7 Things to Do at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND

UPDATED JULY 2024

Bright sunshine. Vast skies loaded with white, fluffy clouds. Warm gusts of wind. Butterflies and dragonflies. Absolute solitude. No 24-hour news cycle. In short: I had nothing to complain about during my visit last week to 320-acre Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve in Lockport, Illinois.

I’d started my day on the northwest side of Chicago, a wonderful city despite the Chicago naysayers, but one that is crammed full of houses (I can see the rooftops of 20 or so from my backyard), roads, and businesses. So, it was time for an adventure 40 miles southwest from home. Soon I’d be hiking in a big beautiful prairie on a day I should have been at work. Again, no complaints.

But first, I stopped at the nearby Illinois State Museum-Lockport Gallery to see Philip Juras’ exhibition, The Long View: Prairie Paintings from Illinois Nature Preserves, which features more than 40 paintings from 23 Illinois Nature Preserves across the Prairie State. (Note: The exhibit has closed.) Illinois Nature Preserves protect the highest quality natural lands in the state. “These lands are the last remnants of the Illinois wilderness,” according to the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. I walked around historic Lockport (highly recommended), traversed a little of the path along the I&M Canal, and checked out Lincoln Landing. But then it was time to head to the prairie.

Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve was acquired by the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 2011 and 2015. A 250-acre portion of the site was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1983.

Lockport Prairie, which is located along the Des Plaines River floodplain, features high-quality, wet and wet-mesic dolomite prairie. It’s estimated that more than 50 percent of the high quality wet dolomite prairie in the world is located at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve. Water from Prairie Bluff Preserve and other areas on the bluffs just east of the prairie drain into the Des Plaines River floodplain. 425 million-year-old dolomite bedrock lies beneath the prairie’s surface, and the thin surface of soil and sometimes high water table have created a unique environment for plants, which grow in a thin layer of alkaline soil above the rock. As a result, several threatened and endangered plants grow at the prairie—including the federally endangered leafy prairie clover and the federally threatened lakeside daisy. Also, rare prairie satin grass is found at the prairie. Other unusual plants of the dolomite prairie are slender sandwort, low calamint, and Ohio horsemint. Nearly 400 native plant species have been identified within Lockport Prairie, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In addition to looking for rare and simply beautiful plants, here are six more things you can do at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve:

Go hiking. There is a 0.43 mile natural surface trail that travels through prairie, wetlands, fen, marshes, and woodlands. As you walk, you’ll feel as if you’re in the middle of a wild natural area—despite glimpses of the industrial history of Lockport in the distance and a busy road on the bluffs above the prairie.

Look for the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly and other rare or endangered creatures. You may see the federally endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly and other rare species flying above all of the beautiful plants. Today, the dragonfly is only found in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. While you’re at it, see if you can spot the state-endangered Blanding’s turtle. In addition to dragonflies and turtles, Lockport Prairie also is home to more than 20 ant species. “The assemblage of conservation ants at Lockport Prairie is quite dissimilar to any other yet recorded in the Chicago region,” according to a project feasibility study that was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2015.

Go birdwatching. Nearly 200 birds—including shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds, and birds of prey—have been sighted at the prairie. Look for herons, egrets, and sandhill cranes in the wetlands and marshes near the river. (Nearby, the area around the 9^th Street Bridge near the Des Plaines River is sometimes a good place to see herons, egrets, and ospreys.) In the woodlands and savannah along the river, look for bald eagles, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and wood ducks. Click here for a list of birds that have been spotted at Lockport Prairie. Consider bringing binoculars, or a camera with a high-quality zoom lens if you’re interested in photography.

Participate in guided walks and other events at the prairie. Visit the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s website for more information.

Enjoy the fall colors of the prairie and surrounding woodlands.

Go snowshoeing. The flat terrain is perfect for snowshoeing (but stay on the trail). If you’ve never snowshoed, check out my article, First-Time Snowshoer Tells All: 10 Tips for Success and My Son’s Thank You, for more information.

Before You Go

Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve is located on Division Street, east of Route 53/Broadway Street, in Lockport Township. Street parking is available on Division Street.

Dogs are not allowed in the nature preserve.

The preserve is open from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Check out the prairie’s Facebook page for more information.

At the end of this blog post, I’ve listed some great destinations that are near Lockport Prairie should you want to pack your day full of nature explorations.

