Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

30239 South State Route 53 | Wilmington, Illinois 60481
Voice: (815) 423-6370 | Fax: (815) 423-6376

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Visiting 

Midewin

 

  
Tours Trails Hunting
Driving Directions Local Amenities  

 
 
 

Trails at Midewin

  

Today, about 7,200 acres of Midewin are open to the public, including over 22 miles of interim trails. About 18 miles of trail are for shared use by hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. Over 4 miles of interim trails are for hiking only. Bicycles, horses, and leashed dogs are restricted to designated trails at all times.  Visitors and trail users are welcome to the open areas of Midewin every day of the year from one hour before sunrise till one hour after sunset.

Picnic tables and portable toilets are available at all trailheads. There are currently no sources of water at Midewin other than at the Midewin Welcome Center. Bulletin boards located at all trailheads are regularly updated with important information. Please check for the latest news before heading out on the trail. Enjoy your visit.

Midewin Trails

 

Status

Miles

Access

Foot

Bike

Horse

WEST SIDE

Henslow

Interim

1.5

Explosives Road TH

Yes

 

 

Newton

Interim

1.5

Explosives Road TH

Yes

 

 

Prairie Creek Woods

Permanent

1.5

Boathouse Road

Yes

 

 

West Side

Permanent

2.3

Iron Bridge to South Patrol Road

Yes

Yes

Yes

West Side: Grass Frog Trail

Temporary

 

South Patrol Road to River Road Seedbeds

Yes

 

 

West Side

Under Construction

 

South Patrol Road to River Road Seedbeds to Blodgett Marsh

 

 

 

EAST SIDE

Bunker Field (Group 66N)

Interim

3.1

Twin Oaks Trail

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bailey Bridge

Interim

1.8

Twin Oaks Trail, Wauponsee Trail

Yes

Yes

Yes

Chicago Road

Interim

1.5

Hoff Road TH to Prairie Creek

Yes

Yes

Yes

Group 63

Interim

4.1

Iron Bridge TH

Yes

Yes

Yes

Hedgeapple

Interim

1.5

Twin Oaks Trail

Yes

 

 

Turtle Pond

Interim

0.3

Twin Oaks Trail

Yes

 

 

Twin Oaks

Interim

5.8

Hoff Road TH

Yes

Yes

Yes

Access

Foot

Bike

Horse

 

Total

26.1

miles

 

 

 

 

Hiking Only

4.8

miles

 

 

 

 

Shared Use

21.3

miles

 

 

 

Trail Map (pdf, 256kb)
WEST SIDE TRAILS
River Road Trailhead (P-3)  
Driving Directions: From the Midewin Welcome Center turn left on Route 53 for one mile to River Road. Turn right on River Road and continue for 2.2 miles to Boathouse Road. Turn right on Boathouse Road and drive down gravel road. Parking areas will be on your right, seed beds will be on your left. Trail and prairie access is through the game fence north of the parking area.
Prairie Creek Woods Loop 1.5-mile loop trail through restored prairie savannah woodlands.  
 

River Road Seedbeds: Largest native seed production area at Midewin
 

South Patrol Road Restoration Project: 500 acres of restored tallgrass prairie  
Grass Frog Trail  Approximately 2-mile mowed path from River Road Trailhead east to South Patrol Road. Carries the historic name of the abundant Leopard Frogs found along this trail. (Temporary part of the West Side Trail)
Explosives Road Trailhead (P-5)  
Driving Directions: From the Midewin Welcome Center turn right on Route 53. After 1.7 miles, turn left onto Explosives Road and follow to the trailhead and parking area.
Newton Hiking Loop 1.5-mile loop named for George Newton who died in 1865 and has a grave marker next to the trail.  
Henslow Hiking Loop 1.5-mile loop named for the Henslow’s sparrow which can be found nesting along the trail.  
EAST SIDE TRAILS
Iron Bridge Trailhead  
Driving Directions: From the Midewin Welcome Center turn right on Route 53. After 2.4 miles and passing under overpass, turn right onto gravel road to parking area and trailhead.
Group 63 Trail 4.1-mile loop around Group 63 bunker field  
 

Bunker 63-1 is open for exploration, located at the east end of the trail through the middle of the bunker field.
West Side Trail Crosses the Iron Bridge over SR 53/Historic Route 66 onto Midewin's west side.
 

Campfire ring.  See the Calendar of Events for upcoming campfire programs.
 

