River Trail Nature Center - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Very peaceful and a quick getaway from Chicago. They have tons of wonderful programming. Staff is great. And a very nice nature party area for kids. My family from east coast couldn't believe this is free ( they take donations of course). Very nice to just sit by the river on a nice day.

This is such a timeless place to experience with your family. I had memories of taking my children there, now I get to enjoy it all over again with my grandchild. I forget there is a place of nature right in our neighborhood.

So beautiful place nature , the person can have to do relax and practice deport yoga, meditation other deport bike ride.

Excellent indoor Nature center, lots of taxidermy Live Turtles fish and lots of fun activities to do , clean indoor bathrooms and lots of parking, great waling trails , but be carefully they do have poison ivy

Very peaceful/mindfully walk. Amazing place for meditation and mindfulness. Gentleman at front desk is super nice and helpful. He walked me through the process of working/getting a job in the field! Above and beyond helpful! P.s they have an Owl!

21st century and we still have animals in confined prisons! How lovely! But according to this place and their “experts” the coyote will not survive in the wild! We also have “experts” in our government that are ruining our daily lives but hey…they are the experts! The only time I’ve heard anyone use expert as an excuse to back up their mediocre circus is when they cant come up with an intelligent excuse. The only expertise this park has is how to torture innocent animals! Good job 👏

We were staying at a hotel nearby in Northbrook and wanted to enjoy the day with a nature walk. Found this cute park and nature trail. Also discovered they had caged animals in captivity. At first it was cute but after seeing how the animals were acting pacing and squawking about I’m sure they would rather be free. Sad really! A caretaker was there cleaning and caring for them and appeared like a nice handler. The area was pleasant and loved the forestry lined trail. The only reason for my low review is my dislike for caged animals in captivity. Definitely worth the stop and the opportunity to enjoy nature!

This place was so beautiful and loved the coyote and the birds and reptiles and the snapping turtle shell but was just wondering how much it costed because I was looking to buy one

Nice trail and park in the Glenview neighborhood.

Great place for families to learn about IL native wildlife and nature. Weekends have scheduled wildlife feeding and talks. Great bird watching too. Indoors has more exhibits.

Amazing place! My kids and I love coming here every time we get the chance. This place makers us feel more close to nature. Thank you for maintaining it so well!

We love River Trail Nature Center! My child really enjoys the outdoor playscapes and can play there with friends for hours. We also enjoy visiting the animals and going for walks through the trails. The center offers great programming too - we went for an autumn walk with a ranger and learned so much about noticing the changes in the seasons. Recently we attended a talk about insects and the instructor was very engaging and informative. Thanks River Trail Nature Center!

Visiting this place reminds me of all the best memories of the Cook Country Forest Preserves. It's very well maintained but has an old feeling that makes for a very comfortable place. It's been a real godsend for places to take the kids in all seasons. In colder months the indoor places are a relief but are good in the other seasons too. The staff are all so friendly and clearly are interested in the work they do. The animals are all rescue animals also. Plus, bees!

River Trails is so gorgeous. My children enjoy their TWO outdoor wooden playscapes especially the one by the beautiful water. We always see the coolest birds here. Our homeschooling group has learned so much from their programming by participating in their hikes and watching their knowledgeable friendly staff feed their animals. Not so long ago, we were able to see their staff feeding mice to the raptors! It was so cool.

We love the nature playscapes here there are two! ...the trails are so beautiful. Our homeschool group also utilizes the indoor play space and love the exhibits of animals this nature center provides! What a beautiful peaceful place to come to. ☺️ Thank you Rivertrails for your excellent programming (often free which is amazing!) and for your beautiful playscapes and exhibits!

A must stop visit if looking for a nature fix! They have a great nature center with a lot of interesting reads and animal exhibits. There are also live animals to see: the resident coyote, hawks, owls, turtles and so many snakes! Staff is very friendly and lots of parking. From the nature center you can connect to a couple nearby trails. The unpaved Des Plaines River trail is across the street off Milwaukee Ave- across from Allison woods. It can be confusing but there’s lots of maps and helpful people there. The color change in the forest preserve late October is breathtaking!

Great educational experience and family friendly. Beautiful grounds for hiking, fishing, kayaking, and picnics. Animal enclosures for educational purposes are inside and outside. There's an on-site beekeeper!

Great place to walk around. They have educational activities and maple syrup festival. There is an outdoor playground for kids (small), lots of trails and nature galore

We've been coming here for a while and love the night hikes. Ranger Jerry is the best and most knowledgeable of the land and all its creatures. Thank you so much! 💓

Nice place to visit and enjoy the nature, it s free and opens from 9 am to 5 pm , the gates are closed at 5 pm , no dogs allowed. Open all days of the week I really enjoyed seeing different animals and birds, it s recommended to children to see animals and know more about their habitat and different species. Restrooms are available

Friday the visitor center is closed.

