Fall 2000

These two forest preserves lie on opposite sides of the Des Plaines River

Lake County, Illinois

With prairies and savannas to the west and deep woods to the east, Half Day and Wright Woods Forest Preserves provide a clear window to the past, when raging wildfires pushed by westerly winds were stopped by the Des Plaines River. Visitors to Half Day can see the muted autumn colors of prairie flowers and oak trees, while at Wright Woods people are more likely to see the fiery autumn reds and yellows of sugar maples in full glory.

To the west of the Des Plaines River, tall grasses of restored prairie and savanna testify to the frequent fires that historically swept eastward across Lake County. Rich oak and maple woodlands dominate the land east of the river, the plush branches of red and white oak, sugar maple, and ironwood trees hovering over Wright Woods’ looping trails. Purchased in the early 1960s, this parcel was among the first of Lake County’s forest preserves. The land to the east of the river is named after Captain Daniel Wright, one of Lake County’s first settlers. The land west of the river was uncultivated farmland up until the late 1980s. It is named for Chief Half Day of the Potawatomi Indians.

Together, the two preserves encompass more than 500 acres, providing a natural habitat for 135 native plant species. Among the many plants common to this area are wild bergamot, large trillium, bloodroot, and wild geranium. The preserve has also seeded the restored prairies with native grasses like bluestem, cord grass, and yellow coneflower.

The riverbank provides a corridor for migrating birds, making it a prime site to see fall warblers as they head south. Redheaded woodpeckers and bluebirds are seen in the open woods; bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks are seen in the grasslands. The flatwoods provide an excellent habitat for amphibian reproduction and a variety of butterflies.

Thirteen miles of the Des Plaines River Trail (DPRT) run through these two preserves, providing ample opportunity for a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, and skiers share the wide gravel trail as it winds its way down through the 201 acres of Half Day preserve. Other trails branch off of the DPRT and Wright Woods provides four more miles of looped trails open to hikers, bikers, skiers, and horses. Each preserve contains a three-acre pond stocked with bluegill, largemouth bass, and channel catfish (state fishing regulations apply).

Next volunteer restoration workday is scheduled for Saturday, November 4 at 2:00 p.m. — Cassandra Profita

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