Forest preserves offer flurry of winter activities
From ice fishing to snowshoeing to cross-country skiing, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County gives residents plenty of reasons to get outside and play this winter.
"The forest preserves are beautiful in the winter, and we've got a lot of great ways for visitors to enjoy them," said Forest Preserve District Commissioner Marsha Murphy, District 1.
When there's plenty of snow on the hill (usually more than 3 inches), thrill-seekers can snow tube down the 800-foot run on Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville.
The rental area is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, Dec. 3 through Feb. 26 (except Dec. 25) and the following school holidays: Dec. 19 to Jan. 3 (winter break), Jan. 16 and Feb. 20.
Inner tube rentals are $5 per day ($7 for nylon tubes) and end at 3:30 p.m. Only district tubes are allowed.
Visitors also can explore the forest preserves with rented snowshoes. Rentals are $8 for two hours or $13 per day and are available when there's ample snow on the trails.
When Mount Hoy's open, rentals are available at the base of the hill until 2 p.m. On weekdays when Mount Hoy isn't open, rentals are available 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the west sector office at Blackwell on Mack Road. Call (630) 876-5931 for availability.
Visitors can also rent snowshoes 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Call (630) 850-8110 for availability.
At St. James Farm in Warrenville, visitors can enjoy 20-minute horse-drawn sleigh rides at 2, 2:30 and 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 21 to Jan. 7. Rides are on a first-come, first-served basis and use wagons if there's not sufficient snow on the trails. Rides are $5 per person for ages 5 and older and are free for younger kids.
Children younger than 13 years must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required, and the district will cancel rides if there's severe weather. Private group rides can be arranged by calling (630) 580-7025.
For fans of cross-country skiing, rangers groom more than 70 miles of trails at forest preserves such as Blackwell, Fullersburg Woods, Danada and Herrick Lake in Wheaton, Greene Valley and Springbrook Prairie in Naperville, Mallard Lake in Hanover Park, Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale, Waterfall Glen in Darien and West DuPage Woods in West Chicago.
Visitors who aren't classic skiers should use the inside of the trails to avoid damaging the set tracks.
Ice fishing, ice skating and sledding are allowed at most forest preserves, although never at Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale. Additionally, sledding is not allowed at Mount Hoy at Blackwell or at the closed landfill sites at Greene Valley and Mallard Lake.
The district does not monitor ice conditions, so visitors go on the ice at their own risk. As a guideline, not a guarantee, there should be at least 4 inches of clear ice for any activity. Anglers can find complete regulations in the online fishing guide.
Finally, when there's adequate snow conditions, mushers can dog sled on the Thunderbird Spur Trail at Greene Valley and on the West Branch Regional, Bobolink and connector trails north of Mack Road at the McKee Marsh area at Blackwell.
A complete list of winter programs and activities is available on the district's website, dupageforest.org, or in the quarterly Conservationist. Print subscriptions are free for DuPage County residents and $5 per year for nonresidents; email subscriptions are free to all readers.
To subscribe, call (630) 933-7085 or email forest@dupageforest.org.