Buffalo Creek Preserve Bike Trail

Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve encompasses 387 acres. Acquisition of this land by the Lake County Forest Preserves took place in several purchases between 1978 and 1987 and prior to development by European settlers, this land supported a tallgrass prairie dotted with a few small wetlands. Restoration of that prairie has been underway since the 1980s. Though the land has been drastically altered, first by farming and later during reservoir construction, a surprising diversity of grassland birds uses the Preserve, including bobolinks, meadowlarks and pheasants.

Though only 4 miles in length, this lovely trail sports wooded areas and open grasslands as well as the reservoir which helps tame Buffalo Creek during severe storm periods. The parking lot is off Checker Road just west of Arlington Heights Road and has numerous parking spaces and a washroom. This photo of the dam is from the spur trail that uses an underpass to travel east of Arlington Heights Road and connects to Buffalo Grove's trail system, which offers many additional miles of connected trails.





The reservoir is quite scenic and many walkers and fishermen were encountered on the trail.



Warning signs in the area in 2008 cautioned people about a coyote den in the area:

A mother coyote and her pups have a den near the loop trail west of Schaeffer Road at Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve. Sections of trails near the den may have high coyote activity. Other coyote family members will chase off threats to the pups. These animals are no danger to you or your dog as long as we work together to continue to reinforce their natural fear of people.

Lake County Forest Preserve District web site