Recreation
There are nearly 9,000 acres open to the public with 33 miles of trail for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Midewin trails are open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Trail maps in English and Spanish are available online. Self-guided tours are also available through an app.
Midewin is a wonder of wildflowers and birds for nature lovers. Visit the Outdoor Learning section for information on all the ways you can experience Midewin on the ground and from home.
While here you can see the on-going prairie restoration projects, including the native plant seedbeds. You can also look for the bison that roam a large expanse of the prairie.
Bailey Bridge Trail
The Bailey Bridge Trail is a 2.5-mile trail that begins near the Twin Oaks Trail and ends at the junction that connects the Wauponsee Glacial Trail with Twin Oaks Trail. Unlike other hikes at…
Blodgett Marsh Trail
Blodgett Marsh Trail is a 4.5 mile mowed grass trail, looping through the Blodgett Marsh restoration project.Hikers will walk through fields of grasses, both native and non-native, crossing over two…
Buttonbush Pond Overlook
Site Open
Buttonbush Pond is home to a variety of frogs and turtles, along with beavers and the occasional egret or duck. Occasionally there will be fish in the pond, but in drier years the pond will dry up.…
Chicago Road Seedbed
Site Open
Like most of Illinois, very little of Midewin consists of natural prairie – less than 200 acres, scattered in little remnants across the site. To restore the remainder of Midewin to tallgrass…
Explosives Road Trailhead
Site Open
The Explosives Road Trailhead provides access to the 1.6 mile Newton Loop trail. This is a great bird watching area for Henslow sparrows, loggerhead shrikes, bobolinks, eastern meadowlarks, and…
Group 63 Interim Trail
The Group 63 Interim Trial is a 3.6 mile dirt road that loops around the former ammunition bunkers. Many of the bunkers are sealed and not open to visitors, however Bunker Group 63-1 is open.Although…
Hedgeapple Trail
Rows of hedgeapple trees (also called Osage orange trees) connect Twin Oaks Trail to Group 63 Trail.The trail begins at the northwest corner of the Twin Oaks Trail, parallels Hoff Road and turns…
Hoff Road Trailhead
Site Open
The Hoff Road Trailhead provides direct access to several trails and areas:Twin Oaks TrailOld Chicago RoadTurtle Pond (picnic area)Chicago Road Seedbed, (native Illinois seeds)Bailey Bridge…
Iron Bridge Trailhead
Site Open
Adjacent to the Iron Bridge Trailhead is Midewin’s second largest restoration prairie. This Trailhead currently provides the only connection between the East and West side trails via the Henslow…
Prairie Creek Woods Trail
The Prairie Creek Woods trail will take visitors along the edge of the restored tallgrass prairie, at times hugging the treeline before taking you to Buttonbush Pond. After passing through the gate…