Paw Paw Woods Nature Preserve

Cook County

Location and Access:

From Willow Springs at jct. Archer Avenue & 104th Avenue, take Archer Avenue southwest 0.6 mi. The nature preserve is on the southeast side of Archer Avenue.

Special Note: Trails have been developed at this preserve but there is no nearby parking area.

Description:

Paw Paw Woods is one of the oldest dedicated Nature Preserves in Illinois. It contains bluff and floodplain forest communities native to the Des Plaines River Valley. These communities were once common in the Morainal Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. Black oak and white oak may be found on the drier ridges while red oak, white oak, and sugar maple dominate the mesic slope areas. The floodplain forest contains elm and burr oak. The forest supports many interesting and unusual plants: paw paw, shingle oak, chinquapin oak, spicebush, and an abundance of woodland wildflowers. The location of the preserve in a highly populated urban area makes it an extremely valuable natural resource.

Ownership: Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Dedicated: January 1965 as the 7th Illinois Nature Preserve.

Size: 105 acres

Topo Map: Sag Bridge 7.5

For Further Information Contact: Forest Preserve District of Cook County, 536 North Harlem Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305 (708/771-1330)

1/2009 - R. Heidorn