Summer 2001

A recent survey counted more than 400 native species at McKinley Woods, confirming its place among the healthiest preserves in the region

Will County, Illinois

About an hour southwest of Chicago’s Loop, wilderness lovers will find the breathtaking McKinley Woods. The forest’s steep slope has rendered the site unsuitable for agriculture, and according to Ricky Garza, senior restoration technician for the Forest Preserve District of Will County, "the site has never been plowed." In hopes of limiting human impact, I include in the introduction of this profile a heartfelt reminder to all potential visitors: remain on trail while hiking and, of course, let all beautiful wildflowers be.

McKinley Woods is composed of steep bluffs and deep ravines, carved out by thousands of tons of ice, an age ago. The geologically (and topographically) exceptional site makes for excellent, challenging hiking. Three separate loop trails are accessible from the upper parking lot. They range in length from .25 to 1.2 miles. Those interested in a longer day will find access from the lower parking lot to the 60-mile Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail, perfect for bicycles as well as hiking boots. Canoe access to both the I&M Canal and the Des Plaines is found here as well.

A sturdy stone 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps picnic shelter stands immediately south of the lower lot, in Fredrick’s Grove. The clearing to the lot’s north, Boatman’s Landing, offers excellent overnight camping (permits are required). At the northwest edge of the camping area an eddy provides habitat for the rare American lotus.

McKinley Woods’ south- facing slopes, with their superior sun exposure, provide habitat for some unusual and noteworthy flora. The oak/hickory forest is the only place in Will County where enthusiasts will find redbud trees growing naturally, pushing the edges of their habitat’s northern limit. May and early June see the peak of the redbud’s gorgeous purple addition to the forest.

Another member of the Woods’ arboreal community is the blue ash, which, says Garza, "is rarely seen as a canopy tree, like it is at McKinley." A recent survey counted more than 400 native species at McKinley Woods, confirming its place among the healthiest preserves in the region. The green violet, twinleaf, and rare orchids have been recorded at the site. The excellent Forest Preserve District Web site (www.fpdwc.org) is right on in its description of McKinley’s wildflower display, using the word "brilliant."

The thriving forest plant community attracts a similar abundance of fauna. Wild turkeys, introduced in neighboring areas, have moved into McKinley. A family of cedar waxwings greeted me practically the moment I stepped on the trail. Egrets, herons, and many other water birds can be spotted from the preserve, as the Des Plaines River runs parallel to McKinley Woods’ outer perimeter. Hundreds of migrating songbirds pass through on their annual journey, and some, like the scarlet tanager, make the site their nesting place.

McKinley Woods is one of the true jewels of Chicago Wilderness.

– Michael Madison