Discover a peaceful escape at Ethel’s Woods Forest Preserve in Antioch, a 501-acre preserve filled with rolling hills, woodlands, wetlands and wide-open scenic views. Visitors can explore 1.6 miles of gravel trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing, with four scenic overlooks offering beautiful vantage points throughout the preserve.

One of the preserve’s highlights is its remarkable ecological restoration. North Mill Creek, once dammed to create Rasmussen Lake, has been restored to its natural meandering path, helping improve water quality and reestablish native wetland and wildlife habitats. The preserve also protects mature oak-hickory woodlands, including century-old bur oak, white oak, shagbark hickory and black walnut trees.

A section of the Millennium Trail travels along the western edge of Ethel’s Woods, while a pedestrian tunnel beneath Route 45 connects the preserve with neighboring Raven Glen Forest Preserve, creating even more opportunities to explore northern Lake County by foot, bicycle or horseback.

Location: 19330 Miller Road, Antioch
Hours: 6:30 a.m.–sunset, daily

This preserve is part of the Lake County Forest Preserve.