Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area Provides Great Birdwatching, Biking, and Hiking in Chicago

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, biking, birdwatching, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, fall colors, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, prairies, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK

I love it when something ugly and industrial is returned to a beautiful natural state.

What is now Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area (2200 E. 103rd Street, Chicago, IL 60633) was once an industrial eyesore. It was a major dumping spot for slag (a byproduct of steel production), and invasive species grew in the degraded woodlands near the slag dumping sites. The area was known as the “cinder flats” because of all the ash on the ground. Yet, old-timers tell stories about playing in this industrial area and seeing deer, snakes, turtles, and migrating birds.

After extensive environmental remediation and restoration (including the removal of buckthorn and phragmites, an aggressive reed), Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area has become a place of wild beauty and an oasis for migrating sandhill cranes, American white pelicans, green herons, great egrets, double-crested cormorants, blue herons, and many other birds. Many birds visit the area as they migrate along the Mississippi Flyway, the second-largest north-south route for migrating birds on the continent. During your visit, you might also see deer, coyotes, chorus frogs (I saw plenty hopping across the trails as I walked), turtles, snakes, and dinosaurs (not!…just checking if you’re still paying attention). Remnants of the site’s industrial past can still be seen, but the beauty outweighs the ugliness at this site in Chicago’s Jeffrey Manor neighborhood. At 140 acres, Marian R. Byrnes Park is one of the largest wild spaces in Chicago.

Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area features native marsh, wet and dry prairie, savanna, and woodland habitat. It is a great destination for hiking, biking (on paved trails only), and birdwatching, among other activities. The park has a 1.18-mile paved trail that stretches the length of the park, accessible from the southeast or northeast corners. I suggest entering and parking at the south entrance (103rd Street). The paved trail has a 0.20-mile loop at the south end, which connects to the 0.75-mile main trail. There is a 0.23-mile loop at the north end of the trail.

I visited Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area on a warm and sunny late-August day. I nearly had the entire park to myself—except for two birders, who were walking around with cameras that featured lenses that looked as long as baseball bats.  

From the parking lot, I briefly walked north from the parking lot on the paved trail, but I soon discovered a network of woodchip trails to the east of the main trails. These trails move through what I will call with no hyperbole a spectacular area of seven-foot-tall (or higher) native plants; groves of towering oaks, cottonwoods, and, other trees; and woodland ponds. The “wood chip area,” as I’ll call it, is the prettiest section of the preserve. It was full of birdsong, frogs, and other wildlife. There was something magical about the way the sunlight shone on the savanna, and a zen-liked calm washed over me as a steady breeze moved through the leaves and branches of the young oak and cottonwood trees. Amidst the beauty, you will encounter the occasional building debris, but it did not detract from the beautiful savanna and wetlands.

I eventually rejoined the main paved trail heading north. To the west of the trail, I passed slag prairies and wetlands, as well as some wooded areas. In addition to providing habitat for birds, the wetlands provide flood protection, cleanse pollutants, and offer other benefits. According to restoration reports, attempts were made to remove the slag and/or plant native species in the slag prairie, with no success. The good news: Mother Nature (through the wind and/or bird droppings) dropped seeds of purple coneflower, coreopsis, marsh blazing star, and other plants, and a native prairie grew amidst the slag. I also saw goldenrod, asters, and milkweed (and milkweed bugs) during my visit to the natural area.    

As I walked, hawks circled overhead and occasionally eyed me from their perches in trees.  

For its relatively small space, Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area is a birding hotspot. Nearly 170 bird species have been recorded in the natural area, according to eBird. It has become a great location to see American woodcocks, northern flickers, swamp sparrows, solitary sandpipers, and even soras. In addition, eBird reports that some of the species that have been recorded at this spot more frequently than their regional average include American kestrels, red-tailed hawks, red-winged blackbirds, chipping sparrows, and orange-crowned warblers. There’s a short boardwalk and viewing area to the west of the trail, which looks like an excellent spot for birdwatching.

Did You Know?

Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area is named after Marian Byrnes, a beloved conservationist and community activist. In 1979, Byrnes, who lived on Van Vlissingen Road next to what is now the natural area, was instrumental in protecting a large portion of the site from becoming the site of a CTA bus garage. She also fought for labor rights and other causes. “She was brilliant, in love with the world, the planet, and all living things,” her friend Joan Curry told the Chicago Tribune. Byrnes died at the age of 84 in 2010.

The Southland has many ecologically diverse areas (including wetlands and marshes) and it is becoming a premier birding area because of environmental restoration efforts and because it sits on the Mississippi Flyway, on which, according to Audubon, “more than 325 bird species make the round-trip each year…from their breeding grounds in Canada and the northern United States to their wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico and in Central and South America.”

Time was moving quickly as I hiked south toward my car. I had an afternoon appointment in Beverly for the setup of my art exhibit for the Beverly Area Arts Alliance’s 2026 Beverly Art Walk, so I reluctantly exited the preserve.

I loved Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area, and I’m sure that you will, too. The natural area is a great destination if you like:

  • easy and enjoyable hiking
  • beautiful views of the marshes, woodlands, and prairies
  • birdwatching (especially during the spring and fall migrations)
  • spring and summer wildflowers
  • stunning fall colors
  • a chance to see environmental restoration in progress
  • solitude, at least when I visited; I say it a lot, but there’s nothing like being alone in a beautiful nature spot.

