Closures & Alerts

Know Before you Go
Weather, seasonal closures or safety concerns often dictate the closing of sites, trails, and launches.
Check below for current conditions of sites and trails prior to heading out.

Lake Atwood at The Hollows and Beck's Woods/Piscasaw North are CLOSED thru March 31, until trout season opener April 1.

Prairie Trail South Section Closed March 21 – Mid May 2023 Construction Location Map Check back for updates.
Stream Erosion and Trail Stabilization Algonquin/LITH

Controlled Burn Notice: The Conservation District conducts controlled burns in the spring and fall. These burns are an important tool used to manage and maintain healthy ecosystems and are conducted by an experienced, well-trained crew.

Site Closures (Weather-Related, Special Circumstances, and Seasonal Closures)
Bike Trails
Canoe/Kayak Launch Status
Cross-Country Ski Trail Status
Facilities
Horse Trail Status

Status and Conditions

Site Closures (Weather-Related, Special Circumstances, and Seasonal)

Updated 3/29/2022
Beck's Woods
Main Entrance
Pedestrian use: CLOSED*
Parking lot: CLOSED*
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen on March 30).

Piscasaw
Pedestrian use: CLOSED*
Parking lot: CLOSED*
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. Closed January 2 - March 31).
*Lake Atwood at The Hollows and Beck's Woods/Piscasaw North CLOSED through March 31 , until the open of trout season April.

Boger Bog
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Boone Creek
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Brookdale
Rt. 14 Entrance
West side trails: OPEN
Main parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Paulson Road Entrance
Multi-Use Trail Pedestrian Use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Community Research Forest
Pedestrian use: open 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. daily
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Coral Woods
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

County Line Road Access
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Site closed for season on Oct. 1. Parking lot remains open for canoe launch access, then closed as weather conditions dictate)

Dufield Pond
South Entrance
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

North Entrance
Parking lot and pond: OPEN (Closes at first ice and stays closed for the season)

Elizabeth Lake Varga Archaeological Site
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Exner Marsh
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Fel-Pro RRR
Pedestrian use and parking lots: OPEN
Disc Golf Course:
Front 9: OPEN
Back 9 (wooded): CLOSED

Fox Bluff
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN

Glacial Park
Pedestrian use and parking lots: OPEN

Harrison Benwell
Pedestrian use and parking lots: OPEN

Hickory Grove and Lyons Prairie & Marsh
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Highlands and Lyons Parking Lots: OPEN
Riverfront Parking Lot: OPEN (Riverfront parking lot closes at first ice, but trails are open to walk-in traffic)

High Point
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED (Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen March 30).

The Hollows
Main
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
Lake Atwood
Parking lot: CLOSED*
*Lake Atwood at The Hollows and Beck's Woods/Piscasaw North CLOSED through March 31 , until the open of trout season April.

Keystone Landing
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN

Kishwaukee Headwaters
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Lake in the Hills Fen
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN

Lyle C. Thomas Memorial Park
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN

Marengo Ridge
Pedestrian and parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Nippersink Canoe Base
Pedestrian and parking lot: OPEN
(Open as conditions dictate: ice formation and/or cold temperatures.)

North Branch
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall.)

Pioneer Canoe Landing
Pedestrian and parking lot: OPEN
(Open as conditions dictate: ice formation and/or cold temperatures.)

Pleasant Valley
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN

Rush Creek
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN

Silver Creek
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN

Stickney Run
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN

Winding Creek
Early parking & Prairie Loop: OPEN
Wooded Trail: OPEN
Main Parking: OPEN

Note: Winter Closures
The parking lots of select sites will close with 2″ of snowfall, but remain open to walk-in traffic. If the weather becomes mild, gates and parking lots will re-open. However, after Jan. 2 AND a significant snowfall, gates, parking lots and restrooms will remain closed to vehicles for the season, but open to walk-in traffic for trail use during daylight hours.

Horse Trail Status

Updated 3/14/2022
Boone Creek
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Brookdale Multi Use
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Glacial Park
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Hebron Trail
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Hickory Grove Highlands & Lyons Prairie & Marsh
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Pleasant Valley
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Prairie Trail North
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Rush Creek
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Stickney Run
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Cross-Country Ski Trail

2/21/2023

Glacial Park
Condition: POOR

Harrison Benwell
Condition: - POOR

Hickory Grove
Condition: - POOR

The Hollows
Condition: - POOR

Lyons Prairie & Marsh
Condition: - POOR

Marengo Ridge
Condition: POOR

Pleasant Valley
Condition: POOR

Prairieview
Condition: POOR

Rush Creek
Condition: POOR

Silver Creek (Skate Ski)
Condition: POOR

Canoe/Kayak Launch Status

Paddlers Take Note: Be advised, downed trees or river debris can occur at anytime along the entire route and we cannot provide updated conditions. The District does not remove obstacles on/along private property.
The Conservation District maintains and clears debris only where the District owns the land on both sides of the creek – ie. from Keystone Landing to Pioneer Landing – not the entire route. Paddling this river system is entirely at your own risk! Only you can decide whether your skills as a paddler are appropriate for the river conditions on any given day.

Check Real Time Water Levels (3rd Graph needs to be below 6.5 feet for clearance under bridges.)

12/15/2022
Keystone Landing
Launch: OPEN

Lyle C. Thomas
Launch: OPEN

Nippersink Canoe Base
Launch: OPEN

Pioneer Canoe Landing
Launch: OPEN

Bike Trails

Hebron Trail
Trail: OPEN
Note: Trail dead ends at Lange Rd. before un guarded railroad crossing.

H.U.M. Trail
Trail: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
Parking lots close with 2″ of snowfall, but remain open to walk-in traffic. If the weather becomes mild, gates and parking lots will re-open. However, after Jan. 2 AND a significant snowfall, gates and parking lots will close for the season; but remain open to walk-in traffic.

The Prairie Trail
Trail: OPEN*
*Algonquin- Closed March 21- Mid May 2023: Meyer Lot North to Main St Parking No thru traffic or detour. More info >>
Main street north parking lot: OPEN
Main street south parking lot: OPEN
Main street bathrooms: CLOSED
Meyer Drive parking lot: CLOSED
Glacial Park Harts Rd. parking lot: OPEN
Parking lots close with 2" of snowfall, but remain open to walk-in traffic. If the weather becomes mild, gates and parking lots will re-open. However, after Jan. 2 AND a significant snowfall, gates and parking lots will close for the season, but remain open to walk-in traffic.

Ridgefield Trace
Trail: OPEN

Stone Mill Trail
Trail: OPEN

Facilities

Lost Valley Visitor Center
Open Daily: April - October: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
November - March: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Register for a program or event at Lost Valley Visitor Center.
(815) 338-6223

Prairieview Education Center
Drop-In Hours
Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Register for a program or event at Prairieview Education Center.
(815) 338-6223

Brookdale Administrative Staff Offices
Monday-Friday hours vary.
(815) 338-6223