Into the Wild

Our Guide to the Wild Side

Back Into the Wild:

Preserves and wild places we have profiled in other issues, with narratives, trail maps, and directions. For alphabetical list, see pull-down menu at bottom of this page and all profile pages.

Multi-County Trails & Experiences

Birding for Beginners [Spring 2006]

Christmas Bird Count [Winter 2005]

Grand Illinois Trail (Northern Illinois) [Summer 2003]

Illinois Prairie Path (Kane, DuPage, and Cook Counties) [Fall 2005]

Paddling the Des Plaines River (Lake, Cook, and Will Counties) [Summer 2000]

Old Plank Road Trail (Cook and Will Counties) [Spring 2000]

Berrien County, Michigan

Warren Woods State Park [Spring 2008]

Cook County, Illinois

Baker's Lake Nature Preserve [Spring 2000]

Bartel Grassland [Winter 2007]

Bemis Woods (Cross Country Skiing) [Winter 2000]

Birding & Brunch on the Lake [Spring 2007]

Black Partridge Forest Preserve [Fall 1999]

Bluff Spring Fen Nature Preserve

Brownell Woods [Spring 2004]

Bunker Hill Forest Preserve [Spring 2001]

Busse Forest Nature Preserve [Spring 1999]

Busse Lake [Summer 2007]

Cap Sauers Holdings [Winter 1998]

Cap Sauers Holdings [Spring 2008]

Camp Sagawau [Fall 1997]

Camp Sagawau (Cross Country Skiing) [Winter 2000]

Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve [Summer 1999]

Deer Grove [Winter 1999]

Deer Grove (Cross Country Skiing) [Winter 2000]

Elgin, Ill. Area (Weekend Explorer) [Spring 2004]

The Grove National Historic Landmark (Weekend Explorer) [Spring 2002]

Harms Woods [Spring 2005]

Hidden Pond Woods & Prairie [Summer 2004]

Indian Boundary Prairies [Summer 1998]

Kloempken Prairie [Summer 2006]

Little Red Schoolhouse [Summer 2007]

The Magic Hedge [Spring 1998]

Mary Mix McDonald Woods [Summer 1999]

North Branch Trail [Fall 2005]

North Park Village Nature Center [Fall 2006]

Paddock Woods [Spring 2006]

Palos/Sag/Swallow Cliff Woods (Cross Country Skiing) [Winter 2000]

Palos & Sag Valley Trails (Weekend Explorer) [Winter 2005]

Paul Douglas Forest Preserve [Summer 2004]

Poplar Creek [Summer 1998]

Powderhorn Marsh & Prairie [Summer 1998]

Powderhorn Prairie [Fall 2007]

Thatcher Woods [Spring 2005]

Theodore Stone Preserve [Summer 2003]

Sand Ridge Nature Center (Weekend Explorer) [Spring 2003]

Santa Fe Prairie [Summer 2001]

Saulk Trail Woods (Weekend Explorer) [Winter 2006]

Somme Prairie Grove [Summer 2005]

Spears Woods Forest Preserve [Fall 2002]

Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve [Fall 2002]

Wampum Lake Woods Forest Preserve [Winter 2003]

Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve [Spring 2004]

Zanders Woods [Fall 1998]

DuPage County, Illinois

Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve [Summer 2000]

Blackwell Forest Preserve [Winter 2005]

Blackwell Forest Preserve [Fall 1999]

Churchill Woods Forest Preserve [Summer 2003]

Danada Forest Preserve [Winter 1999]

Egermann Woods Forest Preserve [Winter 2003]

Fullersburg Woods [Winter 2001]

Greene Valley Forest Preserve [Fall 1998]

Herrick Lake Forest Preserve [Winter 2000]

Lincoln Marsh Natural Area [Spring 2004]

Lyman Woods Forest Preserve (Weekend Explorer) [Fall 2002]

Maple Grove Forest Preserve [Spring 2002]

Meacham Grove Forest Preserve [Fall 2001]

Morton Arboretum (Weekend Explorer) [Fall 2004]

Pratt's Wayne Woods [Winter 1998]

2 Pratt's Wayne Woods [Spring 2007]

Songbird Slough Forest Preserve [Spring 2008]

Springbrook Prairie [Summer 2001]