Postscript

I write most of my nature stories in my office at home, which creates a bit of a letdown after enjoying the prairies, forests, and lakes of the Chicago area. But I was able to write most of this story as I sat in a comfortable chair overlooking beautiful 3,200-acre Lake Kegonsa in southern Wisconsin. My wife’s beloved cousin Pam (who I also consider a beloved cousin) recently hosted us for a wonderful weekend filled with family, great food and conversation, a star-filled evening, and beautiful scenery and fun on the lake. As I thought about what I would write for this article, I listened to ducks calling in the distance, watched gulls and other waterbirds fly above the lake, and enjoyed watching my son and his cousins paddleboard, kayak, and engage in other watersports. And I was able to go kayaking twice (no writing while paddling, though). I’m grateful to Pam for giving my wife, son, myself, and other family members a wonderful taste of lake life. Thank you for your hospitality!

If you’re looking for a short (about 2 hours from the North Side of Chicago) weekend trip, check out Lake Kegonsa State Park. It features camping, a swimming beach, hiking trails, opportunities for fishing, picnic areas with reservable shelters, and a boat launch. Lake Kegonsa State Park is located in the charming town of Stoughton, which is located only about 20 miles from Madison, one of my favorite Wisconsin towns.

Destinations Near Lockport Prairie

While you’re in the area, check out (listed by proximity to the prairie):

Long Run Seep Nature Preserve (about 4 miles northeast): According to the IDNR, “This preserve contains a calcareous seep representative of the northeastern Morainal Division, a part of Illinois that contains many glacial lakes and other unique wetlands. Within this alkaline wetland, spotted touch-me-not, tussock sedge, skunk cabbage and the shrub nannyberry are common.”
Lake Renwick Heron Rookery and Nature Preserve (about 6 miles west): More great birdwatching and longer hiking trails. Check out my article on Lake Renwick.
Hadley Valley Preserve (about 7 miles east): Forest, savanna, wetland, and a portion of Spring Creek.
Messenger Woods (about 8 miles east): Stunning swathes of spring flowers (I’ve never seen anything like them in the Chicago area), ravines, a pretty meandering creek, prairie, oak savannas, and wetlands. Perfect for hiking (easy-to-moderate hiking trails), birdwatching (60 species), and camping. Check out my article about Messenger Woods.
Black Partridge Woods (about 9 miles northeast): Ravines and streams. Prehistoric-looking fish and endangered dragonflies. Challenging hiking. Early spring flowers. Stunning fall colors. Migratory bird watching. Click here for my article about Black Partridge Woods.
Lower Rock Run Preserve (about 10 miles southwest of the preserve): Forest, prairie, savanna, and wetland areas
Rock Run Rookery Preserve (about 12 miles southwest): An excellent spot for birdwatching (bald eagles, great blue herons, great egrets, cormorants, and other birds), short hikes, fishing, snowshoeing, and other outdoor activities. This 224-acre preserve features 84-acre and 13-acre lakes (which were originally created and used for quarrying), as well breeding areas (including islands) for birds and wetland and forest ecosystems. Click here for my story about Rock Run Rookery.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (about 18 miles south): Excellent hiking and bison and birdwatching; click here for my story about Midewin and 8 other places to see bison in the Midwest.
McKinley Woods (about 20 miles southwest): A beautiful, hilly preserve along the Des Plaines River and I&M Canal. Nearly 100 bird species—including cedar waxwings, purple martins, and bald eagles—have been sighted at the preserve. At McKinley Woods, you can also access the IDNR’s 61.5-mile, crushed limestone I&M Canal State Trail. Click here for my story about McKinley Woods.

Copyright (photos) Andrew Morkes, except the following images: Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly (Paul Burton, USFWS); Lakeside Daisy (JoAnn Banda, USFWS); American White Pelican (Ryan Moehring, USFWS); Blanding’s Turtle (Courtney Celley, USFWS); Dark-Eyed Junco (Courtney Celley, USFWS); Leafy Prairie-Clover (Bill Glass); Sandhill Crane Colt (Courtney Celley, USFWS)

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $18.99. Nature in Chicagoland received great reviews in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown, This Week in Birding blog, and Beverly Review.

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

I have been a writer and editor for nearly 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I’m also a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school.

In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 60 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).

Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:

Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
Environment (Getting Started series)
Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)