Where to Find Fall Colors in Chicago

Chicago’s official motto, “Urbs in Horto”—Latin for “City in a Garden”—shows that it has always understood the importance of nature, even in the midst of the sprawling global metropolis it is today. With autumn upon us, here are the best places to leaf-peep in and around the city, and how eATLAS’ Chicago-based Adventures can enhance your experiences.

By Dave Lifton (@daveeatschicago)

Downtown

The planters up and down Michigan Ave. are decked out with chrysanthemums (the official flower of Chicago) in yellow, orange and purple. Admire them along the Magnificent Mile and head south of the river towards Millennium Park, where the entrances on Washington and Madison Streets are seasonally decorated. Hidden behind 15-foot hedges in the park is Lurie Garden, an oasis of vegetation amid the urban jungle. Then walk through Grant Park, and check out Butler Field and the Formal Gardens south of the Art Institute of Chicago.

eATLAS Recommends: Discover the Chicago River, the Magnificent Mile & the Historic Water Tower District; Discover Millennium Park

North Side

There are beautiful colors to be found throughout Lincoln Park. Start at the North Pond and work your way south. Be sure to take a photo of the skyline from one of the most picturesque vistas in the city—the bridge at Fullerton overlooking the South Lagoon with the skyline in the background. Then, walk through the zoo to the Nature Boardwalk circling South Pond. Afterwards, head west to Oz Park, where the fall foliage is offset by statues of characters from The Wizard of Oz.

Further up the North Side, the 120 acres of Graceland Cemetery offer the chance to see the final resting places of many of the movers and shakers of Chicago’s earliest days in a beautiful, lush environment. For a true neighborhood vibe, Winnemac Park in Ravenswood offers plenty of picnic space and a three-acre nature walk. Afterwards, head east back into Lincoln Park’s Montrose Harbor and see the colors around Cricket Hill and the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary.

eATLAS Recommends: Lincoln Park Zoo Scavenger Hunt, The Deep Pockets of Graceland Cemetery, Craftsman Bungalows of Ravenswood Manor

South Side

The South Side has two lakefront parks within walking distance of the Museum of Science & Industry with dazzling foliage. Promontory Point sits at the southern tip of Burnham Park, and the fall colors on the 40-acre peninsula are wonderfully offset by the blue of Lake Michigan with the city skyline off in the distance. Directly below is Jackson Park, the site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Stroll through the secluded Wooded Island—highlighted by the Japanese Garden—and the trails along Bobolink Meadow.

eATLAS Recommends: Hyde Park Scavenger Hunt, Hyde Park Art Walk, Brick Architecture of Chicago – Hyde Park

West Side

The Bloomingdale Trail (a.k.a. The 606) is a 2.7-mile path built on a former elevated railroad line that connects Wicker Park with other West Side neighborhoods. In addition to trees and other greenery, many pieces of public art line the trail and there are access points every quarter-mile. Get back to street level at Humboldt Blvd., where you’re only two blocks away from Humbolt Park. Explore the colors, particularly around the lagoon, the Formal Gardens, and the natural area.

eATLAS Recommends: Historic Homes, Cottages & Buildings of Wicker Park; Revolutionary Ride

Northwest Side and Suburbs

Visitors to the North Park Village Nature Center can see the autumnal beauty in the forest and the 12-acre Walking Stick Woods. From there, it’s a short drive to LaBagh Woods, where you can have a picnic at one of its three groves before walking through its many paths along the Chicago River.

LaBagh Woods marks the southern tip of the North Branch Trail of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, a 20-mile stretch of woodlands divided into 10 sections, all of which are ideal for walking, biking, or jogging. It ends at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where the grounds are awash in oranges, reds, and yellows, in particular the McDonald Woods, Dixon Prairie, and the Waterfall Garden.

Lastly, there’s Morton Arborteum in Lisle, comprising 1,700 acres with more than 4,200 types of trees. Before going, check the weekly Fall Color Report to ensure that you’re going to see the most colorful display possible.

The peak time for leaf-peeping in Chicago typically only lasts a couple of weeks. But when it happens, it’s an ideal time to go out and see nature at its most beautiful!