Timber Ridge Forest Preserve [Winter 2006]

Waterfall Glen [Fall 1997]

Waterfall Glen [Summer 2005]

Wayne Grove Forest Preserve [Spring 2003]

West Chicago Prairie [Summer 1998]

West DuPage Woods [Winter 2001]

Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve [Winter 2004]

Grundy County, Illinois

Goose Lake Prairie [Spring 1999]

Goose Lake Prairie (Weekend Explorer) [Summer 2007]

Kane County, Illinois

Big Rock Forest Preserve [Summer 2003]

Bliss Woods (Weekend Explorer) [Summer 2001]

Burnidge Forest Preserve [Winter 2000]

Burnidge Forest Preserve [Winter 2006]

Campton Forest Preserve [Winter 2003]

Campton Hills Park [Winter 2001]

Elgin, Ill. Area (Weekend Explorer) [Spring 2004]

Ferson Creek Fen [Summer 1999]

Fox River Trail [Fall 2007]

Freeman Kame-Ed Meagher Forest Preserve [Winter 2004]

Helm Woods Forest Preserve [Fall 2002]

Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve [Spring 2002]

Johnson's Mound [Fall 1999]

Nelson Lake Marsh [Fall 1997]

Norris Woods [Spring 1999]

Tekakwitha Woods [Spring 2008]

Waubonsee Community College [Spring 2007]

Kendall County, Illinois

Harris Forest Preserve [Winter 2002]

Richard Young & Lyon Forest Preserves [Spring 2003]

Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area (Weekend Explorer) [Winter 2007]

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Chiwaukee Prairie [Summer 2002]

Des Plaines River Floodplain [Summer 2004]

Pringle Nature Center [Winter 2002]

Lake County, Illinois

Almond Marsh [Spring 2006]

Chain O'Lakes State Park [Fall 1999]

Cressmoor Prairie (Weekend Explorer) [Fall 2001]

Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve [Spring 1998]

Des Plaines River Trail [Fall 1997]

Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve [Summer 2006]

Grant Woods Forest Preserve [Winter 2002]

Grassy Lake Forest Preserve (Weekend Explorer) [Winter 2004]

Grigsby Prairie [Summer 2000]

Half Day & Wright Woods Forest Preserves [Fall 2000]

Heller Nature Center [Spring 2000]

Heller Nature Center [Winter 2006]

Illinois Beach State Park [Winter 1998]

Illinois Beach State Park, North Unit [Summer 2002]

Lakewood Forest Preserve [Winter 2000]

Liberty Prairie Reserve (Weekend Explorer) [Spring 2001]

Lyons Prairie & Marsh [Summer 2002]

Lyons Woods Forest Preserves [Winter 2001]

McDonald Woods Forest Preserve (Weekend Explorer) [Winter 2003]

Old School Forest Preserve [Fall 1999]

Prairie Wolf Slough [Winter 2005]

Reed-Turner Woodland [Summer 2005]

Rollins Savanna [Fall 2004]

Ryerson Conservation Area [Spring 2002]

Spring Bluff Nature Preserve [Summer 2000]

Spring Bluff Nature Preserve [Fall 2007]

Skokie River Nature Preserve [Spring 2005]

Sun Lake Forest Preserve [Winter 2007]

Van Patten Woods [Winter 1999]

Volo Bog [Summer 1999]

Lake County, Indiana

Cressmoor Prairie (Weekend Explorer) [Fall 2001]

Deep River County Park [Winter 2003]

Gibson Woods Nature Preserve [Spring 2002]

Hammond Lakefront Park Bird Sanctuary [Fall 2007]

Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve [Spring 1998]

Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve [Spring 2000]

Heron Rookery, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore [Spring 2001]

Ivanhoe Dune & Swale [Fall 2004]

Miller Woods [Fall 2000]

LaPorte County, Indiana

Bluhm County Park [Spring 2007]

McHenry County, Illinois

Cary Sands Main Street Prairie [Fall 2000]

Chain O'Lakes State Park [Fall 1999]

Coral Woods Conservation Area [Spring 2003]

Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve [Spring 1999]

Fel-Pro RRR [Winter 2004]

Fox River Trail [Fall 2007]

Glacial Park [Fall 1997]

Glacial Park [Winter 2001]

Glacial Park [Fall 2004]

