Busse Woods Trail: Loop Length, Elk, Access and Rules
The paved Busse Woods trail circles Busse Reservoir in Elk Grove Village. Loop and spur lengths, the elk pasture, access points, and Cook County rules.
Busse Woods has nearly 13 miles of paved trail, built around a loop that circles Busse Reservoir1. The middle loop measures 7.3 miles, with spurs to the north and south ends2. The trail is paved, open sunrise to sunset, and bikes must stay under 15 mph1,3. A small elk herd has lived in an enclosed pasture since 19251.
- At a glance
- Trail
- Paved, 12.9 miles per Cook County1
- Main loop
- 7.3 miles around the reservoir2
- Hours
- Year-round, sunrise to sunset1
- Speed limit
- Under 15 mph3
- Elk herd
- In an enclosed 17-acre pasture since 19251
On this page
Busse Woods is a paved forest preserve loop around a reservoir in Elk Grove Village, with an elk herd beside it. It sits among the Routes & Trails northwest of the city.
The preserve and the trail
The Ned Brown Preserve, known as Busse Woods, covers 3,558 acres and is one of the largest locations in the Forest Preserves1. It has nearly 13 miles of paved trail and an elk pasture1.
The trail is a large paved loop circling Busse Reservoir, with shorter segments fanning out from it1. Cook County lists 12.9 miles of paved trail in total1. The middle section forms a 7.3-mile loop2. Two spurs connect the loop to the northern and southern endpoints2. Hours are year-round, sunrise to sunset1.
Reading the route
| Piece | What to know |
|---|---|
| Northern end | Golf Road and South New Wilke Road, Elk Grove Village2 |
| Central loop | 7.3 miles; splits on either side of East Higgins Road at the Busse Lake Boating Center2 |
| West spur | Crosses I-290 to a trailhead at Debra Park2 |
| Southern end | 900 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village2 |
The trail connects to the Salt Creek Trail at the southeastern corner of the preserve2. The Salt Creek Greenway is a regional trail 25 miles long4. See the Salt Creek Trail guide for that route.
Where to start
Cook County lists these main access points1:
- Busse Lake Boating Center. East Higgins Road, east of I-2901.
- Elk Pasture. North Arlington Heights Road, north of East Higgins Road1.
- Ned Brown Meadow. Golf Road, east of I-2901.
- Main Dam. South Arlington Heights Road, south of Landmeier Road1.
- Beisner Road Access. Beisner Road, north of Biesterfield Road1.
The elk
Since 1925 a small elk herd has lived in a 17-acre enclosed pasture in Busse Woods1. Originally, nine cows and one bull were delivered by train from Yellowstone National Park1. Every three to four years new males are introduced to keep the herd genetically diverse1. The pasture entrance is on North Arlington Heights Road1.
The water and the woods
The chain of connected pools was created in 1978, when natural waterways were dammed and the area was dug out1. It has over 20 miles of shoreline and six fishing walls1.
Boat rentals run from April to October, weather permitting1. Rates at the Busse Lake Boating Center in October 2026 were $30 an hour for a row boat, $25 for a single kayak, $35 for a tandem kayak and $30 for a canoe1.
The 489-acre Busse Forest Nature Preserve holds flatwoods, upland forest and marshes, and has National Natural Landmark status1. The preserve has no parking, and dogs are not allowed there1. Many of the trees in the upland forest date back to before European settlement1. Egrets, herons and terns use the reservoir1.
Trail rules
All bicycle and e-bike riders must travel at speeds under 15 miles per hour—or slower in busy areas or where a speed limit is posted.3
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on trails where bicycles are allowed3. Bicycle riders must yield to other trail users3. Stay on official trails; riding off-trail is prohibited3. Ride on the right, single file when possible, and give an audible warning before you pass3. Keep dogs on a leash, on the right side of the trail3. Helmets are recommended, and especially for riders 14 and under3.
Cook County forest preserves hold more than 150 miles of paved trails3. For more rides, see the best bike rides near Chicago and the North Branch Trail.
Read next
Salt Creek Trail: Route, Length, Access Points and Closures
The Salt Creek Trail follows the creek for 25 miles from Busse Woods to Brookfield Zoo. Where to join, trail rules, flood underpasses and closures.
routesNorth Branch Trail: Chicago to the Botanic Garden by Bike
The North Branch Trail runs about 20 miles from Chicago's Foster Avenue to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Length, access points, best segments and the Garden link.
routesBest Bike Rides in Chicago: Trails Ranked by Type of Ride
The best bike rides in Chicago: the Lakefront Trail, The 606, North Branch Trail, North Shore Channel and the forest preserves, with lengths and surfaces.
Questions people ask
How long is the Busse Woods bike trail?
The Forest Preserves of Cook County estimate 12.9 miles of paved trail1. The middle loop around the reservoir is 7.3 miles2.
Are there still elk in Busse Woods?
Yes. A small elk herd has lived in a 17-acre enclosed pasture since 19251. The original nine cows and one bull arrived by train from Yellowstone National Park1. New males are introduced every three to four years1.
Is Busse Woods paved?
Yes. Cook County lists the trail surface as paved1. The main route is a large paved loop circling Busse Reservoir, with shorter segments fanning out from it1.
Can you ride e-bikes at Busse Woods?
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on trails where bicycles are allowed3. All bicycle and e-bike riders must stay under 15 miles per hour, or slower in busy areas3.
Where do you start a Busse Woods ride?
Common starts are the Busse Lake Boating Center on East Higgins Road, the Elk Pasture on North Arlington Heights Road, and Ned Brown Meadow on Golf Road1.
Sources
- Busse WoodsGOV
Forest Preserves of Cook County · fpdcc.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Busse Woods TrailNONPROFIT
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy TrailLink · traillink.com · checked 2026-10-19 - BicyclingGOV
Forest Preserves of Cook County · fpdcc.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Salt Creek Greenway TrailGOV
Elmhurst Park District · epd.org · checked 2026-10-19
Photo credits (1)
- Bohao Zhao / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 · source
Laws are quoted from Illinois statute and the Chicago Municipal Code; prices from each operator on the date shown. Editorial policy · Corrections.