On the cover: January and February are the best time to see bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Illinois. More than 3,100 of these majestic birds spend winter here annually. Alaska is the only state with a larger population of wintering bald eagles than Illinois.
A MESSAGE from
ANGELO D. KYLE
PRESIDENT
LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES
AKYLE@LAKECOUNTYIL.GOV
MORE THAN 31,200 ACRES ARE PROTECTED BY THE LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES.
When I was first elected to the Forest Preserves Board of Commissioners in 1990, Lake County looked very different than it does now. With about 200,000 fewer residents, our region was still largely rural. Especially in the north and west, much of the land was used for agriculture. Forest Preserves holdings were only about half of what they are today.
What hasn’t changed over the past 34 years is the public’s overwhelming support for open space. In fact, that support has grown as dramatically as the acres of land and miles of trail we manage for public enjoyment.
Since 1993, voters have approved every request for capital dollars to help the Forest Preserves grow. As I conclude my third term as president, I am grateful to Lake County voters for once again saying “yes.”
More than 66% of voters supported the referendum on November 5 for $155 million to preserve more land, complete trail connections and public access projects, and restore thousands of acres of habitat. We are humbled by the trust and confidence in the Forest Preserves this result signifies.
In return, we pledge to use these funds wisely and leverage referendum dollars to secure grants and donations, making your tax dollars go further.
We also pledge to engage residents, especially underrepresented voices, in the process of planning new sites and redesigning existing preserves. As always, we are committed to transparency in how decisions are made and funds are spent.
Voters of Lake County, thank you for your support of the Forest Preserves. We’re excited to begin putting this funding to work for the benefit of all who call Lake County home.
B OARD of COMMISSIONERS
PRESIDENT
Angelo D. Kyle, Waukegan
VICE PRESIDENT
John Wasik, Grayslake
TREASURER
Gina Roberts, Beach Park
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Paul Frank, Highland Park
Marah Altenberg, Buffalo Grove
Esiah Campos, Round Lake Beach
Carissa Casbon, Lake Villa
Jennifer Clark, Libertyville
Mary Ross Cunningham, Waukegan
Michael Danforth, Fox River Grove
Sandy Hart, Lake Bluff
Diane Hewitt, Zion
J. Kevin Hunter, Ingleside
Sara Frederick Knizhnik, Vernon Hills
Ann B. Maine, Lincolnshire
Paras Parekh, Highland Park
Linda Pedersen, Antioch
Adam Schlick, Wauconda
Jessica Vealitzek, Hawthorn Woods
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ty Kovach
HORIZONS
VOLUME 33, ISSUE 4 Winter 2024
EDITOR AND DESIGNER
Jeanna Martinucci Cristino
Horizons@LCFPD.org
CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS
Kim Mikus, Brett Peto, Rebekah Snyder, Erika Stergos
DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS
Eddie Fieg, Brett Peto
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION
John D. Kavc (cover), Jeff Goldberg, Justine Neslund, John Weinstein, Mike Borkowski, Sherah G Photography, Liz Rose Fisher, Gerald Romanchuk, Paco Luengo, Carrie Werner, Brett Peto, Kara Gardner Photography, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District
Horizons is the quarterly publication of the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Subscriptions are free. Subscribers may also receive mailings from the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves. Photos and videos are periodically taken of people participating in Forest Preserve District programs and activities. All persons registering for Forest Preserve District programs/activities or using Forest Preserve District property thereby agree that any photo or video taken by the Forest Preserve District may be used by the District for promotional purposes including its website or agency social media, promotional videos, brochures, fliers and other publications without additional, prior notice or permission and without compensation to the participant.
VAN PATTEN WOODS (WADSWORTH)
Lake County's Legacy and Future of Ice
Ice seems temporary. It melts in a glass. It disappears at a sunbeam’s touch. It ebbs with the first relief of spring. But some ice leaves deeper marks than a cold drink.
On the banks of the Fox River in the southwestern corner of Lake County, you can see back through time. Not long ago on the 4.5-billion-year arc of Earth’s history, a wall of ice 700–2,000 feet tall covered everything in view today. There was no wide, shallow river. No trees or flowers. Only ice.
