See Elk Near Chicago in Busse Woods

Located in the North Suburbs of Chicago is the Ned Brown Preserve. Also known as Busse Woods it is located in the aptly named Elk Grove Village, IL and is home to several Elk. We took advantage of all that the preserve has to offer which includes hiking and fishing in addition to the elk.

Fishing

Ned Brown Preserve is also home to Busse Lake a beautiful waterway with opportunities for kayaking and fishing. The designated fishing areas are concreted which is convenient for putting out your fishing gear but not convenient if your wife wants to lay out in the grass while you fish.

Hiking

Busse Woods also has several paved Hiking trails to explore. They seem to be particularly set out for bicycles hence the pavement and there were definitely more bicyclist then walkers on the path. The majority of the path is wooded which was really helpful on a particularly hot day as it kept us in the shade.

The Elk

The Elk of Busse Woods can be found in the Northeast Section of the preserve just off of S Arlington Higgins Road. They are fenced into a large grassy and wooded area along which there is a paved hiking path. We were able to several up close as they were laying near the fence. It was really refreshing to see these wildlife up close while still protected in a natural habitat.

If you are looking for a fun outing in nature, Busse Woods is worth a look. It is a fun spot to check out wildlife all while still being within reach of the city. You can get the location and hours of the preserve on their website here. It is the one place in the Chicago area I am aware of where you can see Elk up close and has numerous other outdoor recreation to offer. It is a great choice for a full day of outdoor activities.