BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL

The Big Trees Forest Preserve is a remarkable urban forest with hilly topography featuring two creeks and a diverse middle growth forest including specimen white oak trees between 100 and 200 years old. It is designed and managed as a forest education center offering passive recreation walks along 1 1/2 miles of wood mulched walking trails.

This hike incorporates just about every trail in the park and follows the trail system in a clockwise direction down to Powers Branch, up to a ridge, then back down to the stream before climbing back up to the Big Trees Loop Trail. Although sandwiched between two apartment complexes, Roswell Rd. and a government building, the trail is surprisingly secluded – even during the winter months when no leaves cling to the trees.