Discover Glen Ellyn: Trails, Nature and History

For a trip to Glen Ellyn, there are several specific highlights to choose from: trails for different activities, natural areas, a historic site and a rail connection toward Chicago. The trails differ in approximate length, layout and use. To plan your stay, you can first decide whether outdoor activity, scenery, history or the connection to Chicago should shape your visit.

Trails and Outdoor Activities

In downtown Glen Ellyn, hikers, cyclists and joggers can access the Illinois Prairie Path. Churchill Woods has an approximately one-mile trail used for cycling, hiking and horseback riding; cross-country skiing is also available in winter.

Lake Ellyn Park has an approximately 0.65-mile loop around the lake, as well as other winding trails. At about 0.65 miles, this loop is shorter than the approximately one-mile trail in Churchill Woods. You can distinguish between the two routes by length and layout: here, a loop around the lake; there, a longer trail with several stated uses.

Non-motorized boats carrying passengers, including kayaks and canoes, are permitted on Lake Ellyn with a $5 permit. Since permit conditions may change, check the current requirements before your boating trip.

At Churchill Woods, visitors can fish for bluegill, carp, crappie, sunfish and largemouth bass from a series of flagstone terraces along the East Branch DuPage River. This adds a specific river fishing opportunity to the activities available on the trail.

Scenery and Conservation

Churchill Prairie Nature Preserve contains one of the few remaining original prairies in DuPage County. Willowbrook includes forest, prairie and wetlands, and Glen Crest Creek runs through the area. Willowbrook also has nearly a mile of trails through 47.5 acres of restored prairie, savanna and wetland habitats. Educational stations and welcoming resting areas are also available.

If you want to distinguish nature destinations by their landscape, two different features stand out here: the original prairie at Churchill Prairie Nature Preserve and the mix of forest, prairie and wetlands at Willowbrook.

The DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center serves as a rehabilitation center for native and migratory wildlife. More than 9,600 animals are treated there each year; this annual figure may change.

History at Stacy’s Tavern Museum

Stacy’s Tavern Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an award-winning restoration of an authentic 1840s roadside inn. The building was constructed in 1846 by Moses Stacy and his wife, Joanna.

As of September 6, 2026, tours are available by appointment only. Keep this requirement in mind when planning your visit.

Rail Connection Toward Chicago

Downtown Glen Ellyn has a commuter rail station on the Union Pacific West Line. During rush hour, the trip to and from Chicago’s Loop business district takes 36 minutes. If your trip includes the Chicago Loop, this travel time can help with your planning. Check the current schedule before you depart.

Discover more destinations: Bensenville, Woodridge, Bloomingdale, Villa Park, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Medinah, Addison

For the broader travel overview: Dupage.