Today, 691 acres near the river’s eastern shore make up Grassy Lake Forest Preserve (Lake Barrington). The preserve features 5.6 miles of trails, six scenic overlooks, sedge meadows and mature oak woodlands. Set back less than a quarter mile from the low, forested riverfront is what looks like a medium-sized hill.
A 1.6-mile trail makes a half-spiral as it ascends the hill to an overlook with magnificent views of the Fox River. There, you can rest on a bench, watch the water flow by and ponder this …
The Laurentide Ice Sheet helped shape the landscape of Lake County. The Driftless Area resembles northern Illinois’ prehistoric geography.
Catching the Drift
Starting 2.58 million years ago during the last Ice Age, a massive continental glacier called the Laurentide Ice Sheet formed near the Arctic Circle. It enveloped millions of square miles, blanketing most of what would become Canada and the northern U.S. Like waves crashing onto a beach, the ice sheet grew and retreated over the land in cycles lasting tens of thousands of years. The area that’s now Illinois experienced three major glacial periods: the PreIllinoian Stage, the Illinoian Stage and the Wisconsin Glacial Episode.
As the Laurentide advanced, it pulverized rock, silt, gravel, sand and sediment, carrying it for miles and depositing it elsewhere. Known as drift, this mixture is widespread across Chicagoland.
The Laurentide’s final southward expansion occurred around 95,000 years ago. Its departure from Illinois between 10,000–12,000 years ago leveled off many of the state’s former bluffs, valleys and hills into today’s largely flat landscape.
The Mississippi River once ran through central Illinois, until the ice
sheet pushed the waterway west to its current course. The modern Illinois River follows the Mississippi’s prehistoric path.
A time capsule of pre-glacial topography exists in the Driftless Area, a region spanning portions of southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. Ice didn’t cover the Driftless. This left intact cold-water trout streams, rugged hills, caves, waterfalls and other striking features that are rare in Illinois.
Cordilleran Ice Sheet Laurentide Ice Sheet
Greenland Ice Sheet Sea ice Driftless Area Lake County
Kames and Kettles
Clues to Lake County’s icy past are still visible. “Lake Michigan, the Fox River and the Des Plaines River were all left behind by the Ice Age,” said Public Program Specialist April Vaos.
The medium-sized hill at Grassy Lake is an example of a kame. “A kame is formed when a glacier cracks and allows water to pool and pile sediment,” Vaos said. “Once the glacier melts, a mound of gravel and sand is left in its place, creating this kame, or what people see as a hill.”
Kettle lakes dot the county, too. They started as chunks of ice left behind by a retreating glacier.
“Eventually soil buried them, and as they melted, they created circular lakes called kettle lakes. It’s neat to look at maps of Lake County and notice these lakes.”
Recessional moraines are another glacial feature present today. They’re low ridges formed by a glacier pausing and depositing more sediment in one place. A portion of the Valparaiso Moraine rises west of Independence Grove Forest Preserve (Libertyville) near Illinois Routes 137 and 21.
“If you leave out of the preserve entrance and look to the west, you’ll see a hill going up on Route 137 toward Route 21. Folks may not realize this is a great example of a moraine,” said Vaos.
Water east of the Valparaiso Moraine generally flows into Lake Michigan and through other Great Lakes into the St. Lawrence River and eventually the Atlantic Ocean.
Water west of the moraine heads to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. An exception is the Des Plaines River. The top of the moraine is west of the river, but the water flows into the Mississippi.
Illinois is called the Prairie State now. But this land has a longer memory.
“Illinois was once a warm, tropical ocean with shelled creatures called crinoids. It was a delta swamp at one point. It was an arctic tundra during the Ice Age and had animals we couldn’t imagine today,” Vaos said.
Visit the Dunn Museum (Libertyville) to learn about prehistoric Lake County: LCFPD.org/museum
FoxRiver
GLACIAL KAME
More than two dozen recessional moraines stretch across portions of Chicagoland.
The glacial kame at Grassy Lake rises gradually from the Fox River’s shoreline.
The Fox River flows a short distance from the overlook atop the kame.
A Great Lake
East of the Driftless Area and the Mississippi River, the Laurentide also carved gigantic basins totaling tens of thousands of square miles. Some portions plummeted more than 1,000 feet down. The ice thawed. Its meltwater created the Great Lakes.
According to the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), an interstate agency, Lakes Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario “cover more than 94,000 square miles and hold an estimated six quadrillion gallons of water.”