Lake in the Hills Fen [Fall 1998]

Marengo Ridge (Weekend Explorer) [Winter 2002]

Moraine Hills State Park [Winter 1998]

Moraine Hills Trails [Fall 2005]

Nippersink Creek (Weekend Explorer) [Spring 2005]

Rush Creek Conservation Area (Weekend Explorer) [Summer 2007]

Pleasant Valley Conservation Area [Winter 2007]

Silver Creek Conservation Area [Fall 2001]

Sterne's Woods and Fen [Fall 2002]

Wingate Prairie [Fall 2001]

Newton County, Illinois

Kankakee Sands (Weekend Explorer) [Summer 2005]

Porter County, Indiana

Calumet Trail [Fall 2005]

Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve [Spring 2006]

Cowles Bog [Fall 1998]

Indiana Dunes State Park [Winter 1999]

Indiana Dunes (Weekend Explorer) [Summer 2004]

Will County, Illinois

Braidwood Dunes and Savanna [Summer 1999]

Goodenow Grove Forest Preserve [Winter 1999]

Grant Creek Prairie Nature Preserve [Spring 2000]

Hickory Creek [Fall 2000]

Hickory Creek Barrens (Weekend Explorer) [Summer 2002]

Hitts Siding Prairie Nature Preserve [Summer 2000]

Lake Renwick Heron Rookery [Spring 1998]

Lockport Prairie [Summer 1998]

Lockport Prairie (Weekend Explorer) [Summer 2006]

McKinley Woods [Summer 2001]

Messenger Woods [Fall 1997]

O'Hara Woods [Spring 2000]

Pilcher Park [Spring 2003]

Raccoon Grove Forest Preserve [Winter 2002]

Rock Run Preserve [Summer 2003]

Thorn Creek Woods [Fall 2000]

