It's a Dog's Life in Oak Forest

I recently wrote about my happy and wonderful dog Petey. What I didn't tell you is that she was so happy because I took her and her sister Darla, almost every day, to one of the fantastic, accessible and almost endless places in Oak Forest where she could walk, run and explore. I am going to tell you some of our favorite places available in Oak Forest that your dog can run free.

1. AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. This seems like a no brainier but I am going to say it anyways. Our neighborhoods are safe, clean and wonderful for walking your dog. Along the way you will probably run into another dog owner doing the same thing as you. I would take Petey around our neighborhood all the time and we would enjoy it. We would run into people doing the same and the dogs would get to know each other while we chit chatted.

2.THE OAK FOREST DOG PARK. Yes, Oak Forest has a specific dog park. It was started by Alderman and dog lover, Laura Clemons a few year back. It is officially called Bremen Grove Dog Park and you can find it in the Bremen Grove Forest Preserve. As you enter the Forest Preserve, go all the way to the end of the parking lot and you will see a path. Take that path for about a minute or two and the Dog Park will be on the right hand side. It is a wonderful, huge fenced in area where you can let your babies run to their heart's content. It is an off leash dog park so they can run free. It is huge with trees and bushes and is an all natural environment. There are two separate areas, one for big dogs and one for small so you don't have to worry if your little baby does not like the big doggies. It has a shelter for you to sit under and chit chat with other dog owners. It costs $60 a year and your dogs have to be up to date on vaccinations. It is well worth the money. Go here to find the application.

3. THE FIELD ACROSS FROM GAELIC PARK. This is a big wide open field just east of Gaelic Park on 147th Street between Central and Oak Park Avenue. It actually belongs to the Forest Preserve District but it does not have an official name. I love this field because it is wide open. It is perfect for so many things. First of all because it is wide open, you know who is there. So if you have a dog, that is not great with other dogs, this is the place to go. Most of the time, you will have this field to yourself. Also the wide open space is great for throwing sticks, chasing balls and general running around, which Petey loved to do. We would walk the perimeter of the field and Petey would duck in and out of the woods. To walk the entire perimeter it takes about 20 minutes so we would double back many times. This field is an all around great place to walk your dogs.

4. YANKEE WOODS TRAIL: If you live in Oak Forest, you are probably aware of the trail called Yankee Woods. It is a 3 Mile paved trail through the woods and around the golf course in Oak Forest. It goes in a circle and through the woods. It is very pretty and serine. I would take my dog here every now and again. It is busy and you will encounter other people, many times with dogs so make sure you have your furry baby on a leash. It took me about an hour to walk the entire thing with my dog stopping to smell all the smells. It was always a very nice walk for both of us.

5. MEHIEL WOODS: This is more of a "off the beaten path" type of trail through the woods. It is a rock trail and goes through the woods and winds around behind the subdivision of Gingerwood. It is not very crowded at all. You have a very good chance of meeting up with some horses because this is the trail that the Oak Forest Stables uses for their trail rides. It takes about a half hour to do the whole thing.

6. THE TRAILS AT 151ST AND OAK PARK AVE: These trails are paved and endless. You can either go east or west from the very small parking area at the NE corner of 151st and Oak Park Avenue. These trails literally go on forever so at some point you have to turn around. You will run into some one here and there but generally it is not very busy except on Saturday morning. Petey and I would explore little paths off of this main path. We found fantastic little dirt trails that twisted and turn through the woods. You can spend hours exploring with your dog.

7. TURTLE HEAD LAKE: This is not in Oak Forest but I decided to include it because this was a favorite for Petey and me. It is a big Forest Preserve with lots of people on any given day. If you go to the very end of the parking lot, you will see the lake. It is pretty big and we would walk around the whole thing. I would throw sticks in the lake and Petey would chase them. She loved to swim so this was great for us. We would try to not disturb any one that was fishing. To walk around the whole lake takes about 20 minutes give or take. It is surrounded by woods also so many times we would find a dirt trail and follow it into the deep woods. There are countless little dirt paths off of the grassy area around the lake. Every time we would take one, we would discover something different. I would let her lead the way sometimes and see what she would find.

8. And last but not least, THE DEAD LAKE: This is the nickname we gave this trail. It is my ultimate favorite. You begin at Mehiel Forest Preserve just like #5 on my list, but instead of going south on the path, you go north. It will take you around a bend and through a tunnel that goes under 167th Street. From there you follow the gravel path to the east and you will come to a bend. You should cross the paved path and keep heading east. You will find yourself deep in the woods and it is gorgeous with deer and little forest animals scampering here and there. You will pass the Dead Lake (again what we named it). We named it that because it is this big lake but there are trees in the water that are all dead. It is a sight. Keep following the path and eventually it circles back and you will be heading back on the same path. This path is our favorite. It takes about an hour and a half and you will forget you are in Oak Forest. You will have the path to yourself except for an occasional horse back rider. It really is off the beaten path so always walk with a friend and bring a phone.

I hope I have given you some really good choices for places to take your dog on leash and off leash in Oak Forest. I recommend that everyone use the gorgeous and seemingly endless trails and forest preserves within minutes. Don't be afraid to take a trail that is off the beaten path. Sometimes you end up finding something really incredible. Give me a shout out on my Facebook page if you try any of these paths or let me know if you have a favorite I haven't mentioned. One of the best assets of Oak Forest is the close proximity to so many green open spaces, so get out there and enjoy them!

You can find me on facebook at Melanie Mullen Gangolf.