Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, Forest preserve in DuPage County, Illinois, US.
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is a large natural area in DuPage County, Illinois, made up of prairies, savannas, and oak-maple woodlands. The terrain changes noticeably as you move through the grounds, shifting between open fields, wooded ridges, and creek-side lowlands.
The site began to take shape in 1925 when the Forest Preserve District acquired its first parcel of land in the area. The biggest change came in 1973 when a transfer from the US Bureau of Reclamation added a large block of land that forms the core of what visitors explore today.
The preserve takes its name from Seymour Waterfall, an early president of the District's Board of Commissioners, not from any waterfall on the grounds. Many visitors arrive expecting a dramatic cascade and are surprised to learn the name honors a person instead.
The preserve has several parking areas, including entrances off Northgate Road, Bluff Road, and Lemont Road, each giving access to a different section of the grounds. Since trails can be long, it helps to check which entrance is closest to the area you want to visit before you arrive.
The preserve wraps entirely around the Argonne National Laboratory, meaning a major scientific research facility sits in the middle of the natural area. In the southwestern corner, a model airplane field gives the grounds a use that most visitors do not expect to find in a forest preserve.
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