Choose another Into the Wild Site Almond Marsh - Lake County, IL Baker's Lake Nature Preserve - Cook County Bartel Grassland - Cook County Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve - DuPage County Bemis Woods (Cross Country Skiing) - Cook County Big Rock Forest Preserve - Kane County Birding for Beginners Black Partridge Forest Preserve - Cook County Blackwell Forest Preserve - DuPage County (2005) Blackwell Forest Preserve - DuPage County (1999) Bliss Woods - Kane County Bluff Spring Fen Nature Preserve - Cook County Braidwood Dunes and Savanna - Will County Brownell Woods - Cook County Bunker Hill Forest Preserve - Cook County Burnidge Forest Preserve - Kane County Busse Forest Nature Preserve - Cook County Calumet Trail - Porter County, IN Camp Sagawau - Cook County Camp Sagawau (Cross Country Skiing) - Cook Campton Forest Preserve - Kane County Campton Hills Park - Kane County Cap Sauers Holdings - Cook County Cary Sands Main Street Prairie - McHenry County Chain O'Lakes State Park - Lake & McHenry Counties Chiwaukee Prairie - Kenosha County, WI Christmas Bird Count Churchill Woods Forest Preserve - DuPage County Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve - Porter County, IN Coral Woods Conservation Area - McHenry County Cowles Bog - Porter County, IN Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve - Cook County Cressmoor Prairie - Lake County Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve - Lake County Danada Forest Preserve - DuPage County Deep River County Park - Lake County, IN Deer Grove - Cook County Deer Grove (Cross Country Skiing) - Cook Co. Des Plaines River Floodplain - Kenosha Co., Wisc. Des Plaines River Trail - Lake County Egermann Woods Forest Preserve - DuPage County Elgin, Ill. Area (Weekend Explorer) - Kane & Cook Co. Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve - McHenry County Fel-Pro RRR - McHenry County Ferson Creek Fen - Kane County Freeman Kame-Ed Meagher Forest Preserve - Kane County Fullersburg Woods - DuPage County Gibson Woods Nature Preserve - Lake County, Indiana Glacial Park (1997) - McHenry County Glacial Park (2001) - McHenry County Glacial Park (2004) - McHenry County Goodenow Grove Forest Preserve - Will County Goose Lake Prairie - Grundy County Grand Illinois Trail - Northern Illinois Grant Creek Prairie Nature Preserve - Will County Grant Woods Forest Preserve - Lake County Grassy Lake Forest Preserve - Lake County Greene Valley Forest Preserve - DuPage County Grigsby Prairie - Lake County Grove National Historic Landmark - Cook County Half Day & Wright Woods Forest Preserves - Lake County Harms Woods - Cook County Harris Forest Preserve - Kendall County Heller Nature Center - Lake County Helm Woods Forest Preserve - Kane County Heron Rookery - Indiana Dunes Herrick Lake Forest Preserve - DuPage County Hickory Creek - Will County Hickory Creek Barrens - Will County Hidden Pond Woods - Cook County Hitts Siding Prairie Nature Preserve - Will County Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve (2000) - Lake County, IN Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve (1998) - Lake County, IN Illinois Beach State Park - Lake County Illinois Beach State Park, North Unit - Lake County Illinois Prairie Path - Kane, DuPage, and Cook Counties Indian Boundary Prairies - Cook County Indiana Dunes State Park - Porter County, IN Indiana Dunes (Weekend Explorer) - Porter Co., IN Ivanhoe Dune & Swale - Lake Co., IN Johnson's Mound - Kane County Kankakee Sands - Newton County, IN Lake in the Hills Fen - McHenry County Lake Renwick Heron Rookery - Will County Lakewood Forest Preserve - Lake County Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve - Kane County Liberty Prairie Reserve - Lake County Lincoln Marsh Natural Area - DuPage County Lockport Prairie - Will County Lyman Woods Forest Preserve - DuPage County Lyons Prairie & Marsh - McHenry & Lake Counties Lyons Woods Forest Preserves - Lake County Magic Hedge - Cook County Maple Grove Forest Preserve - DuPage County Marengo Ridge - McHenry County Mary Mix McDonald Woods - Cook County McDonald Woods Forest Preserve - Lake County McKinley Woods - Will County Meacham Grove Forest Preserve - DuPage County Messenger Woods - Will County Miller Woods - Lake County, IN Moraine Hills State Park - McHenry County Moraine Hills Trails - McHenry County Morton Arboretum (Weekend Explorer) - DuPage County Nelson Lake Marsh - Kane County Nippersink Creek (Weekend Explorer) - McHenry County Norris Woods - Kane County North Branch Trail - Cook County O'Hara Woods - Will County Old Plank Road Trail - Cook & Will Counties Old School Forest Preserve - Lake County Paddling the Des Plaines River - Lake, Cook, Will County Paddock Woods - Cook County Palos/Sag/Swallow Cliff Woods (Cross Country Skiing) - Cook Co. Palos & Sag Valley Trails (Weekend Explorer) - Cook Co. Paul Douglas Forest Preserve - Cook Co. Pilcher Park - Will County Pleasant Valley Conservation Area - McHenry County Poplar Creek - Cook County Powderhorn Marsh & Prairie - Cook County Prairie Wolf Slough - Lake Co., Ill. Pratt's Wayne Woods - DuPage County Pringle Nature Center - Kenosha County Raccoon Grove Forest Preserve - Will County Reed-Turner Woodland - Lake Co., Ill. Richard Young & Lyon Forest Preserves - Kendall Co. Rock Run Preserve - Will County Rollins Savanna - Lake Co., Ill. Ryerson Conservation Area - Lake County Sand Ridge Nature Center - Cook County Santa Fe Prairie - Cook County Silver Creek Conservation Area - McHenry County Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area - Kendall County Skokie River Nature Preserve - Lake County Somme Prairie Grove - Cook County Spears Woods Forest Preserve - Cook County Spring Bluff Nature Preserve - Lake County Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve - Cook County Springbrook Prairie - DuPage County Sterne's Woods and Fen - McHenry County Sun Lake Forest Preserve - Lake County, IL Thatcher Woods - Cook County Theodore Stone Preserve - Cook County Thorn Creek Woods - Will County Van Patten Woods - Lake County Volo Bog State Natural Area - Lake County Wampum Lake Woods Forest Preserve - Cook County Waterfall Glen - DuPage County (1997) Waterfall Glen - DuPage County (2005) Wayne Grove Forest Preserve - DuPage County West Chicago Prairie - DuPage County West DuPage Woods - DuPage County Wingate Prairie - McHenry County Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve - DuPage County Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve - Cook Co. Zanders Woods - Cook County