Enjoy guided, evening hikes in the Kane County forest preserves
Get your daily 10,000 steps in, during evening hikes with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.
Each month, participants will take an invigorating two-hour hike at a different forest preserve.
"Trek with a Naturalist" programs are designed for those who like active hiking. The hikes will be led by a naturalist, who will interpret the ecology of the preserve along the way.
Join them at one or all three hikes.
• The first hike will take place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve, 35W003 Route 31, South Elgin. This forest preserve, located at a crook in the river, has woodland, picnicking and fishing areas, as well as a trail bridge crossing the river. There is an eight-foot high natural waterfall; it cascades and pools in the clear rippling creek. The waterfall is found by riding south on the Riverbend Trail.
Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve is located on Route 31 in South Elgin, 1 mile north of McLean Boulevard. A large wood carved statue of Blackhawk is situated at this preserve's entrance. It is also the historical burial site of unknown soldiers of General Scott's Army.
• The second hike will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, 5S660 Bliss Road in Sugar Grove. Visitors can see a rare geologic feature, the last remnant of the Kaneville Esker. This is a winding ridge of gravel and rocks created by a river of water flowing underneath a melting glacier some 13,000 years ago. Most of the esker is gone after years of gravel mining.
On the steep slopes of the esker, there are two distinct forest habitats. The south slope, with relatively more exposure to sun and wind, is characterized by oak-hickory woodlands with an array of early spring wildflowers. The more-shaded slope on the north side of the esker is covered by sugar maple and basswood trees.
The Virgil-Gilman Bike Trail runs east and west through the preserve and connects with Hannaford Woods-Nickels Farm Forest Preserve, as well as Waubonsee Community College to the northwest. Blackberry Creek meanders through the southern part of the preserve, and its associated riparian habitat supports many forms of wildlife. Crowning the diversity of this region is a large 18-acre wetland basin on the north side of KeDeKa Road, a Kane County rustic road.
The outstanding ecological and geological features have led to Illinois State Nature Preserve status in portions of the forest preserve. An active group of volunteers regularly works to restore and maintain the health of this special ecological gem.
• The third hike will take place from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve, 35W076 Villa Marie Road in St. Charles.
This 65-acre site at the big bend of the Fox River is rich in natural and cultural history. An oak tree at Tekakwitha dates to 1864 and links us to its ancestors' past on the edge of the prairie. On the lee side of the Fox River, the area now known as Tekakwitha Woods was protected from the heat of the prairie fires and was likely forested for thousands of years. Today, the natural features of Tekakwitha Woods include an oak-maple forest on the uplands, floodplain forest along the river, and restored prairie in former farm fields.
In the early 1900s, Father Hugh McGuire of St. James Parish in Chicago purchased a plot of land in the countryside, now St. Charles. Before he passed away, he bequeathed the land to the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters owned and managed the property for eight decades, using it as a spiritual retreat center and a place to minister to people in need.
The Forest Preserve District purchased the land from the religious order in 1992. The Sisters requested that the site be named in honor of 17th century Mohawk Indian Kateri Tekakwitha, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 21, 2012.
A network of foot trails winds through the fields and forested ravines of the preserve. In spring, the forest floor is carpeted with wildflowers and the trees are filled with birds. In summer, the wooded trails provide cool shade and enjoyable wildlife viewing. The Fox River Trail runs along the eastern boundary of the forest preserve, along the former Elgin-Aurora trolley line. Walking trails include grass footpaths and handicap-accessible asphalt trails.
These programs are free, and for ages 18 and older. Advance registration is required. Call (630) 444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com to register.
For information on upcoming nature programs, visit www.kaneforest.com. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter.