List of Creeks in DuPage, Ill.

Known to many as a suburban section of the Chicago metropolitan area, DuPage County in Illinois is also a scenic watershed. Dozens of small tributaries flow into the east and west branches of the DuPage River, which bisects the county. While the majority of creeks are hidden by suburban sprawl, several have become protected recreation areas, offering activities ranging from fishing to hiking.

  1. Salt Creek

    • The largest of the local creeks, Salt Creek is divided into upper and lower watersheds. Lower Salt Creek is of most significance in DuPage County, intersecting the eastern part of the county about 15 miles west of Chicago. It is nearly 18 miles long and has a relatively flat average gradient of 2 feet per mile, according to DuPage County. Many smaller tributaries, such as Spring Brook and Sugar Creek, feed into Salt Creek. Though the region has experienced rapid residential growth since the 1950s, sections of the creek are still used for rural recreation. Fishing and canoeing are permitted, and preserved floodplain forest areas such as the Salt Creek Greenway allow for hiking and bicycling through natural open space.

    Brewster Creek

    • Brewster Creek runs through Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve in the eastern portion of DuPage County, connecting to the Elgin branch of the Illinois Prairie Path trail system. The 15-square-mile Brewster Creek watershed is a vital bird habitat that is home to herons, screech owls, sandhill cranes and wood ducks. Several equestrian trails are located around the creek. The creek flows into several small lakes and ponds, including Pickerel Lake, Catfish Pond and Beaver Slough.

    St. Joseph's Creek

    • St. Joseph's Creek is a tributary of the east branch of the DuPage River. It runs through the township of Downers Grove, west of Chicago, as well as the northern corner of the Maple Grove Forest Preserve, a suburban park with native wildflowers such as buttercups and violets in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall. A path for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing bisects both the preserve and St. Joseph's Creek. The creek is spanned by a wooden bridge known as the "Magic Bridge" to bird watchers, who find it an ideal location to spot warblers in the spring.

    Glen Crest Creek

    • A small tributary to the east branch of the DuPage River, Glen Crest Creek goes mostly unnoticed as it cuts through the Illinois suburb of Glen Ellyn just east of the College of DuPage. However, the creek has become a focal point of the 50-acre Willowbrook Wildlife Center, a preserve and animal rehabilitation center located along Park Boulevard that protects ecosystems ranging from savannahs to wetlands to forests. A nature trail crosses the creek with a small bridge, leading visitors to picnic areas, butterfly gardens, hiking trails, and a sandhill crane exhibit.