That equals more than 9 billion Olympic-size swimming pools.
The Great Lakes are Earth’s second-largest source of fresh surface water and account for 90% of the U.S. supply. The eastern edge of Lake County has more than 20 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan, “the only Great Lake entirely within the United States,” the GLC wrote.
“Approximately 118 miles wide and 307 miles long, Lake Michigan has more than 1,600 miles of shoreline. Averaging 279 feet in depth, the lake reaches 925 feet at its deepest point.”
Each day, the City of Chicago’s Department of Water Management “purifies and delivers approximately 750 million gallons of drinking water to residents of Chicago and 120 suburbs. 42% of the whole state gets their water” from the department.
Lake County draws its drinking water from Lake Michigan and groundwater aquifers. Aquifers are underground layers of permeable rock or sediment that act as natural storage for water.
By appearances, Lake Michigan is a steady presence, an anchor for the northeastern corner of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. Yet the lake is not invincible.
Fort Sheridan’s ecologically sensitive bluffs provide visitors with a stunning gateway to Lake Michigan views.
A Vulnerable Lake
It looks like a scene from Minnesota, Manitoba or Alaska. Shelves of ice cluster along the shoreline. Waves carve little caverns into them, icicles smattered with sand hanging from their ceilings. Miniature icebergs with eccentric rings of frozen froth idle offshore.
With about two miles of shoreline, Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (Lake Forest) has a front-row view of Lake Michigan’s winter ice.
The 321-acre preserve contains 3.65 miles of trails, six ravines and rolling coastal bluffs home to plants that are rare farther inland. More than 140 species of birds rest and refuel here during spring and fall migration.
For human visitors, an accessible overlook atop a 70-foot-high bluff reveals the blue oasis of the lake. During winter, a crust of ice normally freezes near the shore. Last winter, not so much.
On February 11, 2024, ice covered only 2.6% of Lake Michigan’s surface area. The Great Lakes totaled 12.18%
on February 19 before falling to 4.3% on February 26. Historically, Great Lakes ice coverage usually peaks at 40% or more in late February and early March.
That’s according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL). Since GLERL’s satellitebased measurements began in 1973, “annual maximum ice coverage has decreased by approximately 5% per decade.”
Climate change is a major contributor. Illinois’ average daily temperature has risen 1–2 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 120 years, said Illinois State Climatologist Dr. Trent Ford.
“Every season has gotten warmer and wetter. It’s consistent across the state. Winter has warmed at a much faster rate than summer. When we break down winter, the most extreme daily temperatures have warmed faster than the more moderate temperatures. For example, we’re getting many fewer minus 10 or 15-degree days than we are 5 or 10-degree days.”
Ice was abundant at Fort Sheridan in February
Shoreline ice provides a seasonal
An iceberg floats in still waters under a half-clouded sky at Fort Sheridan.
Photos:
(Clockwise from top left)
Icicles hang from the ceiling of a small opening in the bottom of an ice shelf.
2019.
break from wave action.
“ Every season has gotten warmer and wetter. It’s consistent across the state.
Winter
has warmed at a much faster rate than summer.”
– DR. TRENT FORD ILLINOIS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST
The Price of Less Ice
Present-day ice is just as important to Lake County’s landscape as prehistoric ice was.
Lake Michigan’s seasonal ice shelf provides armor for coastal infrastructure and natural areas such as Fort Sheridan against strong winds and waves.
It also offers some fish species “protection from predators during spawning season,” GLERL wrote, and reduces how much water evaporates into the atmosphere.
Thinner ice coverage allows shipping lanes on the lake to stay open longer, increasing shoreline erosion. Waves strip away sand, stone and vegetation. Infrastructure such as seawalls can help mitigate that. But endlessly reinforcing them while trucking in sand to restock dwindling bluffs and beaches is not sustainable.
In 2020, the Forest Preserves and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District tried a different approach. A contractor built several underwater reefs parallel to Fort Sheridan’s lakeshore.
Made from limestone slabs, tree trunks and branches, boulders and cobblestones, the reefs steer sand toward the shore from their sunken positions 10–13 feet below the surface.
The reefs also create habitat for fish and common mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus), a species of aquatic salamander. The Army Corps is maintaining the reefs
through 2025. That includes monitoring the animal populations congregating around them.
