Danada Forest Preserve, IL

The 797-acre Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton features prairies, woods and wetlands as well as the Danada Equestrian Center, the Danada House, the Danada Model Farm, Parson’s Grove and the Forest Preserve District’s headquarters. Its scenic rolling terrain offers trails, fishing and picnicking areas. 

A large wetland complex on the west side of Naperville Road supports egrets, woodcocks, painted turtles, chorus and leopard frogs, and a rookery of nesting great blue herons. A 35-acre restored prairie on the north side of the preserve fills each summer with asters, goldenrods, prairie dock, big bluestem and western sunflower, which attract bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows and American goldfinches as well as ground squirrels, voles, weasels, deer and coyotes. Parson’s Grove, the open woodland in the southeast corner of the preserve, fills each spring with wild geraniums, trout lilies, shooting stars, bloodroot, toothwort and trillium and other native wildflowers.

Danada Forest Preserve is located in the town of Wheaton, IL in Dupage County. It is my 25th birthday and to celebrate we went out hiking. Ahead of us is 5 miles of trail.

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Along our hike we pass Rice Lake. If you continue down this trail, it takes you to the intersection of Leask Lane and Butterfield Road.

Traveling from the Danada House/Equestrian Center we pass under Naperville Road to continue our journey. This tunnel was designed to transport horses safely from the stable to the horse track. Ahead of us on the Regional Trail is the horse track and more forest preserve.

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Dan & Ada Rice, where Dan-Ada forest preserve derives it’s name from, bought this 152 acre property in 1929 and over the years it would expand to be 1,350 acres. This couple loved thoroughbred horse racing and had a stable, racetrack and electronic starting gate built on the property. You can see the electronic starting gate in this video. The couple even had one of their colts, “Lucky Debonair,” win the Kentucky Derby in 1965. Dan Rice was also on the board of directors of the Arlington Racetrack.

The Blue Bird Trail will loop around and send us back towards our starting point. Keep a look out for different birds such as swallows, goldfinches and sparrows as well as brown-headed cowbirds. Brown-headed cowbirds are members of the blackbird family and known as a brood parasite because the female lays its eggs in the nests of other birds.

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We complete our hike at Danada Forest Preserve. Learning the history of the horse racing was the highlight of this hike. I felt most connected to nature hiking on the snow-covered grounds by Rice Lake. Overall a good hike and a great way to spend my 25th birthday. Super grateful to have been able to share the experience with my mom and brother. Catch you on the next hike.

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