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  

 

Welcome to the 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie!
 

 

Many visitors to Midewin enjoy volunteering in the River Road native seed production gardens.

The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie was established in 1996 on the former Joliet Arsenal and is the first national tallgrass prairie in the country.  It is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and with the support of hundreds of volunteers and partner agencies, businesses, and organizations.  

Today, 7,200 acres of Midewin and 22 miles of trails are open to the public.  Activities at Midewin include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, escorted tours, volunteer work projects, and deer and turkey hunting.  Midewin’s Welcome Center with interpretive exhibits and a small bookstore is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. seven days a week during the summer and varying schedules during other seasons.  A variety of public tours is offered on Saturdays throughout the spring, summer, and fall. 

  

Visiting Midewin
   

(Click on photos for larger view.)

  
  The best place to start your first visit to Midewin is the Welcome Center, located just inside the front doors of the Supervisor's Office.

There, you will find information about activities and events at Midewin, restrooms and drinking fountains, and maps. 

 
  The Welcome Center also offers many interpretive exhibits to explore and learn about the cultural and natural history of the lands that are now Midewin.  In addition, the Midewin Interpretive Association operates a book shop in the Welcome Center.  
 
 
  Behind the Supervisor's Office is  the Horticulture Building.  This is where Midewin staff and volunteers clean the prairie plant seeds harvested in the fall and plant them in seed trays to get them started growing in the spring.

 

  
 

Next to the Horticulture Building are the shade houses and the green house.  These structures help Midewin grow the many varieties and large quantities of plants that are needed to restore native habitats.  
 
 
  On your left as you drove into Midewin's entrance was the Hotshot Base.  This building is the home of the Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew, a highly trained firefighting crew on call for national emergencies.  
  Next to the Hotshot Base is their garage, where Midewin keeps its two fire engines.  
 
 
  The largest building in the headquarters complex is the Machine Shed, used to store the tractors and other large equipment needed for restoring native habitats at Midewin.   
 
 
   Now that you've toured Midewin's headquarters complex, or are visiting when the Welcome Center is closed, go ahead and visit the prairie.  Although some areas of Midewin remain closed to the public while the Army finishes cleaning up the former Joliet Arsenal, there are thousands of acres and miles of interim trails available for hiking, bicycle and horseback riding, bird watching, and just enjoying the great outdoors.   
Suggestions for Exploring
  Native seed production gardens. There are three native seed production gardens at Midewin offering a variety of plants in bloom in spring, summer, and fall.  One is located just west of the Hotshot Base, one is near Turtle Pond, and the largest is located along River Road.  
   South Patrol Road Restoration The South Patrol Road project is located within the area open to the public and is an interesting field trip.  It is becoming a showcase after six years of restoration.  The diversity of the native plants is outstanding and grassland and wetland birds are discovering the improved wildlife habitat. There are no established trails, but visitors can get out and walk in the restored area.  To reach the South Patrol Road restoration area, walk north on Boathouse/ West Patrol Road from parking lot P3 at the River Road Seed Beds.  After crossing a culvert over a drainage ditch, the restoration area is located to the northeast.   
Joliet Army Ammunition Plant Midewin's unique history as part of the former Joliet Arsenal provides an opportunity to visit a WWII-era ammunition bunker along the Twin Oaks Trail.