Take a hike and enjoy nature in all of its fall glory
The signs of fall are starting to show everywhere, but if you want a really impressive view of the change of seasons head to one of the area's hiking trails. Whether taking a short stroll or spending the whole day enjoying the outdoors, you'll have the chance to take in prairie grasses, wildflowers and stately trees as they show off their autumn colors.
State parks and forest preserves offer free admission and are typically open from one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset. There is also the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, which has a huge variety of trees and plants to enjoy. Check their Web site for hours and prices.
Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, (847) 662-4811, dnr.state.il.us
The second week of October is usually the best time to check out the colors at Illinois Beach State Park, though the hues can peak a little earlier or later depending on the year. Early fall is filled with wildflowers you can view along easy four- or five-mile trails. The park shows off the succession of plant life from the lakeshore to small shrubs and fully wooded areas. Each section has unique seasonal displays and creatures that make it their home.
"You're very likely to see different wildlife such as raccoons, deer, skunks and a variety of birds," said Greg Behm, superintendent of Illinois Beach State Park. "You might want to bring your binoculars."
Maple Grove Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, (630) 933-7248, dupageforest.com
Known for a spectacular transition into fall, Maple Grove sports a short 1.1-mile trail that makes it good for an afternoon walk. Fall also brings in plenty of migratory birds, ranging from tiny indigo buntings to great horned owls.
"It's almost all maple trees and they have the tendency to have really vibrant colors," Olszewski said. They might be gold or a really pretty orange. Just having so many of the trees turning the same color all at once is so dramatic."
Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, (630) 968-0074; mortonarb.org
The 1,700-acre arboretum boasts trees and plants from around the world, making for a truly impressive variety of fall colors. You can view the transformation on 16 miles of trails, which pass a prairie packed with flowers, colorful grasses and different species of trees that show off between September and November. Highlights include purple-red flowering dogwoods, rust-like gold buckeyes, orange-red sweet gums and purple oaks. To check in on the changes visit mortonarb.org/colorupdate.
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, Darien, (630) 933-7248, dupageforest.com
An especially popular destination for hikers, Waterfall Glen sports 91/2 miles of trails, though they're divided into small loops if you don't want to walk that far. A man-made waterfall, often a favorite with families, is just a short jaunt from the parking lot. Oak trees line the way, showing off their fall colors and the path crosses Sawmill Creek where kids can watch leaves float downstream and splash around a bit.
"It has one of the highest levels of diversity of any single forest preserve in DuPage County," said Bonnie Olszewski, public affairs specialist for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. "There's a savanna area that's almost like a prairie and a forest blending. There are views of the Des Plaines River and some scenic overlooks."
West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve, West Chicago, (630) 933-7248, dupageforest.com
While you might not think of prairies as a destination for appreciating autumn, the season fills the landscape with wildflowers and grasses taking on different hues and producing fuzzy seeds. The 316-acre preserve houses more than 600 species of plants and animals, including several rare and endangered reptiles. A particularly striking spot can be found in the eastern portion of the preserve, where a small hill provides a view of goldenrods and sumacs, which turn red in the fall.
"It's kind of a different way to think about fall colors and explore plant life that's changing," Olszewski said.
Volo Bog State Natural Area, Ingleside, 815-344-1294, dnr.state.il.us
The six miles of hiking at Volo Bog include a half-mile loop that takes you into the heart of the open water bog, where the trees shake as you walk past them on a floating boardwalk. The area is populated by tamarack trees, whose pine needles turn golden around Halloween, and oaks and hickories, which start showing off their colors in mid-October. The season also brings in big flocks of robins and other birds and it's common to see muskrats harvesting supplies for winter.
"They're very used to people so if you go quietly you may even spot them burrowed beneath your feet and hauling off cattails," said Stacy Iwanicki, natural resources education coordinator for Volo Bog State Natural Area.