Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Can’t really write a proper review, as weather conditions kept us from the full experience. Still, it was cool to see the bison from the roadside. Definitely need to go back on a better hiking day.

This place was a real surprise. We had been camping at Illini State Park over the weekend and decided to make some side trips on the way back to Chicago. As a lover of National Parks, forests, etc., I was curious what a Praire would be like. Initially it doesn’t seem like much along the road. Mostly just some fields, but once you find a place to park (don’t try going to the visitor’s office on a Sunday — why is it closed??) you can learn a lot.
Such as … I learned that I know shit about what a «real» prairie is. I highly recommend reading the signs along the way. It’s a total mom thing to do, but we learned a lot about what we were looking at. Essentially, true prairies used to be all up in the country, but farming and the killing of bison destroyed it all. We’re used to seeing farm fields and assume it’s prairie, but it’s really not. They’re working on creating natural prairire here again and it’s gorgeous. I never thought flat land could be pretty, but it is. The flowers, the tall grass, and the Safari-​esque trees are pretty cool. Also, they’re preparing to bring back bison. Bison have different eating habits than cows and prairies coexist with bison quite naturally, so they’re bringing them back later 2015 or early 2016. So make sure you go see them once they are there.
Also — check for ticks. We forgot to spray ourselves with repellent and probably found 5 – 6 on us in the car. No joke, driving and finding ticks crawling on you is not fun.

If you are like me and are looking for a hiking experience where you can actually get away from people and be isolated in nature, this preserve has an excellent opportunity for that. In order to access the «footpath/​hiking only» trails on the west side of the trail map, you need to turn down a small gravel road that seems very much like you’re going the wrong way. See the satellite screenshot I’ve attached. Beyond this point, it’s up to you to read the map carefully. Once you’ve gone through the gates and left the main gravel roads, you’re largely on your own to navigate very vaguely marked grass trails.
That being said, I loved it, I never ran into another person in the parking area or on my hike, and this is such a welcome break from the crowded suburbs.

I feel fortunate to live near such a magnificent place as I’m very impressed with what they’ve done to this piece of land. I’d go into it, but Gregory R. has that part covered. I been wanting to come here for a while but kept putting it off. Now, I’m kicking myself for not making the effort to be here sooner.
The trails by Boathouse Road were pretty immaculate! I got to see wildlife that I’ve never encountered before. The area is quite secluded (only encountered 2 people from my 3 hour hike) from everything else, which you can’t help but feel calm and at peace when you see the scenery.
The entrance to the Boathouse Road trails (north of the River/​Boathouse Road intersection) are a little tricky to locate as its a narrow gravel path that I mistook for private property, as there wasn’t any labeled signs.
Definitely check yourself for ticks as I found four clinging on my pant leg and one hiding in my ear!

Took the Ghosts of the Ammunition Plant Tour. I highly recommend this tour if you are a local history or a military buff. They hold several tours each year and require that you reserve seats on line. They say that the total tour will last about three hours, but almost latest four. There is about a half hour presentation at the office and then you head to your own car. Each car gets a radio and you follow the lead car, they broadcast the things to see over the radio. Along the way you do stop and get out of the cars and look at some of the buildings.
The only thing that I recommend doing is to take the tour now! If you looking forward to seeing the old buildings, hurry because they are in a constant movement to tearing them down. Even though they serve a certain amount of history, the Midewin goal is to turn the area back into the original prairie state,

Been out there a couple of times to scout for the upcomming deer season.
Lots going on out there, nice trails, lots of wildlife and BIG DEER!!!
Took my boys out there yesterday to glass some fields where the bunkers were and found a toad, snake, heard a pheasant, seen some impressive deer but watch out for tick. All three of us had one on us.

Three stars may seem like a lacking review, but it’s only because Midewin has so much potential but isn’t quite there yet. Some day in the long distant future when the prairie restoration is complete it will warrant five stars.
Located on the site of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, Midewin is a massive 15,000 acre preserve that will one day look how Illinois did before the arrival of European settlers. Most of the preserve is currently farmed and is slowly (very slowly) being restored with native plants. There are trails available for hiking, biking, and horseback riding with few users. If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life this is the place because when you’re out there you will see few if any other people. You will see plenty of flora and fauna including tons of birds, wild turkeys, and deer however. For the entomologically obsessed like myself it is a dream come true because you can’t walk ten feet without finding some subject matter to photograph.
Check out the adajcent Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery while you’re there for a sobering experience that will make you realize how lucky you are to have veterans who put their life on the line for their country.