Були сьогодні у цьому фантастичному парку, отримали величезне задоволення! Дуже гарно, є різні тварини і птахи, ліс нереальний, все безкоштовно! Гарна річка і цікавий майданчик для діток. Дуже рекомендую!

There are a lot to learn and enjoy in the Nature Center and in the trail. Even there is a card with the names of all the birds to look for. Can fish with a fishing license. There is a playground for youn children. Pets are not allowed in the trail.

1st time there past thru on a hike north. Great place to learn about the wildlife that lives around us here.

Our granddaughters loved the Nature Center!

There is alot to do and see at the forest preserves for adult and children. There are trails, fishing pond, lean about birds and migration, tree tapping, invasives species, bees, trails, native plants species, and animals you can see up close. Even adults can learn something. There is a map that show you how the forest preserve band together in cook county.

Още едно любимо място за децата, където любувайки се на природата могат да срещнат на живо някой животни и да да научат много неща за околната среда!Центъра е подходящ за различна възраст деца ! Мястото предлага много възможности за игри на вън и на закрито. На добре изградената пикник зона край реката може да релаксирате след разходка по горските пътеки. Паркинга е непосредствено до сградата и е отворен всеки ден от 9 am- 5 pm.

A great place to have a walk in the wood while listening to wildlife around you

Cada vez que vamos en familia es una aventura diferente, caminar o pasear en bicicleta por la reserva forestal o volver a dar una visita a al Natural Center resulta en una experiencia nueva llena de aprendizaje ... esta ocasión conocimos algo de la historia de "COYOTE" ... coyete fue rescatado de las calles y llevado a un albergue de perros y así fue confundido y tratado durante buena parte de su vida como un PERRO, su comportamiento y dependencia de los humanos así lo constata por lo que resulta imposible reintegrarlo a la vida silvestre donde no tendría la oportunidad de defenderse ante sus propios congéneres u otros depredadores naturales ya que tampoco desarrolló habilidades para hacerse de alimento por sí mismo. Por ello la importancia de la información recibida en el RIVER TRAIL NATURE CENTER ... de que si vemos o nos encontramos accidentalmente en nuestros paseos por la naturaleza con un bebe de cualquier animal silvestre (venado, coyote, lobo, puma, etc) ... recordemos que su mamá no lo abandonó solo esta por ahí buscándole alimento; a veces creemos que estamos haciendo algo bueno pero por ignorancia rompemos el lazo familiar de un pequeño animal silvestre, imagínate que dolor de la mamá de "COYOTE" al regresar y no encontrar a su bebe... y la desorientación de "COYOTE". por el resto de su vida

Very good place to spend the time with your kids.

Wonderful forest preserve. The staff are highly knowledgeable and lead great tours. The maple sap/syrup tour was highly educational and interesting for all ages. The nature playground spaces are great for your ones looking to climb, move and explore. Lots of live animals to observe and learn about in the nature center too. Don't miss out on the back porch with comfy chairs and a great view of the river. We got to watch a coyote across the river. Can't wait to come back in the spring to see things in bloom!

Though it being a small place the place is very nice and kids friendly and staff is very nice kids loved this place waiting for summer to revisit the bees and garden

Love this place! Park at Allison Woods picnic area and walk to the center.

All season nature escape for all ages.

This is one of my favorite places to go in thr area, I come here often just to animal watch, see the animals and exhibits and just vibe, the center itself is amazing but there's also loads of amazing trails to walk through, I highly recommend it!

Beautiful trail perfect for walking/jogging. The kids love it there.

Clean open free trails, very educational , sad to see animals caged up but understand this is the norm for nature centers and zoos

Great outdoor space and to learn about the local wildlife

Love this place! Been coming here since I was a kid and now bringing my kids here. Just remember the mosquitos can get pretty bad on the trails even during the day.

They need to relocate all those animals from those small prison cells to better and more open places. It’s sad and disgusting. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. That’s not a good or happy life for those animals. So sad.

Great nature escape for being surrounded by urban areas. For adults, there are well positions places to grab a seat and connect with nature. Many birds, views of the river, trails to explore. For kids, indoor learning play area and 2 outdoor play areas from repurposed forest materials. Enjoy the fall colors or take a zen-like stroll during winter.

I've biked thru hear a few times and walked. The coyote definitely isn't doing well. Last time I went he was just walking in circles in his tiny cage. If you can move him for free to a sanctuary WHY NOT? There's also a Bald Eagle and some owls being caged there

As someone who used to work as an environmental educator , caring for the living creatures at our center , I am aware of the needs of non -human living beings. At our center, we only had animals and reptiles that would not be able to make it in the wild. I grew very close to all the living beings at the center, and formed a close bond with a turtle that opened my eyes & heart: All beings have feeling and needs and a right to live freely! .ROCKY IS SAD! He deserves to live a life of joy and be surrounded by a pack. This is literally a depressing prison for him. Please allow THE WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY of Colorado to give him the life he deserves.Thank you.

