Location
LaBagh Woods in Chicago is part of the Forest Preserve system of Cook County, Illinois. LaBagh is located between Foster Avenue on the south, Cicero Avenue/US 94 on the west, Bryn Mawr Avenue on the north, and two cemeteries and a subdivision on the east. This Google Map of LaBagh Woods shows LaBagh in relation to the roads of the area.
Parking and Where To Bird
When I bird LaBagh I park in the lot on the north side of Foster* (about 4500 West) and walk northeast along the railroad tracks until I come to the North Branch of the Chicago River. From there I follow the trails west of the railroad tracks along the river. There are other trails west of the river that are also productive. During wet springs these trails can be muddy and treacherous. The aforementioned railroad tracks are no longer in use.
Additional parking areas can be reached by taking Cicero north from Foster for a few hundred yards and turning right (east) at the LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve sign. Follow the road over US 94 to reach the lots.
*This area is called the Irene C. Hernandez Family Picnic Grove. Occasionally the parking lot here is closed early in the morning. If it is closed you can park on one of the side streets south of Foster and walk in.
Aerial Photo of LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve
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Description
LaBagh Woods is largely floodplain and riverine forest. Ashleaf Maple (Box Elder) and Silver Maple occur throughout LaBagh, especially in the wetter, low-lying areas. The drier, more upland areas away from the river support stands of oak and hickory.
What to See and When
LaBagh Woods can be excellent in spring for migrant insectivorous passerines, especially warblers. The best time to bird LaBagh is from late April through May. When there's an east or northeast wind in the spring, LaBagh tends to hold decent numbers of passerines compared to the Chicago lakefront parks (e.g. Montrose), probably because of the shelter afforded by the many large trees and the presence of water.
