th-century life.
Frequently asked questions
Anyone is allowed to shoreline fish at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm. However, individuals who are 16 years of age or older are required to have a current Illinois fishing license. All statewide fishing regulations apply.
Illinois fishing licenses may be purchased at The Tackle Box bait shop at Hidden Lakes.
Fishing poles with closed face, spincast reels are available for use for the day for free at Hidden Lakes.
Fish in the lakes include bluegill, sunfish, catfish, bass and trout.
The lakes are stocked at the opening of trout season each year and before each fishing derby.
Absolutely. However, dogs must be leashed at all times and must stay on the trails. They are also welcome in the nature center. Cleaning up dog waste is required by Forest Preserve ordinance.
There are no costs associated with visiting any of our preserves. Parking is always free, and so is admission to the nature center.