We aren’t alone in doing this type of work. In September, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources completed a $73 million shoreline stabilization project at Illinois Beach State Park (Zion).
It involved building 22 offshore breakwaters to buffer the park’s 6.5 miles of shoreline, which had been eroding more than 100 feet per year. These projects make sense for each site. But reefs are not a cure-all.
Installing similar structures along all 1,600-plus miles of Lake Michigan shoreline isn’t realistic.
A more proactive approach to protecting the long-term health of the lake, the county and the planet is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon already in the atmosphere.
Planting trees, protecting and expanding wetlands and restoring prairies are all good ways to make a difference. Lake Michigan is bigger than your forest preserves.
But we can all do our part to preserve the legacy and future of ice in Lake County.
3 A conceptual rendering of one of three layouts used for
In 2020, a contractor built underwater reefs about the length of a tennis court away from Fort Sheridan’s shoreline.
Crews used a crane mounted on a barge to lower boulders, limestone slabs and other materials onto the lakebed.
the reefs.
Your donations help extend and accelerate the work of the Forest Preserves!
Preserve. Restore. Protect.
We envision that 100 years from now, Lake County will be a healthy, resilient landscape with restored and preserved natural lands. To make this vision a reality, the Forest Preserves must ensure each of the 31,200 acres in our care is strong.
An acre of forest preserve may start as retired farmland, a vacant lot or a former homestead overgrown with invasive species. Once preserved, we work to restore it to a thriving, biodiverse ecosystem, which is more resilient for the future. However, this requires a significant investment of public and private funds. On average, it costs $40,000 to preserve one acre, $15,000 to restore it and $75 each year to keep it healthy.
Thanks to the public’s support, the Forest Preserves can acquire and restore land, preserving it forever as open space. Every day, our professional staff of ecologists and natural resource technicians work to return forest preserve lands to ecological health through data-driven, innovative approaches and proven techniques.
But the work doesn’t end once the initial restoration is complete. Our restored lands face ongoing threats from invasive species, exotic pests and changing climatic conditions. To ensure your forest preserves remain beautiful and diverse, we must provide continual care by:
• Re-treating invasive species, such as buckthorn, honeysuckle and teasel.
• Re-planting native seeds, trees and shrubs that can adapt to a changing climate.
• Conducting prescribed burns to keep land healthy.
• Conducting plant, animal and insect monitoring to ensure our actions are effective.
These actions ensure the forest preserves you love will be healthy and strong for future generations to cherish.
Your gift today will make a lasting difference, with its impact increasing over time. When we reach our $20 million goal, the endowment will generate $800,000 in investment returns for the Forest Preserves every year. Endowment gifts create a perpetual, dependable funding source for the Forest Preserves and ensure every acre of habitat we restore remains ecologically healthy. Forever.
Nels Leutwiler
Preservation Foundation President
Will you join us in keeping every acre strong? Give online: LCFPD.org/donate
HOW DO WE FUND THE FOREST
Your Impact on the Forest Preserves
Support for the Lake County Forest Preserves is invested to conserve and care for these lands now and into the future.
PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS fund the preservation of land, restoration of native habitats, and construction of parking lots, trails and overlooks for public access and enjoyment.
ON AVERAGE, IT COSTS:
$40,000 to preserve one acre, $15,000 to restore it to natural health and $75 each year to keep it healthy
LESS THAN 2% of your property tax bill supports the Forest Preserves
GRANTS from foundations, businesses and state and federal programs make tax dollars go further, supporting everything from major restoration projects to initiatives like free nights at the Dunn Museum, the Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Program and various community festivals and education events.
Tax dollars and grants help us grow and improve the forest preserves every year, but YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ensure these investments are protected forever. Your donations help the forest preserves remain strong for future generations to enjoy as much as you do! Support the
PRESERVE NEWS
Updated Land Acknowledgment Statement Gets Green Light
Our Board of Commissioners adopted an updated Land Acknowledgment Statement in September. It reads:
The Lake County Forest Preserve District acknowledges Native people as the original caretakers of the land it now owns. We recognize the role we have as a land management organization, dedicated to preserving the land and history of northeastern Illinois and we desire to honor the first people. District lands are the traditional homelands of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi nations. Many other nations have lived on, traveled through and welcomed others to this area. American Indian groups still exist today despite the historical and cultural efforts of forced removal. They maintain cultural traditions and call Lake County home today.