Before You Go

Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area is open from dawn to dusk daily.

Washroom facilities and a picnic area are available.

There is a parking lot at the south entrance, but it was not open when I visited.

Bike racks are available.

No pets, fires, or wildlife or plant collection.

Looking for some places to eat and drink after your visit? If so, check out my Art Walk article, which lists a variety of spots in Beverly/Morgan Park. In addition, L and G Family Restaurant (10401 S. Torrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617) is a 5-minute drive from the natural area.

Final Thoughts

I grew up in Beverly/Morgan Park, six miles west of Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area, yet I never visited it or other nearby areas. I’ve spent my adult years making up for that omission, visiting nature spots on Chicago’s South Side and in its south suburbs, and including them in my book, Nature in Chicagoland. I’ve been impressed by the vast range of ecosystems and wildlife. Too often, people write off Chicago’s Southland as industrial, crime-ridden, drive-by territory on the way to the lakeside towns of Michigan—but that’s a mistake. I encourage you to visit Chicago’s Southland—my homeland—for some great nature adventures. In addition to visiting Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area, I suggest checking out the following nearby destinations:

  • Big Marsh Park (entrances about 3.5 miles to the south; enter only at 103rd Street and Doty Road, or at 122nd Street and Torrence Avenue) has an amazing bike park; five unique bike tracks to ride, including a paved pump track and both beginner and expert jump lines; more than 255 bird species; some call it Chicago’s “Hidden Birding Mecca”; an environmental education center; and a variety of formal and informal hiking trails that will take you along its many ponds, marshes, and other natural areas.
  • Burnham Prairie Nature Preserve (about 6.5 miles southeast): A small Illinois Nature Preserve that is a birdwatching hotspot.
  • Dan Ryan Woods (about 7 miles to the northeast) is a 257-acre urban preserve with sledding and snowboarding hills, historic aqueducts, fitness stairs, picnic groves, and a mile-long paved loop that connects to the Major Taylor Trail (good for biking and walking). Dogs allowed (on leashes).
  • Hegewisch Marsh Park (about 5 miles south): Features 129 acres of native marsh, wetland, and wet prairie, as well as forests of cottonwoods and other trees. When you visit HMP, you might see moorhens, yellow-headed blackbirds, red-winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, bald eagles, black-crowned night herons, great egrets, double crested cormorants, little blue herons, and migrating songbirds, among many other species of birds. More than a mile of hiking trails are available at HMP, some of which pass close to the marsh and travel near the Calumet River (a good spot for eagle watching). 
  • Indian Ridge Marsh Park (about 3.5 miles to the southeast) features 154 acres of native marsh and wet prairie habitat. The park has north and a south sections; both have parking lots and walking trails. During my visit, I loved the views of the marsh ponds and the migrating waterfowl and year-round Chicago avian residents. The park is surrounded by typical Southland heavy industry and roads and railroad tracks, but once you walk for a few minutes on the wood-chip trails, you’ll be transported into a surprisingly peaceful place.
  • Powderhorn Lake, Marsh, and Prairie (about 6.5 miles to the southeast): A pretty lake and a dune and swale landscape that is home to about 250 plant species, 2,500 insect species, and 40 to 100 bird species. Portions of this area have been declared an Illinois Nature Preserve.
  • Sand Ridge Nature Center (about 9 miles south): One of my favorite nature centers in Chicagoland. Great trails, excellent birdwatching, knowledgeable and friendly staff, and a cool 1880s pioneer homestead. 
  • Steelworkers Park (about 4 miles to the northeast on the shores of Lake Michigan): This 16.56-acre site features a towering rock-climbing wall that is built on a historic ore wall that remains from the South Works steel plant, hiking trails with beautiful views of the lake and prairie, and opportunities for shore fishing and birdwatching. Two massive blast furnace bells and an ingot mould pattern from SouthWorks now serve as public art at the park. Parking is easy, and there are good opportunities for biking (a Divvy site is located at the parking lot).

Copyright (text): © Andrew Morkes, except quoted material

Copyright (photos): © Andrew Morkes, except the following photos:

American Woodcock, Kimberly Emerson, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS); American White Pelican, Ryan Moehring; Northern Flicker, Jeff Lemons, USFWS; Sandhill Cranes, Courtney Celley, USFWS

Looking for some other 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 $19.99.

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

I’ve 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 also 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 80 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, College Readiness: The Vault Guide for High School Juniors and Seniors, the Vault Career Guide to Consulting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series), Lerner Publishing, and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades, Hands-On Careers, Social Media Today, Woman in STEM Careers, Getting Started, and Cool Careers in Science series). Many titles that I have written and edited have received positive reviews in Booklist; Voice of Youth Advocates; Library Bookwatch; CHOICE, a publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries (a division of the American Library Association); and other publications.

Here’s a list of the environmental- and clean energy-focused titles that I’ve written or co-written:

Articles about my work have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Practical Homeschooling, and other publications. My photographs of musicians, artists, and the natural world have been published in several books. My poetry has been published in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review. As an amateur artist, I’m pleased to say that four of my paintings were included in the 2025 Beverly Art Walk. Additionally, six of my photographs were featured in the 2026 Beverly Art Walk.

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