Sometimes the best place to have a nice little bike ride is the place where forest preserves began in the Chicago area: Deer Grove.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County was established in late 1914, indeed the first such district in the state, and 500 acres north of Palatine that are now called Deer Grove were the first that the district obtained, a year and a half later, according to the district’s history. That original site is actually the Deer Grove West preserve today. The East preserve, on the other side of Quentin Road, came later, almost doubling the size of the total land.
Some 15 miles of trails are now running throughout both sides. The west, more forested side has a 5.5-mile unpaved loop (the yellow loop) plus a 1.5-mile unpaved trail through the middle (orange). These unpaved trails come with varying quality, with rough dirt and some rocks, or maybe smooth gravel in other spots. Sometimes the trail can be hard to discern when, say, the forest floor is covered with leaves.
In the middle of the land is a 1.2-mile paved trail that starts in the west preserve right at the corner of Quentin and Dundee roads, and curves in briefly and then back out to cross Quentin into the east preserve, where it finally meets the red paved loop.
That Quentin crossing, also at one of the main entrances for cars, unfortunately is a rather busy one, as the road is a major north-south throughway in the northwest suburbs, even when it’s only two lanes through Deer Grove.
While the trails on the west preserve largely go through real forest, that 2.8-mile red loop on the east side, a paved trail in decent condition, runs through a rather breathtaking open landscape complete with grasslands and wetlands, even a swamp with tree trunks. You’ll find yourself far away from the suburban sprawl. The east preserve also has a 2.7-mile, often thin unpaved loop (brown) that runs near the paved loop.
This video takes you on a ride over most of the east paved loop.
If all this is not enough, there are even the main roads and parking lots to cruise and enjoy within the forest. These parking lots, at various points around Deer Grove, make easy options for casual bicyclists and families to visit and enjoy rides at whatever length and difficulty level they wish.
The trails may not be long enough for serious cyclists, who may stop here in the middle of a longer ride. The trouble with that is there’s no great way to access Deer Grove from the north, unless you’re willing to ride on the rougher dirt and gravel trails off either Hillside Road or Ela Road on the west side — through unofficial entrances — or dash down busy Quentin Road or even Hicks Road to the east to get to the official entrances. Access to and from the south is easier with a path off the paved loop leading to Smith Road, where you can start on Palatine’s bike routes, marked with signs.
Deer Grove has been a focus of forest preserve restoration efforts since 2008. Prairie and wetland restoration began on the east side, and since 2014, effort shifted to the woodlands on the west.
I finally spent some serious time in Deer Grove this spring, and the forest district suggests that’s a particularly good time to check out some of the habitats, “some of which are protected within state-designated nature preserves.”
“In the spring, look for vernal ponds (temporary springtime wetlands), which support many local amphibians, including blue-spotted salamanders and chorus frogs,” the district web page says. Also, “spring is an ideal time to see woodland wildflowers such as Dutchman’s breeches and wood anemone.” And the page goes on about all the birds you can hear, too.
Given the options and serenity, Deer Grove can get busy with casual bicyclists and families, as well as runners, hikers and skaters. The views certainly offer anyone a respite from the busy surrounding roads.
Here’s a thorough tour of Deer Grove from “Cynical Zombie.”
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My first forest preserve experience in childhood and my favorite all time. There is well marked single track on the west side that is not technical, but physically challenging climbs and descents. The trails are two way, so once the trees have leaves watch for oncoming riders on some blind corners. Stay on the marked trails as areas have experienced severe erosion from irresponsible destructive riders. If you have anything left, take a leisurely ride on the westside asphalt.