After humans mistook Rocky the baby coyote for an abandoned puppy, they captured him in nature and sent him to an animal shelter in Tennessee before he’d even opened his eyes. From there, he was sent to the Forest Preserves of Cook County and relegated—all alone—to a small, bleak corncrib cage at the River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook, Illinois. With a constant view of the forest around him, Rocky now presses his snout against the bars that imprison him.... at the River Trail Nature Center, Rocky languishes alone and has been observed pacing in apparent distress. This blatant disregard for his needs threatens his health, but sadly, it’s business as usual for the self-proclaimed “nature center.” Eagles, owls, and hawks are also confined to small, barren cages there, including a kestrel and a screech owl who are kept in 4-foot-by-4-foot boxes with no room to fly and no access to sunlight, fresh air, or foliage. But there’s hope for Rocky! The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado—which is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries—has offered to relocate him to an expansive naturalistic habitat where he could roam with other coyotes. WILL THEY ALLOW ROCKY FREEDOM?????

They do not provide adequate living space for the animals they have. This is a roadside zoo, making money off of exploiting animals.

Awesome free park with cool animal exhibits.

Free Rocky the coyote now!!! He’s suffering in that cage, he’s got to be relocated to a proper sanctuary. How can you mean he’s fine in that tiny cage if his? To see him trotting around like he does is horrible and heartbreaking! He’s really stressed out. Unbelievable you can say he’s fine!!! I hope everyone boycott your place!!!!

Much better with less noise pollution than Busse Woods

Love the wilderness trails and the river. Visitors center is cool and educational, but not to crazy how the animals are caged.

Thank you so much for good relationship

Great outdoor space for field trips, walks, relaxation, etc.

Was there when they fed the animals. The staff was excellent with the kids.

I will never visit again. I don't believe that the coyote should be held in a small pen where he paces, obviously miserable. He belongs at a sanctuary. Visitors are only"learning"about man's cruelty. I left feeling very sad and frustrated . Just like the coyote

Very nice place to walk, bike or just look at animals. The trails can be muddy this the of the year so wear appropriate shoes. Closes at 4pm so be aware of time so you don't get locked in.

This is a amazing place, Its was no Coincidence that I found this place it is a beautiful, peaceful oasis a great learning experiences as well ..I have enjoy it immensely!!! ..... You should go !

The staff are very friendly and enthusiastic and there is a variety of free programming offered - that I very much appreciate. Some interesting displays and animals indoor and out, with a good assortment of amphibians and reptiles especially indoors. The only reason for the 2 star rating is for the tiny pen the healthy coyote is kept in. I was stunned the first time I visited, didn’t realize such a situation can be legal (sadly it is, says a lot about the laws we apply to animals). I’m glad someone in the community is trying to advocate for change. Just because the pen apparently meets the basic minimum requirements doesn’t mean it’s right and beyond the suffering of the animal doesn’t teach the right lessons for our children. This isn’t some awful roadside attraction for goodness sakes. Perhaps for various reasons it may be too late to move this poor animal to a sanctuary but there is no excuse to not expand the pen at the very least. I understand that any decisions are made at the county level not by the staff here and I want to believe that they are advocating for what is right.

Please allow the confined wild coyote a better life at the wild animal sanctuary in Keenesburg Co. Solitary confinement of a wild animal is just cruel. Please do the right thing

Terrific work by knowledgeable professionals brings nature, wildlife, plants and programs to us. thank you to the FPDCC staff!!

One of my favorite places to go with me and my son he loves all the animals and birds I love the coyote we both love the coyote something to see he's very playful it's a great place to check out no matter what time of the year it is wildlife in its finest

Friendly staff, inside and outside wildlife enclosures, rescued wildlife, outdoor play area

Beautiful place to visit and great for kids.

Nice place to take a break while enjoying seeing eagles, owls and coyote at the forest.

Gorgeous 😍. And I love the animals and activities there. Great trails.

Perfect place to spend the afternoon with kids.

I've been visiting river trail for over thirty years now. Started with weekend walks with grandma in the 80s. Been coming back every year as an adult. The nature center is very informative as well as the staff. Great for the little ones as they had interactive exhibits( pre covid) but will still teach you a good deal about the native flora and fauna of Illinois.

Beautiful place for walking, birds watching, exercise, biking along with wonderful river. If you need relaxing, this is a place you have to visit. Every day for me if I have free time.

