Forest Preserves are an ideal place for you to exercise your dog. According to Forest Preserve regulations, all dogs must be on a leash at all times (except when in fenced dog parks), and the leash cannot exceed 10 feet in length.

Also by ordinance, owners must clean up after their dogs. A number of preserves provide clean-up bags to dispose of your pet's waste.

Dogs are permitted at forest preserves but are prohibited at nature preserves. Nature preserves are special areas of both natural and historic interest and are therefore given the highest level of protection.

Permits are available at the Forest Preserve Office, Joliet; Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete; Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville; and Monee Reservoir, Monee or by downloading the dog park brochure (click here to view) and mailing in the application form with fee.

Annual permits cost $25/dog for Will County residents and $50/dog for out-of-county residents. Semi-annual permits and daily permits are also available. Semi-annual permits, good from July 1-December 31, cost $15.00/dog, and daily permits cost $3/dog. Semi-annual and daily permit fees apply to both in-county and out-of-county residents. An applicant can register up to 3 dogs maximum. Applicant must show a current rabies tag or vet certificate for each dog.

Applicants will receive a permit and ID lanyard to wear while visiting the park. The parks are open daily 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., April - October and 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., November - March.

The Hammel Woods Dog Park is in Hammel Woods - DuPage River Access on Black Road, 0.25 miles east of Route 59, in Shorewood. Whalon Lake Dog Park is on Royce Road, West of Route 53 in Naperville.

Call 815.727.8700 for more information.