Rogers and Moses Morgan historic farmsteads at the Iron Bridge Trailhead.
 

Pollinator gardens located around the Iron Bridge Trailhead.
 

Iron Bridge Prairie restoration project just south of the Iron Bridge Trailhead.
Hoff Road Trailhead 
Driving Directions: From the Midewin Welcome Center turn right on Route 53 and continue 3.6 miles to Hoff Road. Turn right and continue 2 miles to the parking area and trailhead.
Twin Oaks Trail 5.82 mile loop trail  
Bunker Field Trail 3.1 mile trail around and through Group 66N  
Bailey Bridge Trail 1.8 mile trail crosses over a World War II era portable bridge and connects Midewin to the Wauponsee Glacial Trail  
Hedgeapple Trail 1.5-mile hiking trail connecting Twin Oaks Trail and Group 63 Trail on the north.  
Turtle Pond Hiking Loop 0.3 mile hike around pond  
 

Chicago Road Seedbeds: Small native seed production area surrounded by a game fence.

Text Box: Welcome Center To increase your understanding and appreciation for Midewin, the Welcome Center features displays, multi-media presentations and a book store. Open from 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday and on Saturdays during the summer operating season. Hunting Midewin is open for fall deer hunting and spring turkey hunting. All non-hunting visitors to Midewin during firearm season must stay on trails. Check out the Welcome Center, the trailhead bulletin boards, or the Midewin website for current information. Livestock Cattle are helping maintain grassland bird habitat at Midewin. Please keep a safe distance from cows and keep pasture gates closed. Traffic Midewin is not open to motorized travel but you may see heavy equipment using the roads to assist with demolition, restoration, or farming. Please stay away from operating equipment and watch for traffic on the roads. Prohibited Activities Activities not permitted at Midewin include fishing, camping, and activities that disturb the soil such as metal detecting. Please visit the Welcome Center with questions or concerns pertaining to prohibited activities. Research Scientists are using Midewin to determine the best ways to restore the prairie and to protect endangered plants and animals. You may see flagging or posts in the fields. Please do not disturb these structures. Text Box: Welcome Center To increase your understanding and appreciation for Midewin, the Welcome Center features displays, multi-media presentations and a book store. Open from 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday and on Saturdays during the summer operating season. Hunting Midewin is open for fall deer hunting and spring turkey hunting. All non-hunting visitors to Midewin during firearm season must stay on trails. Check out the Welcome Center, the trailhead bulletin boards, or the Midewin website for current information. Livestock Cattle are helping maintain grassland bird habitat at Midewin. Please keep a safe distance from cows and keep pasture gates closed. Traffic Midewin is not open to motorized travel but you may see heavy equipment using the roads to assist with demolition, restoration, or farming. Please stay away from operating equipment and watch for traffic on the roads. Prohibited Activities Activities not permitted at Midewin include fishing, camping, and activities that disturb the soil such as metal detecting. Please visit the Welcome Center with questions or concerns pertaining to prohibited activities. Research Scientists are using Midewin to determine the best ways to restore the prairie and to protect endangered plants and animals. You may see flagging or posts in the fields. Please do not disturb these structures. Welcome Center

To increase your understanding and appreciation for Midewin, the Welcome Center features displays, multi-media presentations and a book store. Open from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and on Saturdays during the summer.

Dogs

You are welcome to bring your dog to Midewin as long as you keep it on a maximum 8-foot leash and on the trail.  If you are looking for somewhere to play with your dog off leash, please ask about the Will County Forest Preserve District dog parks in Joliet and Bolingbrook.

Hunting

Midewin is open for fall deer hunting and spring turkey hunting. All non-hunting visitors to Midewin during firearm season must stay on trails. Check out the Welcome Center, the trailhead bulletin boards, or the Midewin website for current information.

Livestock

Cattle are helping maintain grassland bird habitat at Midewin from April through November. Please keep a safe distance from cows and keep pasture gates closed.

Traffic

Midewin is not open to motorized travel but you may see heavy equipment using the roads to assist with demolition, restoration, or farming.  Please stay away from operating equipment and watch for traffic on the roads.

Prohibited Activities

Activities not permitted at Midewin include fishing, camping, and activities that disturb the soil such as metal detecting. Please visit the Welcome Center with questions or concerns pertaining to prohibited activities.

Research

Scientists are using Midewin to determine the best ways to restore the prairie and to protect endangered plants and animals. You may see flagging or posts in the fields. Please do not disturb these structures.