Lake views at Little Red School House in Palos Heights, IL

Little Red School House is one of my favorite places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Located just 20 minutes outside of Chicago, this hiking and nature area is easily accessible for a weekday or weekend outing.

White Oak Trail at Little Red School House Nature Center

There are 2 nicely shaded trails here: The White Oak Trail and the Black Oak Trail. Both trails provide scenic views, with the Black Oak a bit longer at almost 2 miles, compared to the 1 mile White Oak Trail.

Scenic lake views at Little Red School House Nature Center
Path view at Little Red School House in Palos Heights, IL

Unfortunately, the Black Oak trail was closed, so we proceeded to hike just the White Oak. The trail is easy, short, and provides great views of the forest preserve. The trails here are always quiet. We don’t come here for a strenuous hike, rather for a relaxing morning away from Chicago.

Path views at Little Red School House in Palos Heights, IL
Beautiful trees along the path at Little Red School House
View of the path at Little Red School House
A fence along the path at Little Red School House
Beautiful tall trees along the White Oak Trail at Little Red School House
Pond views at Little Red School House's White Oak Trail

I recommend completing both of the trails to get a longer 3 mile workout in. Also be sure to stop by the recently remodeled nature center to explore the wildlife and plant exhibits. Special events are occasionally on the lineup – check the schedule before planning a visit.

Address: 9800 Willow Springs Road Willow Springs, IL 60480

Trail hours: March 1st-Last Saturday in October: 9:00am-5:00pm, Last Sunday in October-February 28th: 8:00am-4:00pm

Nature center hours: 9:00am-4:30pm everyday but Friday (closed), closes at 3:30pm from the last Sunday in October-February 28th.