Grainger Woods Forest Preserve

Welcome to the Grainger Woods Forest Preserve! This preserve protects an important habitat of rare flatwoods and ecologically sensitive wetlands and boasts over 165 species of plants. Much of the land was once horse pasture which means that it was well fertilized and a horse stable still exists at the northern corner of the preserve.

Preserve History: This preserve remains the largest single land donation in the history of the Lake County Forest Preserve District with over 257 acres donated in 1996. In 1999 the district purchased additional parcels in order to protect some of the surrounding wetlands, a sedge meadow and a wet-mesic prairie. Today the preserve protects several threatened and endangered species and some of the plants include golden ragwort, blue-eyed grass, large yellow fox sedge, wild strawberry and other species. Some of the preserves birds include the bobolink, meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird, Savanna Sparrow, and the Henselow's Sparrow. Come on out and explore.