Recreation
There are nearly 9,000 acres open to the public with 33 miles of trail for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Midewin trails are open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Trail maps in English and Spanish are available online. Self-guided tours are also available through an app.
Midewin is a wonder of wildflowers and birds for nature lovers. Visit the Outdoor Learning section for information on all the ways you can experience Midewin on the ground and from home.
While here you can see the on-going prairie restoration projects, including the native plant seedbeds. You can also look for the bison that roam a large expanse of the prairie.
Buttonbush Pond Overlook
Site Open
Buttonbush Pond is home to a variety of frogs and turtles, along with beavers and the occasional egret or duck. Occasionally there will be fish in the pond, but in drier years the pond will dry up.…
Chicago Road Seedbed
Site Open
Like most of Illinois, very little of Midewin consists of natural prairie – less than 200 acres, scattered in little remnants across the site. To restore the remainder of Midewin to tallgrass…
River Road Seedbeds
Site Open
Like most of Illinois, very little of Midewin consists of natural prairie – less than 200 acres, scattered in little remnants across the site. To restore the remainder of Midewin to tallgrass…
South Patrol Road Prairie Restoration
Site Open
In the 500-acre South Patrol Road prairie restoration nearly 200 different plant species have been planted and visitors will see sections of 8-foot-tall prairie grasses. The area is a mix of prairie…
Turtle Pond
Site Open
A mowed grass trail circles Turtle Pond for a short 0.3-mile walk. In and around the pond, visitors will hear and see many types of wildlife: frogs, turtles and birds, along with butterflies,…
Welcome Center
Site Open
Midewin Welcome Center offers a tranquil space with pleasant nature sounds on a recording with colorful interpretive signs that highlight the cultural and natural history of the land. Visitors to the…