Exploring Forest Glen in Vermilion County with Kids

Just under an hour’s drive from Champaign-Urbana, the Forest Glen Preserve in Vermilion County is a hidden gem for explorers of all ages

Champaign-Urbana is nestled in the midst of all kinds of awesome day trip locations and escapes to the great outdoors. And our nearby Champaign County Forest Preserve District sites make visiting nature super easy. When you’re looking to switch it up a bit — and challenge yourself or your children — drive over to the Vermilion County Forest Glen Preserve. Whether you plan to go creek stomping, hiking or just want to enjoy the woods, Forest Glen has it all!

Forest Glen, owned and operated by Vermilion County Conservation District, is full of amenities that draw people from a several hour radius:

walking, running or biking on paved trails
hiking, either for the day or backpacking over night – a $5 fee per person is due if you plan to hike the River Ridge Back Pack trail
creek stomping
renting a pavilion and picnicking
climbing the tower
meandering through the nature center (unsure of hours)

All About the Hiking

On our hiking trails scale of difficulty, we rate Forest Glen as one of the more challenging places to hike nearby. You can certainly stick to the handicap accessible Beech Grove trail on your visit if you have a stroller or someone with a mobility aid in your family. Beech Grove seemed to be very popular with the “grandparent generation” on our visit. It’s beautiful (and flat to walk around, too).

The Big Woods Trail is a cleared dirt path with steep drop-offs on either side of the trail. Definitely not recommended for toddlers, but a huge recommendation for bigger kids and teens.

This trail will take you right by some prime creek stomping. You do need to hike down a pretty steep path to get to the creeks and there was a HUGE log quite a ways above the ground some kids were climbing. It was a nature adventurer’s paradise and the kids were over the moon.

Hiking a more advanced trail at Forest Glen.

Salamanders, crayfish, frogs, fish and more were all live creatures spotted on our adventures near the creek. The water was shallow and safe to navigate with bigger kids. Avoiding trees and rocky paths is the biggest challenge, though the kids that just stomped right in the water didn’t seem to have a problem getting around.

Tips For Your Trip From Other Parents

Pack bug spray, bring water and cover up, just as you would for any hike. The trails at Forest Glen are pretty rugged!
Let someone know where you will be and that you will probably be offline. Cel service is pretty spotty. Perhaps you check in with someone when you have your expected time to be offline, and then check in with them again when you get back online.
Wear your walking shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy. They probably will here… especially if you’re going to stomp at all!

FAQ

Is Forest Glen good for toddlers?

Forest Glen rates as one of the more challenging places to hike, in our opinion, around here. If you have a hiking backpack suitable for a toddler, you may be able to take on these trails. But this is not a stroller friendly place, except for a few accessible trails that we are grateful for. You also may find yourselves a distance away from any bathrooms!

What amenities are offered?

Forest Glen offers many amenities, including:

Enclosed buildings and covered shelters
Hiking trails
Camping sites
Tower to climb
Ball diamonds
Restrooms (may be open seasonally, may be portable toilets)

The Nature Center was closed when we visited, so there were areas of the park we definitely didn’t get a chance to see. We are looking forward to going back and exploring the trails once again, as we barely scratched the surface on our first trip. Visit the website for Forest Glen to see even more info, or follow the Vermilion County Conservation District on Facebook.

How are the bathrooms?

The bathrooms may be locked, or your best option may be a portable toilet.

Are there picnic tables and grills?

There are many, many picnic tables and there may be some grills around the shelters or campsites.

Is there any shade?

Yes! There’s a ton of shade at Forest Glen.

When is this park open?

We couldn’t find official hours, so we will assume they are dawn to dusk.

What is parking like?

It is easy to find parking here! You will want to strategize where you would like to hike before you park. We recommend parking near Beech Grove and hiking towards Big Woods.