The entranceway to Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve is located at 247 Monee Road, approximately 0.25-mile (400 m) north of Stunkel Road, in Park Forest.
At 830 acres (3.4 km2), Thorn Creek Nature Preserve lies at the headwaters of Thorn Creek and consists of bottomlands, ravines, and white-oak forests interspersed with marsh and meadows.
The actual nature center is located inside of an old church right off Monee Road.
The trail starts off on high land before dropping down into the Thorn Creek River Valley.
The terrain is pretty rugged, especially near the river and its tributaries, because they have cut many gorges and ravines.