Orland Township is situated in the southwestern portion of Cook County, Illinois, approximately 25 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. The physical geography of the township is defined by its position on the Valparaiso Moraine, a massive, crescent-shaped ridge of glacial till deposited during the last Ice Age. This gives the area a gently rolling landscape that stands in contrast to the flatter plains found closer to the city of Chicago.
The township is notable for its extensive wetlands, sloughs, and protected natural areas. Prominent geographic features include Tampier Slough, McGinnis Slough, and the expansive Orland Grassland, a 960-acre prairie and wetland restoration project. These bodies of water and open lands are part of the vast Cook County Forest Preserve system, providing crucial green infrastructure and serving as important layover sites for migratory waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway.
Natural resources in the area are largely recreational and ecological today, though the rich, dark loamy soils (predominantly Elliott and Ashkum soil series) were historically the foundation of the township's agricultural success.