Winter 2002

Visitors choose from cross-country skiing on woodland trails, horse shows, fishing, and appreciation of woods abundant with native trees

Kendall County, Illinois

The first snow draws many visitors to Kendall County's Harris Forest Preserve to enjoy cross-country skiing on more than three miles of ungroomed trails and sledding on a challenging man-made hill.

This 92-acre site was purchased from the Harris family in the late 1960s and was originally grazed. Two red barns now house district tools and equipment. The community has enjoyed the land as a park for a long time and restoration work began three years ago. There has been very little need for intervention as buckthorn has yet to invade these woods that harbor blue ash, white oak, bur oak, shagbark hickory, and sugar maple.

Several wooden bridges cross streams along the woodland trails. Visitors can fish in Leifheit Lake for large mouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish or play sports in the open fields.

In the spring and fall, birders can spy an occasional osprey along with red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, white egrets, kingfishers, great crested flycatchers, and both green and great blue herons. Harris Forest Preserve harbors 230 native plant species. These include such spring beauties as trillium, Virginia bluebells, toothwort, wild leek, Dutchman's breeches, hepatica, and, well, spring beauty.

A horse arena is located just below the sledding hill and is used for horse shows and various events held by the Kendall County Horse Association. One of the existing trails will soon be compatible as a horse trail.

If you want to plan a reunion, gather a few friends for cross-country skiing, or plan a scout troop outing, a heated enclosed shelter with a wood-burning fireplace is available for a nominal fee. Otherwise, in more temperate weather the area also offers seven outside shelters.

Next spring, the Kendall County Historic Courthouse will open as the local Nature Center.

Harris Forest Preserve invites volunteers to participate in their spring bird count and a variety of restoration projects. Contact Jason Pettit, Kendall County Forest Preserve District director, at (630) 553-4131.

The Harris Forest Preserve is open year-round from 8 a.m. - dusk. Bikes are welcome, but only on the asphalt areas. Dogs can come along, but must be leashed. — Susan Larys

In the Vicinity
Nearby Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area in Yorkville offers a variety of activities for the winter sports enthusiast. Cross-country skiing, sledding and ice skating can be enjoyed when conditions permit. Ice fishing is a popular change of pace. A four-mile snowmobile trail begins at the picnic shelter and is open when snow cover is adequate. Check at the park office for maps and regulations; (630) 553-6297.

What is Chicago Wilderness? | Store | Donations | Contact Us | Home

Copyright 2008 Chicago Wilderness Magazine, Inc.
Revised .