Dog walking in Wood Dale

South Wood Dale

Wood Dale has its very own off-leash dog park, and it can be found at White Oak Park on South Wood Dale Road. This off-leash dog park includes separate enclosures for big and small dogs, and there's also some agility equipment where your dog can show off their special skills. The surface is made up of wood chips, which helps prevent muddy paws and also makes it easier to clean up after your pet. The White Oaks Dog Park also has drinking water and bowls for pets, as well as seating areas and waste disposal supplies, so all you need to do is BYOB -- Bring Your Own Beast!

Prairie Elem

Naperville is a suburb of western Chicago, and the southeastern corner of town is about a half-hour drive from Wood Dale. This is where you and your dog will find the Whalon Lake Dog Park, an eight-acre off-leash dog park that includes a separate 2.5-acre enclosure just for small dogs. You'll also find covered seating areas for pet parents, as well as water fountains and waste disposal supplies. The rest of Whalon Lake Park has an 80-acre lake, multi-use trails, and picnic spots. Your dog can join you in other parts of the park when they're on a leash. Like most parks in the area, a permit is required to visit this park.

West Lake Forest

Lake Forest is a beautiful city of more than 20,000 people along the shore of Lake Michigan, and it's also a suburb of Chicago. The southwestern quadrant of the town is about a half-hour drive from Wood Dale, and this is where you'll find the Prairie Wolf Dog Park. Many visitors say this is their favorite dog park of all time, and with 44 fenced acres to explore, it isn't hard to see why! There are separate enclosures within that space if you'd like to train your dog, and there's also a swimming pond for dogs. Some of the park's other features include drinking water, seating, and waste disposal supplies.

SpringBrook Prairie Forest Preserve

There's another dog park you won't want to miss in Naperville, and this one is in the town's center in the SpringBrook Prairie Forest Preserve. This 1,829-acre natural oasis features trails, picnicking areas, and a variety of wildlife and unique plant species in addition to the dog park. The SpringBrook Prairie Dog Park has several acres to explore with your dog off-leash, but there are also several trails running through the off-leash area. There isn't running water within the fenced area, but visitors usually leave jugs of waters near the bowls throughout the park. Visitors recommend bringing a towel to clean up muddy paws at the end of your visit.

Beck Lake

Glenview is a village in Cook County, Illinois that's a few miles from downtown Chicago, and it's less than a half-hour drive from Wood Dale. The town's southwestern corner is home to several natural areas and parks, including Community Park West. This is also where you'll find the cleverly-named Community Bark West Dog Park. This six-acre off-leash park has separate enclosures for dogs of different weights, as well as drinking water for dogs, waste disposal supplies, and seating areas. Community Bark West is open daily from 6 AM to 9 PM, and you will need to purchase a permit to get a key code for access to the park.