From Festive to Functional: Recycle Your Tree
Transform your real, undecorated holiday tree into something useful beyond the season. Drop it off, and we’ll recycle it into wood chips for trails and landscaping in your forest preserves. Find drop-off sites: LCFPD.org/holidaytree
Let Nature Set the Scene for Your Next Event
Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, the Greenbelt Cultural Center (North Chicago) and The Lodge at ThunderHawk Golf Club (Beach Park) are perfect for your wedding, business meeting or special event. Whether you’re looking for an indoor or outdoor setting, we have options to match your vision. For a custom quote or tour, complete an inquiry form at LCFPD.org/rentals. Or contact us at 847-968-3477 (Greenbelt) or 847-968-3450 (ThunderHawk).
LARGE ROOKERY ACQUIRED
The purchase of about 41 acres in Antioch Township, located east of Grass Lake Road, was approved by our Board of Commissioners. The new Lotus Country Conservation Preserve includes wooded areas, important wetlands and Lake County’s largest heron and egret rookery.
This incredible site is vital for nesting birds and sensitive species. To preserve its natural beauty and significant ecological features, the area will remain protected without developed public access. Learn more: LCFPD.org/rookery
Grants Improve Forest Preserves
We received more than $2 million in grants over the past 13 years from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. The Foundation has ceased its grant-making and will close its doors at the end of the year.
Two recent grants benefited the Forest Preserves. The first is $233,600 to help preserve 18.2 acres as an addition to Wadsworth Savanna Forest Preserve (Wadsworth). The second supports volunteer efforts at Heron Creek Forest Preserve (Lake Zurich). Details: LCFPD.org/Grants-2024
GREENBELT TO EXPAND
Our Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of about 13.2 acres to expand Greenbelt Forest Preserve (North Chicago). The property is on Route 120, east of Willow Avenue and west of the Belvidere Discount Mall.
“By acquiring this property, we’re expanding Greenbelt and opening doors to link nearby trails,” said Angelo Kyle, president of the Lake County Forest Preserves.
The addition will be factored into a new master plan for Greenbelt, a process that has just begun and will continue into 2025. Learn more: LCFPD.org/addition
Horizons Magazine Shines with Four Awards
Horizons magazine recently received four prestigious awards in two industry-leading competitions.
The free quarterly publication earned two awards in a contest run by the Chicago Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the largest association for American communications professionals. And it received two national accolades through APEX, the Annual Awards for Publication Excellence. Horizons garnered a PRSA Skyline Award for “Best Use of Print/ Online Publishing” and an Excellence Award for “Content Marketing,” showcasing the 2023 fall and winter issues.
The winter 2023 issue also won APEX’s Grand Award in the “Newsletters” category, while the spring 2024 issue earned an Award of Excellence for “Newsletters—Print.”
Judges offered high praise for the magazine. “Excellent work. I could easily see myself sitting with a cup of coffee, enjoying this publication,” one judge wrote. Read more: LCFPD.org/4Awards
Pictured above: Kim Mikus (left), media and community relations specialist and Jeanna Martinucci, communications and design manager
Female northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
FEATURED EVENTS
For a complete list of all events, descriptions, pricing and tickets: Visit LCFPD.org/calendar, call 847-968-3321 or scan the QR code shown on the left. In-person and virtual nature and history programs, school field trips and digital resources are available.
DUNN MUSEUM PROGRAMS
EDUCATOR FAVORITES
Our educators revealed the programs they’re most looking forward to this season. View all programs and registration details at LCFPD.org/calendar
January 12 Mindful Moments with History: Repurposing with Decoupage
January 25 Family FeederWatch
January 25 Photography in the Forest Preserves: Winter Wonders
January 29 Animal Clues in Winter
The Dunn Museum (Libertyville) invites visitors of all ages to explore the diverse history, culture and natural beauty of the area through interactive exhibits and engaging programs. View all Museum programs and registration details at LCFPD.org/dunn
December 19 Artists of Lake County
January 3 Exploring Historical Diaries: Bind Your Own Book
February 18 Museum Explorers: Ice Age Adventures
February 23 Civic Series: Button Making
VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES
Connect with our history and environmental educators for a lineup of dynamic programs designed for seniors. View all programs and registration details at LCFPD.org/seniors.
