BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG
If you’re looking for four-season, outdoor fun in Chicagoland, you should visit Coral Woods Conservation Area (7400 Somerset Drive, Marengo, IL 60152).
There are three hiking trails that can be enjoyed in any season at this 808-acre gem in McHenry County. The 1.2-mile Nature Loop Trail is renowned for its woodland wildflowers in the spring. The Sugar Maple Loop Trail is a 0.4-mile walk just off the parking lot. It’s a perfect path for people with young children or those who prefer a quick hike. This trail is celebrated for its fall colors. Finally, the 1.2-mile Hiking/Ski Trail takes you through oak and maple groves and provides opportunities for cross-country skiing (when conditions warrant). Click here for a trail map.
In the spring, walk the woods to see the colorful blooms of Jack-in-the-pulpit, wood anemone, spring beauty, sharp-lobed hepatica, toothwort, bloodroot, wild geranium, blue phlox, and red trillium. As you walk the trails, look for chorus and leopard frogs, tiger salamanders, and painted turtles in ephemeral (or vernal) ponds, and see if you can catch sight of deer, raccoons, or even a coyote.
In the summer, head to Coral Woods for more hiking amidst the red and white oak, hickory, and sugar maple woodlands, as well as wildflower viewing. Enjoy lunch in a picnic area near the parking lot. There is also a reservable picnic shelter (for up to 80 guests) that has a fireplace.
In the fall, walk the beautiful trails of Coral Woods to see the leaves of red and white oaks, sugar maples, and hickory trees turn a wide array of eye-popping colors. I did just that earlier this week, and walked in peace and solitude on a windy, summerish day.
Birdwatching is popular in all seasons, but best during the spring and fall migrations and in the summer. You might see white-breasted nuthatches, scarlet tanagers, American goldfinches, northern flickers, red-eyed vireos, indigo buntings, blue jays, owls, downy and hairy woodpeckers, robins, great-crested flycatchers, and cedar waxwings, among many other species.
In the winter, enjoy the solitude of the trails. The bare trees and snow-covered land have a unique beauty and stillness that is soothing and relaxing as most of nature sleeps beneath the earth or recreates in warmer climes. Don your snowshoes or cross-county skis and explore the preserve on a 1.5-mile, ungroomed trail for cross country skiing. A Festival of the Sugar Maples is held in late February and early March.
You can also participate in a variety of classes and other educational opportunities at Coral Woods in all seasons. Recent classes included Discovery Days: Rabbits and Spring Wildflower Walk.
A Little History
In 1823, the Stephen H. Long Expedition visited “Wakesa,” which was the last recorded Native American village that existed where present day Coral Woods is located. “The village was inhabited by 60 Menomones and a few intermarried Potawatomis, who had built four bark covered lodges,” according to the McHenry County Conservation District. Elijah and Mary Humphrey Dunham were the first European settlers. They arrived in 1836.
The Conservation District began acquiring the land (especially the oak woodlands) that comprises Coral Woods in 1976, and the site opened to the public in 1988. “Coral Woods represents one of only eight oak groves which remain in McHenry County that contains 100 acres or more of continuous oak woodland,” according to the McHenry County Historical Society and Museum (MCHSM).
The MCHSM says that “the intersection of US Highway 20 and Coral Road was known as Coral Crossing and was the location of the post office and stagecoach stop. The stagecoach ran from Chicago to Galena from 1830–1851 until the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad began passenger service.”
Before You Go:
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, year-round
Dogs are allowed, but they must be leashed.
Nearby Nature Destinations: Brookdale Conservation Area, Kishwaukee Headwaters Conservation Area, Marengo Ridge Conservation Area, Moraine Hills State Park, Pleasant Valley Conservation Area
Copyright (text): Andrew Morkes, except quoted material
Copyright (photos): Andrew Morkes, except photo of Downy Woodpecker (copyright David Ellis, USFWS)
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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.
ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for more than 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 served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 70 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)
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