Top 6 Lakes around Bartlett

For a comprehensive outdoor experience, Mallard Lake in Hanover Park offers extensive trails, diverse wildlife, and opportunities for boating, fishing, and picnicking. Busse Lake, within Ned Brown Forest Preserve, is another major draw for boating, fishing, and features an 11.2-mile paved trail loop. Within Bartlett, Shelby Farms Park, home to Hyde Lake, is one of the largest urban parks in the US, offering hiking, cycling, and family activities.

Yes, several lakes are great for families. Shelby Farms Park, which includes Hyde Lake and the Tour de Wolf Trail Loop, is highly recommended for picnicking and spending time with family. Mallard Lake also provides picnic areas and a boardwalk perfect for birdwatching with children. Beaver Pond in Bartlett is a convenient local spot with a picnic area and a paved trail for leisurely walks.

The lakes near Bartlett offer a variety of trails. Mallard Lake features 4 miles of trails, including a 2.5-mile boardwalk system, connecting to other regional trails for walking, biking, and jogging. Busse Lake boasts an 11.2-mile paved trail loop ideal for cycling, jogging, and walking. At Hyde Lake within Shelby Farms Park, you'll find a completely paved path circling the water, popular with runners, walkers, and cyclists. The Tour de Wolf Trail Loop also offers paths open to bikes, runners, and hikers.

Fishing is a popular activity around Bartlett. Mallard Lake is an 85-acre lake stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, and muskie, featuring two wheelchair-accessible piers. Busse Lake is also a major fishing spot with species like largemouth bass, northern pike, catfish, and walleye. For a local option, Beaver Pond in Bartlett is an 11-acre stocked fishing pond with a floating fishing dock.

Yes, both Mallard Lake and Busse Lake offer boating opportunities. At Mallard Lake, you can use canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and other non-gasoline-powered watercraft with a Forest Preserve District permit. Busse Lake allows non-motorized boating, and rowboats, canoes, and kayaks are available for rent.

The diverse habitats around these lakes support a variety of wildlife. Mallard Lake is home to beavers, great blue herons, bullfrogs, eastern meadowlarks, bobolinks, red-tailed hawks, and kestrels. Busse Lake's tranquil coves and reed-lined banks are feeding and nesting grounds for birds like herons and egrets, and the preserve is also known for its small herd of elk.

Absolutely. Mallard Lake has a 2.5-mile boardwalk system that is perfect for easy walks and birdwatching. Beaver Pond in Bartlett features a 0.9-mile paved trail surrounding the pond, suitable for leisurely strolls. The paved path around Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms Park is also popular for easy walks. For more options, you can explore easy hikes around Bartlett, including routes like Wolf River Greenway and International Harvester Park Loop.

Beyond hiking and fishing, you can enjoy cycling on the extensive paved trails at Busse Lake and around Hyde Lake. Picnicking is popular at Mallard Lake, Busse Lake, and Beaver Pond. During cooler months, Busse Lake offers opportunities for ice fishing and cross-country skiing, weather permitting. For more specific routes, check out running trails and road cycling routes around Bartlett.

Yes, Mallard Lake is notable for its accessibility, offering two wheelchair-accessible fishing piers. Hyde Lake within Shelby Farms Park also features a completely paved path circling the water, making it accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

Visitors appreciate the diverse recreational opportunities and natural beauty. Many enjoy the extensive trail systems for walking, running, and cycling, as well as the excellent fishing and boating options. The presence of varied wildlife and ample picnicking spots also contributes to a positive experience. The convenience of accessible parks like Beaver Pond and the vastness of areas like Shelby Farms Park are frequently highlighted.

Yes, Mallard Lake offers a 50-person picnic shelter that can be reserved for groups. Busse Lake also has designated picnic areas with tables, grills, and shelters available for outdoor gatherings.