Hampshire Forest Preserve

About

Hampshire Forest Preserve has been a natural playground and picnic spot for area children and adults throughout the years. Trails for hiking and learning to recognize a wide variety of birds and wildflowers make this an ideal playground for youngsters.

An Oak-Hickory forest adorns the crest of this glacial moraine. This ridge top of oaks, once stood as an island in a sea of prairie and prairie wetlands. The original vegetation would have been the Oak-Hickory forest, open woods blending into a tall grass prairie on the gentle slopes and a prairie wetland below. As the land was drained and plowed, settlement occurred along the ridge. Today, the Village of Hampshire and numerous rural subdivisions occupy most of the high ground.

There are parking areas, shelters, and restrooms located in different areas of the preserve. The trail system at this forest preserve is suitable for multiple uses including horseback riding and snowmobiling.

Hampshire is located on Allen Road, west of Route 20 in Hampshire. This preserve is a large woodland and a favorite spot for picnicking. There are twelve miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding.

Amenities:

• Horseback Riding
• Model Aircraft Fields
• Picnic Areas
• Shelters
• Snowmobiling
• Winter Activities

See the Map→

Information Provided by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County