BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG Last week, my friend Dave and I visited 242-acre Heron Creek Forest Preserve (22890 N. Old McHenry Road, Lake Zurich, IL 60047) in Lake County to hike and do a little birdwatching after hiking earlier in the day at the splendid Reed-Turner Woodland down … Continue reading Heron Creek Forest Preserve Offers Great Hiking, Biking, Picnicking, Birdwatching, and a Cool Kids Playground
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG White trillium blooms were everywhere in Shaw Woods at Skokie River Nature Preserve in Lake Forest, Illinois. I felt like I could stay there all-day soaking in the blooms and the silence of the woods. I also saw prairie trilliums, bristly buttercups, Virginia bluebells, … Continue reading Visit Skokie River Nature Preserve for Great Birding, Hiking, and Wildflower Views
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND UPDATED JULY 2024 Where do I start when trying to tell you about all the great things you can do and see at Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area? It’s hard to decide because Ryerson Conservation Area (which is also known as Ryerson Woods) is both … Continue reading Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area: A Hiker’s Heaven, a Biodiversity Hotspot, and Opportunities to Learn About Local History
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND Looking for a place where you can: view as many birds as possible have the chance to hike several miles on a loop trail enjoy some solitude visit someplace new If so, you should visit Pine Dunes Forest Preserve, which is located in Antioch, Illinois, … Continue reading Pine Dunes Forest Preserve: Birding, Biking, and Easy Hiking
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND UPDATED NOVEMBRER 2024 There are only 63 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in Illinois (as opposed to 3,288 miles in Michigan), and much of this land has been developed as part of city lakefronts, heavy industry, and private beachfront property. That’s why Illinois Beach State … Continue reading Illinois Beach State Park: Beautiful Dune, Lake, and River Views; Hiking; Biking; Camping; and Other Great Outdoor Recreational Activities