Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

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Similar · Naperville Riverwalk

Similar · Emily Oaks Nature Center

🥾 Hike · Willow Springs

2 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit

0–1 yr

★ 5.0

1–3 yrs

★ 5.0

3–5 yrs

★ 5.0

5–10 yrs

★ 5.0

🚗
About 30 min drive
From Naperville · Parking: Free nature center lot (9800 Willow Springs Rd)
🍼
Stroller-friendly
Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
🌳
Lots of shade
Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Rain-OK · Fine on cold days
⏱️
Typical visit: 2 hours
Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter

The oldest nature center in the Cook County forest preserves: the little red schoolhouse dates to 1886, the newer exhibit building has turtles, snakes, fish, and an observation beehive, and outside the 1/3-mile White Oak loop along Long John Slough is short enough for a one-year-old, with deer and herons if you're lucky.

💡 Tips

The exhibit building is closed Monday and open until around 4:30pm other days (check the website). The White Oak loop works with a stroller; the 1.9-mile Black Oak loop is wilder dirt trail. Worth a winter visit when there's snow, since it's warm inside.

What this place offers

✓nature center

✓live animals

✓lake

✓old schoolhouse

✓loop trail

✓free

✓restrooms

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Willow Springs

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☀️

Sat 10/17

Sunny · 35–55°F · 1% rain

☀️

Sun 10/18

Sunny · 41–61°F · 0% rain

Location

Willow Springs, Illinois

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

🥾 Hike · Willow Springs

What this place offers

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Willow Springs

Location

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Emily Oaks Nature Center