Highly recommend a visit♡ It has beautiful scenery throughout the trails. Our visit was truly a wonderful and educational walk in nature as we participated in their well planned and organized night hike led by two of the friendliest and knowledgeable rangers I've encountered; Ranger Jerry and Ranger Anne ♡ Thank you for all you do! ♡

What a wonderful nature center. Due to Covid we could see all the animals there. However, everything else was great attentive staff ready to answer questions and tell you all about the Center up coming activities. Will return soon.

One of the most beautiful places. My absolute favorite places to visit. I come here so often and everyone and everything about it is stunning.

River Trails is a special place with unique trees and wonderful paths to walk. The staff is exceptionally knowledgeable about aspects of trees, plants and animals. They have family friendly events periodically to teach about plants, trees and even their bee hives.

Great place. Workers are very knowledgeable.

This is a great spot. I called ahead to see if they had openings for one of their free programs, and a nice staff member let me know that while the program was full, I should feel welcome to come walk around the area anyway. The nature center itself was closed (due to COVID), but there was a tent in front of the center with an attendant, and the bathrooms, which were accessible from the outside, were open and clean. The trail is well curated with a great mix of open spaces, benches, bridges and optional loops. The entire trail was an adventure without being exhausting, supplying views of a pond where a couple people were in canoes. Parking is a little limited by the nature center, but it seemed like there was another parking area to the north of that which accessed the same trails. Overall, this is a great spot to keep in mind for a walk in the woods.

Fantastic little hideaway. Lovely well care for rescued animals in nice habitats. Inside is great to see turtles, snakes and more as well as a nice children's play area and small animal displays. Understandably it is currently closed up due to covid-19. The trails are friendly enough for a gentle novice hike but not boring in terms of nature and feeling "lost in the woods" as you'd like. They have nature talks and other events. Worthy of a visit.

Buildings are still closed, gates close really early at 4 and about the only animal is a coyote In a small cage. Fall colors are great on the nature trails.

So nice! Many different trails and even a small playground!

One of the best nature preserves as well. I have gone here so many times and this place has adapted well to the times I have been here.

Muy bien hay muchas cosas que hacer

Always loved going there when my kids were little! We still enjoy it as kids have grown up and moved out.

Beautiful place to hike or bike

Beautiful, peaceful, relaxing, lovely...

It is a very interesting and beautiful place to visit to see wildlife and plants Native to our area.

it has a variety of different types of animals. It has a bald eagle and multiple different types of owls. It has turtles and frogs and a coyote.

The forest and the river are beautiful

Love this place, been a regular for years. Returned today after a few years away. There is a lil spitfire in the turtle section taking bites of, and either trying to mate or eliminate, all the bigger turtles. Kind of negligent of staff to not separate the problematic turtle.

Great out the way place for a return to Nature... Didn't even know it was here Found it by accident Stop by for some recharge time... Put down the phone and enjoy the Great Outdoors!!

It’s a great place, although we spend most of our time watching the turtles. We love all the animals there and the nature walks. I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to spend an afternoon in nature.

Gorgeous place, very peaceful, so magical💫💙⭐💙💫

Maple syrup festival is a must during the spring, the center is a nature gem

Recommending meet the skunks we learned skunks are cute and one can like them 😁

I'm 60 and I've been going to the River Trail Nature Center since I was a kid. In fact, I'm sure that my father was younger than I am now the first time he took me. Today's visit was just a quick one on the way to running errands so we didn't have time to hike the trails which are beautiful this time of year but I still managed to see a red-headed woodpecker up close, as well as the coyote, bald eagle, and other owls and hawks that they have on display in enclosures, and walk down to watch the river slowly winding through a series of bends under the overhanging fall foliage. For a city boy it's an easy way to get a little more in touch with nature.

Love the peacefulness. Great place to take the kids to learn about nature. Or just hike the trails to unwind and relax.

It’s a great place to go so close to the city take family and friends hiking biking they also have horse riding trials nearby. Take the family education learn about nature and animals I’m not a big fan of seeing animals in cages but education doesn’t hurt.

Good place to see. Especially for children, they will enjoy very much and can even learn the environment of Nature. Parent may go along with their children.

Georgous day for an early spring walk. Day light savings started this morning. Met a gal taking her children for a walk. Family friendly place!

Very good place to take your kids, awesome hiking, cycling path. They have few native animals in cage, honey hives. They keep feeder for birds , so that we can see many varieties of bird. We can do fishing in river. No entry fee. Parking is also free.

Great nature center with lots of trails and woods to explore!

I really Liked it there where tons of awesome animals and great hiking paths! sadly there coyote has died :(

We love the River Trails nature Center. They many animals to view in and outside the Center including a hawk, owl, eagle, squirrel, turtles and snakes. They also have great hiking trails and it is adjacent to the Des Plaines River.

Great place for kids and anyone wanting to see a bold eagle up close. I’ve been to better nature centers but this one had some nice rescue animals that separate it from the rest.

the best place for outdoor walks