Horseback riding is still available at a ton of places throughout the preserves. Basically, any of the more than 200-miles of marked trails are okay for riding. By far the most popular places are the Palos Preserves near Palos Park and Lemont and Spring Creek Preserve near Barrington. You need a daily or annual license in order to bring your horse into the preserves. Please do not ride when the trails are wet – talk about post-hole diggers that lead to ankle breakers for hikers. Ouch.
Six places to rent horses on forest preserve property
Memory Lane
8290 S. Kean Avenue
Willow Springs, IL 60480
(708) 372-6472
Contact: Cathy or Billy
Forest View Farms
16717 S. Lockwood
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 560-0306
Contact: James Larsen
Sarah’s Pony Rides
8220 S. Kean Avenue
Willow Springs, IL 60480
Fitzjoy Farm
12211 S. Lagrange Road
Palos Park, IL 60264
(708) 361-7977
Contact: Pat Doyle
A-Ranch 394 Inc.
1465 Glenwood-Lansing Rd.
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 895-1810
Contact: Debbie Hansen
Places to park your trailer
North
DAM #1 (north of picnic shelters) – Dundee Road, east of Milwaukee Avenue
BIG BEND LAKE – East River Road, south of Golf Road
North Branch Division
LINNE WOODS – Dempster Street, east of Lehigh Avenue
TOWER ROAD BOAT RAMP – Tower Road, east of Edens Expy.
CALVIN R. SUTKER GROVE – Golf Road & Woods Drive, Skokie
GLEN GROVE EQUESTRIAN CENTER – 9451 Harms Rd, Morton Grove
Northwest Division
DEER GROVE #1 – Quentin Rd., north of Dundee Rd.
BODE ROAD – Northeast corner of Bode Road & Route 59
Southwest
DAN MCMAHON WOODS – 107th St., west of LaGrange Rd.
HIDDEN POND WOODS (EAST) – Kean Ave., north of 95th St.
COUNTRY LANE WOODS – 95th St., east of 104th Ave.
CAMP KIWANIS – 9700 104th Ave, Illinois and Michigan Canal, Willow Springs
FORTY ACRE WOODS, 119th St., east of 96th Ave.
PALOS PARK WOODS (NORTH) – Kean Ave., south of Rt. 83
HORSETAIL LAKE – 104th Ave., north of 123rd St.
SWALLOW CLIFF WOODS – Rt. 83, West of LaGrange Rd.
South
SWEET WOODS – Cottage Grove, south of 183rd St.