Overview
Silver maples, cottonwoods and willows line the banks of the Fox River and its floodwater-storing floodplain. Burly old-growth oaks occupy slightly higher ground above the river, and former agriculture fields now being restored to prairie can be viewed.
Prominent geological landforms such as kettles and kames tell of Lake County’s not too distant glacial shaping, while providing sweeping views of the river valley and the surrounding area. Centuries-old landscape plantings of catalpa trees, Douglas firs, and a hedgerow of osage orange remind of us those who lived here before us.
The preserve’s 5.8 miles of gravel and mowed grass trails offer some of the best access to the banks of the Fox River. Trails here wind through colorful sedge meadows, mature oak woodlands, and a variety of other natural habitats. Six scenic overlooks offer magnificent views of the Fox River Valley and of Grassy Lake. Trails here are open only for hiking and cross-country skiing. Biking is not allowed. Please keep dogs leashed and on the trails at all times, and pick up after them.