Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary

No question this place is beautiful. Great trails that wind through cut grass and crushed limestone, the old quarry area, etc. One of the trails along Sleepy Hollow Road winds past a barn pasture with two horses (Dreams and Pink Lady). We often bring carrots or apples for the horses. Plenty of birds. Great place for photos (we’ve taken family portraits here). There are also a few geocaches (some easier to find than others).
That being said: there are ticks. Lots of them. Out of the last 5 times I’ve been here, I’ve found a tick lodged in my neck twice. I don’t wander from the paths. I obsessively check for ticks after leaving Jelke, but somehow I still manage to get bitten. I was bitten in late Fall and again this past Sunday (mid-​April) right after a very large controlled burn of Jelke.
Ticks were not as prevalent prior to the area being converted into a bird sanctuary. In fact, I never saw one. Kids used to fish and swim at the quarry in the Summers with no issues. With the arrival of a plethora of bird species came the influx of ticks. I feel like the area was ruined. It’s beautiful, but it can’t be utilized without the occasional trip to the doctor for antibiotics.
If you’re going to go, take precautions against ticks the best you can. And of course, bring goodies for the horses!

Really cool place. The trails are nice and fishing is good. Take the trail from main entrance towards sleepy hollow rd (west). More trails. Make sure you bring your up to date vehicle. Sleepy Hollow Police enjoy catching people going 50mph in a 45mph and enforce some bazaar Illinois vehicle codes because they’re bored. If it wasn’t for them stalking the parking lot you could really enjoy Mother Nature.. Raceway woods in Carpentersville and West Dundee is pretty cool. No overpaid security roving the parking lot looking for their next victim.

Really lovely place to walk with nice long vistas. You could see some houses off in the distance, but mostly it’s secluded. The only thing keeping it from being five stars is the sound of traffic off in the distance and there was some machinery pounding and whistling (Saturday afternoon) which was a little bit annoying. Great variety of different plants added a lot of interest especially in the fall as colors start to turn. The sheltered picnic area is very nice and overlooks a pond. Saw lots of birds including a crane and a heron in the ponds.

Wow, what a nice little gem of a park!
Nestled within these 275 acres, this santuary (formerly an old quarry) is home to an abundance of birds and wildlife, and three ponds (that offer fishing opportunities).
This is an ideal place for hikers, dog walking, bicycles (recommend knobby tires), and horses.
Having walked the gravel trail, my gps tracked 2.7 mile circumference. I loved that this trail
is not just flat, it gradually ascends and descends.
I must have been on ninja stealth mode because as I turned a bend, I stumbled upon a deer not 10 ft away. Shocked, we both made eye contact and the deer took off running.
Parking lot/​starting point offers picnic tables, a modern canopy, and a single out house.
Bring comfy shoes!