January 7 Senior Series: Coyote Howl
January 8 Senior Series: Examining History Through Recipes Crofton Cookbooks
January 1 6 Senior Series: How Glaciers Shaped Lake County
February 5 Senior Series: Lake County’s Involvement in the Underground Railroad
Discover Lake County’s vibrant past and stunning nature—all from the comfort of your home. View all programs and registration details at LCFPD.org/virtual
January 23 Native Gardener’s Club: Ready, Set, Grow
January 28 Newborn Animal Trivia
February 5 The Man From Libertyville
February 20 The Vole: The Mouse’s Lesser-Known Relative
SENIOR PROGRAMS
Have a question about Lake County history or nature? Our educators have the answer. Email: AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org
Threads of Time : Quilts & Textiles
On exhibit February 15–May 4, 2025 Dunn Museum • See page 15 for details.
LAKE COUNTY HISTORY SYMPOSIUM: January 9 and 16, 2025 6:30–8:30 pm • Online
From leisure boating to commuter railroads and car racing, Lake County has long been a transportation hub. Join us virtually for the 10th annual Lake County History Symposium for local stories around the theme Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Lake County Transportation Each day will feature insightful presentations, followed by engaging discussions and Q&A with the speakers.
FREE. Adults. Attend both days to experience all presentations See the lineup and get tickets: LCFPD.org/symposium
PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE: February 2 • 3–5 pm • Greenbelt Cultural Center (North Chicago)
Join us for the 42nd annual Profiles in Excellence event for inspiring presentations and performances in honor of Black History Month. This year, we’ll shine a light on the untold stories of Lake County’s first African American citizens, exploring the importance of tracing roots and preserving legacies. Our guest speaker, author James Ciccone, brings history to life through his work in historical fiction, featuring Black characters whose challenges are often overlooked.
FREE. All ages. Learn more: LCFPD.org/profiles
MAPLE SYRUP HIKES: March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 • Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)
The arrival of spring kicks off with the annual tapping of sugar maple trees at Ryerson Conservation Area. Learn about the inner workings of trees and the process of making maple syrup. Each participant gets to enjoy a taste of locally made syrup.
All ages. Time slots available every 30 minutes from 12–2 pm. Tickets required—this popular program fills fast! Registration opens December 1 : LCFPD.org/maple-syrup
This upcoming summer, children and teenagers can join our nature and history programs led by skilled educators. With hands-on activities for every age, participants will uncover local history, explore native wildlife and enjoy plenty of outdoor adventures. Registration opens March 3: LCFPD.org/summer
Know Before You Go YOUR
Make the most of 31,200 acres with Expand Your Experience, the new official map and guide to your forest preserves. Use the countywide map to start planning your next walk, run, bike ride, fishing trip, paddling adventure or special event. Available in English and Spanish. Read in print or online.
SCAN TO READ ONLINE
Infórmese antes de ir
Aprovecha al máximo 31,200 acres con Expand Your Experience, el nuevo mapa oficial y guía de tus reservas forestales. Utilice el mapa para comenzar a planificar su próxima caminata, corrida, paseo en bicicleta, viaje de pesca, aventura de remo o evento especial. Disponible en Español y Inglés. Leer en forma impresa o en línea.
Escanear para leer en línea N S E W
SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
Art for Everyone:
Open through January 20, 2025
As seen on TV! Immerse yourself in soothing landscapes and happy little trees™ at a special exhibition featuring American artist Bob Ross® (1942–1995). The painter aimed to make art accessible to everyone through his TV program, The Joy of Painting, ® which continues to air all over the world, uninterrupted since 1983.
ON EXHIBIT FEBRUARY 15–MAY 4, 2025 | Threads of Time: Quilts & Textiles
Quilts and textiles from the Dunn Museum’s collections provide a colorful glimpse of Lake County’s history from the 1830s to the 2000s. Through quilts, clothing and sewing artifacts, this exhibition showcases stories stitched into every piece—from a quilt passed down through four generations to a winter wedding gown worn by a Yugoslavian-American bride. Textiles reveal narratives woven into our shared past.
Learn more: LCFPD.org/exhibits
GENERAL OFFICES
1899 W. Winchester Road Libertyville, IL 60048
847-367-6640 tel
847-367-6649 fax
For hours, visit our website.
