Forest Preserves of Cook County 2025 Fall Brochure

BUR OAK (Quercus macrocarpa) Fall color: Brown See Them Here: Crabtree Nature Center, Carl R. Hansen Woods Bur oak is unique for its bark’s “corky” appearance and its leaves shaped like a witch in a skirt and pointy hat. Its massive trunk has gray to brown furrowed bark and its branches bear lustrous dark green leaves that turn yellow-brown. SUGAR MAPLE (Acer saccharum) Fall color: Orange See Them Here: River Trail Nature Center, Dam 1 East, Dam 4 Woods Sugar maple is the primary species used to make maple syrup. The tree is well known for the beautiful fall foliage it produces. In fall, the leaves have a wide range of vibrant colors from yellow to orange to red. Adult trees prefer full sun or part shade. Fall L ea f IDENTIFICATION Crunching under your feet like nature’s confetti, fall leaves turn the Forest Preserves’ floor into a mosaic of reds, golds and browns. But beyond their beauty, each leaf’s shape and size holds clues that help reveal the identity of its tree. Take a closer look, and you’ll uncover a hidden world of forest storytelling written in leaf form. 34 BUR OAK (Quercus macrocarpa) Fall color: Brown See Them Here: Crabtree Nature Center, Carl R. Hansen Woods Bur oak is unique for its bark’s “corky” appearance and its leaves shaped like a witch in a skirt and pointy hat. Its massive trunk has gray to brown furrowed bark and its branches bear lustrous dark green leaves that turn yellow-brown. SUGAR MAPLE (Acer saccharum) Fall color: Orange See Them Here: River Trail Nature Center, Dam 1 East, Dam 4 Woods Sugar maple is the primary species used to make maple syrup. The tree is well known for the beautiful fall foliage it produces. In fall, the leaves have a wide range of vibrant colors from yellow to orange to red. Adult trees prefer full sun or part shade. Fall L ea f IDENTIFICATION Crunching under your feet like nature’s confetti, fall leaves turn the Forest Preserves’ floor into a mosaic of reds, golds and browns. But beyond their beauty, each leaf’s shape and size holds clues that help reveal the identity of its tree. Take a closer look, and you’ll uncover a hidden world of forest storytelling written in leaf form. 34