Salt Creek Water Trails

The upper watershed begins in Palatine and flows south past Arlington Race Track as an intermittent stream in a narrow channel. The lake section begins where the creek crosses Golf Road (Route 58) and enters Busse Woods Forest Preserve and the 590 acre flood retention area of Busse Reservoir. The dam that creates the reservoir marks the beginning of the middle section through Cook and DuPage counties. This stretch runs through residential areas and a number of forest preserves and parks. Sewage treatment plants and flood control structures in the DuPage County part of this section affect the water quality and present occasional safety hazards. The lower section begins where the creek re-enters Cook County at the Tri-State Tollway. With the exception of a .4 mile stretch of the river through Brookfield, the lower section of Salt Creek is owned on one or both banks by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

Upper Section—The size and intermittent nature of the stream in the upper section make it unsuitable for development as a water trail.

Lake Section—Canoes, rowboats, and sailboats are allowed on the South and Main Lake sections of Cook County Forest Preserve District’s Busse Lake. There are public launch ramps for access to both areas. Watercraft rental by the hour or day is available from April through October. Electric trolling motors are allowed; gas outboard motors are not.

Middle Section—While the reservoir collects water from a large watershed north of Golf Road, much of the polluted runoff that is also collected stays in the lake. The water that flows over the top of the dam to begin the middle section of the creek is relatively clean. Most of its course through Elk Grove is through Village Park District property. In DuPage County the creek provides an interesting trip through a mix of county forest preserves, local parks, golf courses, and light industrial and residential areas. The Nature Center at Fullersberg Woods Forest Preserve and Graue Mill would make interesting stops or destinations on a water trail in this section. Currently there is no officially permitted access to the river in DuPage County.

Lower Section—Salt Creek re-enters Cook County at the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). Although shallow in spots, the river winds through beautiful Cook County Forest Preserve District woods and land owned by the Brookfield Zoo before its confluence with the Des Plaines River. Low banks and several access points in forest preserves and near bridges make this an easily developable trail.

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