BESS BOWER DUNN MUSEUM
1899 W. Winchester Road Libertyville, IL 60048
847-968-3400
Dunn@LCFPD.org
DunnMuseum.org
Gallery and Gift Shop
For regular and upcoming special hours, visit our website.
General Admission
$6 adults/$10 nonresidents
$3 seniors, youth/$6 nonresidents Free, children ages 3 and under
Beer Garden, Marina and Café For seasonal hours, menus and fees, visit our website.
North Bay Pavilion
For rental information, visit LCFPD.org/NorthBay
Parking Fee (spring–fall) Lake County residents FREE.
Vehicle window stickers allow entry without having to verify Lake County residency. Fee is $5, available at the Visitors Center.
Nonresidents
$6 per car Monday–Thursday $12 per car Friday–Sunday and holidays
RYERSON CONSERVATION AREA
21950 N. Riverwoods Road Riverwoods, IL 60015
847-968-3320
LCFPD.org/ryerson
Welcome Center
9 am–4:30 pm, Friday–Sunday
Restrooms open daily from 9 am–4:30 pm.
LCFPD.org
911 emergency
847-549-5200 nonemergency public safety issues
THUNDERHAWK GOLF CLUB
A Robert Trent Jones Jr. championship golf course.
39700 N. Lewis Ave. Beach Park, IL 60099
847-968-4295 Tee Times
847-489-1931 Golf Outings
ThunderHawkGolfClub.org
847-968-3450 Banquets, Meetings
ThunderHawkEvents@LCFPD.org
Office hours by appointment only.
BRAE LOCH GOLF CLUB
33600 N. U.S. Hwy. 45 Grayslake, IL 60030
847-968-3444 Tee Times
847-489-1931 Golf Outings
BraeLochGolfClub.org
COUNTRYSIDE GOLF CLUB
Prairie and Traditional Courses
20800 W. Hawley St. Mundelein, IL 60060
847-968-3466 Tee Times
847-489-1931 Golf Outings
CountrysideGolfClub.org
More than 31,200 acres make up your Lake County Forest Preserves.
Most preserves are open 6:30 am–sunset, daily. If a preserve gate is open before 6:30 am, the preserve is considered open for use.
MAP CURRENT AS OF Friday, November 22
FOREST PRESERVE
STATE LAND
ENTRANCE/ PARKING
METRA STATION
CASEY TRAIL
CHAIN O’LAKES BIKE PATH
Planned Section
DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL (DPRT)
DPRT TO LYONS WOODS
Planned Section
FORT HILL TRAIL
Planned Section
MIDDLEFORK GREENWAY
Planned Section
MILLENNIUM TRAIL
Planned Section
OTHER REGIONAL TRAILS
Planned Section
GENERAL OFFICES & DUNN MUSEUM
OPERATIONS & PUBLIC SAFETY
BEER
GARDEN
CANOE LAUNCH
COMMUNITY GARDEN
EDUCATION CENTER
OFF-LEASH DOG AREA
TRAIL MAP
Use our interactive trail map to navigate your next adventure. To view the map, open the camera app on your phone and scan the QR code below.
HORIZONS
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
847–968–3335 Horizons @LCFPD.org
Connect with us @LCFPD on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube and X. Listen to our awardwinning Words of the Woods podcast on Spotify. Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter: LCFPD.org/connect
WINTER FUN AWAITS
This season is packed with outdoor adventures including cross-country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, sledding and snowmobiling, offering endless ways to enjoy nature when temperatures fall.
Solar-lit trails are available through Sunday, March 9, 2025 at Old School Forest Preserve (Mettawa) and the Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve (Wauconda). Regular preserve hours are 6:30 am–sunset. Illuminated trails and adjoining parking lots will remain open until 9 pm daily.
Check LCFPD.org/winter for details and up-to-date conditions before visiting your favorite preserve.
FLICKR PICK
Along the shores of Lake Michigan, a narrow ice shelf meets a wave of open water, illustrating the delicate balance between winter’s chill and the restless lake. Taken by photographer Bob Callebert at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (Lake Forest).
Nature-Inspired Stationery
Give the beauty of native plants with a box of 16 custom notecards. Four designs showcase vibrant illustrations of native plants from a Lake County artist.
Proceeds benefit the Preservation Foundation. Purchase at the Dunn Museum (Libertyville) or online at LCFPD.org/notecards .
