Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve & Education Center
Location
The main entrance is located on Spring Road one-half mile south of 31st Street. From the south, take Ogden Avenue (Route 34) to York Road heading north, and turn left onto Spring Road. The Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center address is 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook, 60523, and the telephone number is (630) 850-8110.
Preserve Maps
- Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve Trail map (239 KB PDF)
Fullersburg Woods has been around for almost as long as the Forest Preserve District itself. Opened to the public in 1920, Fullersburg's 226 acres are testimony of the District's dedication to a policy of multiple-use land management. Environmental education, flood control and preservation of natural surroundings are concepts that come to life at this unique preserve.
Nature Education
The mission of Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center is to educate the public about humankind's influence on DuPage County's natural ecosystems and the inter-relationships with the global environment. More than 35,000 school children visit Fullersburg Woods each year to learn about the local natural environment and how they can improve conditions for future generations.
Visitor Center and Robert H. Kelly Community Resource Center - The newly remodeled Fullersburg Woods Visitor Center is a modern, interactive facility that provides an introduction to the local environment. Guests can explore the world of Salt Creek and its inhabitants, discover how to recognize resident bird species, and learn how to identify wild animal tracks. Visitors can examine the reconstructed remains of a 13,000-year-old woolly mammoth to learn about DuPage County's natural history or can use microscopes and spotting scopes to examine some of the creatures that call the forest preserves home today with program information as well as answers to nature-related questions.
The Robert H. Kelly Community Resource Center is available to educators by appointment. The center offers books, articles, magazines, activity and curriculum guides, and collection and monitoring equipment for checkout.
Reservations for upcoming programs can be made at the information desk or by calling (630) 850-8110 for more information.
Outdoor Recreation
Trails
Interpretive Trail
Taking a self-guided tour of this 1.3 mile trail through lowland woods and restored prairies by foot, bicycle or cross-country skis is a good way to learn about DuPage County's natural history. Most of the trail follows Salt Creek, providing visitors with the chance to see local flora and fauna.
Wildflower Trail
Seasonal blooms of many native species of wildflowers can be seen here. The trail starts near the visitor center and travels a short distance through the woods and restored prairie. The best viewing time is April and May.
Trail to Graue Mill
Travel the 0.5-mile walk along the banks of Salt Creek to visit Graue Mill. Along the way, stop to read the signs that highlight the area's cultural history.
Multi-Purpose Trail
Over 2.5 miles of eight-foot-wide multipurpose trails are open to bicyclers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers, hikers and dog walkers.
Picnicking
When not in use by school or other groups, a picnic area and non-reservable shelter are available just west of the parking lot. Campfires, charcoal grills and alcohol are prohibited.
Educational Programs
Family Field Trips and Programs
Many family-oriented programs offered by the District take place at Fullersburg Woods. A fun way to spend an evening or weekend afternoon, these programs are listed in a schedule that can be obtained from the visitor center or The DuPage Conservationist, the District's quarterly publication. Reservations may be required.
School Programs
Students from area schools can visit Fullersburg Woods on field trips and schedule a nature walk with a staff naturalist. From November through February, Fullersburg Woods naturalists visit local schools and present programs during assemblies. Call (630) 850-8110 for more information.
Youth Group Programs
When time and scheduling permit, naturalists are available for on-site, special-request programs for youth groups on a variety of topics from water studies to helping youth or scout groups with merit badge requirements.
For more information about Fullersburg Woods educational programs or events call (630) 850-8110.
Volunteer Nature Interpreters
People interested in volunteering at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center can serve as naturalists in leading or assisting youth and school groups with environmental educational activities. Training is provided by District staff. Click here for descriptions of volunteer positions and application materials. For more information, click here or stop by the visitor center or call the District's Volunteer Services office at (630) 933-7681. You can also e-mail the volunteer office at volunteer@dupageforest.com.
Historic Sites
Graue Mill
Over a century ago, Frederick Graue put the waters of Salt Creek to work for him in a milling operation that would last to the beginning of the 20th century. Today, this National Historic Landmark allows visitors to see the mill operate as it did in Graue's day. The nonprofit DuPage Graue Mill Corporation attends to the mill's daily operation. The mill is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., mid-April to mid-November. For information about field trips, programs or admission fees, contact Graue Mill at (630) 655-2090.
Ben Fuller House
Built around 1840 by Ben Fuller, the Fuller House is one of the oldest known examples of early balloon construction. It was moved to its current site in 1981 to avoid demolition and to await reconstruction.
Fullersburg Preserve History
Benjamin Fuller was one of the first pioneers to settle in the area in the 1830s, eventually founding the town of Fullersburg (now Oak Brook). WIth the passing of time, more homesteaders came to Fullersburg and the neighboring town of Brush Hill (now Hindsdale). Fullersburg thrived until the trail line to Aurora was built in 1862, which bypassed the much and mire of Fullersburg.
A decade after Fullersburg Woods' birth as a forest preserve in 1920, America was plunged into the Great Depression. A Civilian Conservation Corps camp was built here, and the visitor center and several of the shelters stand as remnants of this period. After the Depression, Fullersburg Woods Became popular with county residents as a boating and picnicking site. The preserve's appeal ultimately proved to be its worst enemy. The degradation of the land caused by heavy public use progressed to such a degree that in 1969, District officials restricted picnicking. Boating was prohibited the same year because sewage discharges and water runoff from surrounding communities polluted Salt Creek. It was this time that Fullersburg's revival began. Several decades later, the creek's water quality improved, and trees and other plant communities began thriving. A restored prairie created in 1973 added to the preserve's diversity, which has drawn a variety of songbirds. Beaver, red fox, white-tailed deer, squirrel, raccoon and other species now make the preserve their home. Add the migratory birds, which stop in the spring and fall, and it becomes clear that Fullersburg Woods is a prime wildlife haven in an urban environment.
Fullersburg Woods is a nature sanctuary for plants and animals. Please keep in mind the following:
- Enjoy the wildlife, but refrain from collecting.
- You are welcome to bring your pets, but please keep them on a leash.
- Bicycles and horses are limited to the multi-purpose trails. Please refer to the trail-use key and map.
Accessibility
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. People wishing to learn about the local natural environment will find the visitor center well-suited for wheelchairs and strollers.
For special accessibility needs or concerns, please contact the District's ADA coordinator at (630) 933-7683 or TTY (800) 526-0857 at least three business days in advance of your visit.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5000, Wheaton, IL 60189-5000
email: forest@dupageforest.com (630) 933-7200 Fax: (630) 933-7204 TTY: (800) 526-0857