Forest Preserves announces winter schedule
The Forest Preserves of Cook County Winter 2016-2017 Programs and Events schedule is now available.
Wintertime brings numerous family-friendly ways to get outdoors to enjoy the Forest Preserves, providing visitors opportunities to experience fun activities such as sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more.
Throughout the winter, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing in all parts of the Forest Preserves, except for golf courses and nature centers, from sunrise to sunset
Beginning Saturday, Dec. 17, with conditions permitting, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W. 111th St. in Lemont, will offer a complete Nordic Ski Program, including groomed trails, equipment rentals and beginner lessons.
The Forest Preserves offers nine different sledding and coasting hills for the 2016-2017 season. Dan Ryan Woods, Caldwell Woods, Deer Grove Picnic Grove No. 5, Westchester Woods and Swallow Cliff offer sledding with lighting from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Pioneer Woods, Ted Lechowicz Woods, Schiller Woods and Deer Grove Picnic Grove No. 4 offer sledding without lighting from 10 a.m. to sunset.
Nearly all sledding hills are open when there is at least three inches of snow on frozen ground; Swallow Cliff requires at least six inches of snow on frozen ground. To learn more, visit fpdcc.com/recreation/sledding-coasting.
The six nature centers are a great place for free educational fun along with a number of other events and activities that are planned in the preserves throughout the season.
With nearly 70,000 acres of land and various habitats such as forest woodlands, wetlands, prairie and savanna, winter also provides an excellent opportunity to bird and wildlife watch, practice photography, and appreciate the variances of Cook County's different landscapes under a soft blanket of snow.
For a complete list of winter activities, locations and rules, visit fpdcc.com/recreation/winter. For a full list of events in the Forest Preserves, visit fpdcc.com/events.
• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.