Hike or bike the quarter-mile-long Margaret Pearson Interpretive Trail which connects to several miles of trails through woodland, restored oak savanna and tallgrass prairie. As you traverse the 1,000 acres of restored tallgrass prairie that surrounds the tallest building, the uniquely shaped Wilson Hall, it's hard to believe that you're likely standing upon what was once the most powerful particle accelerator in the world. Department of Energy national laboratory best known for high-energy particle physics research. If the spectacular flora color show isn’t enough to maintain the attention of little hikers, the variety of birds and the great-horned owl will draw them into this migratory bird stopover.įermilab is a U.S. Categorized as a globally endangered ecosystem, this preserve has multipurpose and interpretative trails where hikers can appreciate wildflowers and hundreds of plant species, some of which are threatened or endangered. Maple Grove is the largest remaining remnant of the vast maple forest that became present-day Downers Grove and is both a rare historic forest and a valuable natural area. A renovated nature center with year-round turtle pond and a children’s activity room and a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse with interactive displays are great places to rest tiny legs. Trails once traveled by students making their way to school are now traversed by hikers looking to enjoy the three miles of woodland, prairie and wetland trails. Related: Our Best Family Activities for Winter in Chicago However, Starved Rock is a place that can and should be seen during all four seasons because it takes on a completely different, but equally stunning, look. The best time to experience the waterfalls is in the spring when the snow and ice melt or after a heavy rainfall. Or an entire weekend if you choose to bunk at Starved Rock Lodge. With just over 13 miles of well-marked trails to explore, fishing in the Illinois River and waterfalls in 14 of the 18 canyons, there’s enough to keep the family entertained for hours. No matter the age or abilities of your hiking buddies, Starved Rock is a uniquely beautiful destination that offers oodles of family fun. York Tavern is accessible from the paths and makes for a fun refueling detour. A 1.3-mile interpretive trail follows Salt Creek through lowland woods and restored prairies and includes information on DuPage’s natural history. Fullersburg maintains two trails manageable for families to hike or bike. What was once a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp is now an urban wildlife haven that plays host to a variety of animals with the original visitor center and several of the shelters still standing. Related: 100+ Indoor Activities to Do with the Kids Wood ducks, geese, garden snakes, painted turtles, deer, raccoons, foxes, bullfrogs, kingfishers, crayfish, and great blue herons all call this corner of the city home. The best part of this trail is that it provides a beautiful snapshot of Illinois' diverse flora and fauna, carrying hikers through wetlands, tallgrass prairie land, forests and even oak savanna. North Park Nature Village, a 46-acre nature preserve, offers a big breath of fresh air in the middle of the city. Fishing is offered in several old quarries scattered throughout the preserve. Adventure seekers can trek as many as 11 miles of limestone and turf-covered routes via four mapped trails that include overlooks and a man-made waterfall. Google Maps set in "bicycle" mode is a great general resource.Hikers, bikers and stroller jockeys (even cross-country skiers) can take advantage of this 2,492-acre forest preserve created by meltaways from the Wisconsin Glacier. When the Raceway trails are closed the following trails are good options: When the Palos trails are closed the following trails are good options: Waterfall Glen So where can you go when the trails are closed and you want to work up a sweat, or just keep your legs loose?įortunately the Chicago region has an extensive network of crushed limestone multi-track, rail-to-trails and paved bike paths that are good to ride in most any condition. That means the trails are too wet or soft to ride. So please don't ride when any of the trail indicators show a system is "red". All of this takes away precious volunteer hours from building new trail to making repairs. Riding when the trails are muddy and soft creates ruts and mudholes that cause people to ride around widening the trails. It's a fact of life in the Chicago area there are times when the single track is closed due to wet and muddy conditions.
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