This Forest Preserve has a large indoor Nature Center, bird watching, caged owls, hawk, hiking various tree species and trails! This Forest preserve has it all. The Crabtree Nature Center & Trails is a fun place for the whole family. There are varying trails depending on the distance you want to cover: short & longer up to 3.5 miles approx. Trails are well maintained however it's good to know that they are not paved and are mostly grassy, a bit muddy (if it's wet) and uneven in places. The path offers plenty of shade and nice bench seating areas along the way. It's a very pretty trail and the fall foliage is beautiful! read more

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This nature preserve offers year round activities and is perfect for families who love the outdoors. There are trails , a nature center and even a small bird habitat with owls and hawks. Plenty of parking. Free admission. Check their website for exact hours. read more

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My daughter and I were going to go somewhere else, and then stumbled upon this gem! Great trails! Not too long for little hikers! Cute nature center! Very helpful staff! read more

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Crabtree Nature Center has a series of wonderful paths focusing on their lakes, prairie, nature, wildlife, birds, and more. We've been to Crabtree many times in the past, but I don't think I've ever reviewed them before, so here goes. For as nice as Crabtree is, there are always other hikers but I've never seen it crowded. From when my kids were young and we took them there on class trips, to nice walks with just my spouse and me with our kids grown, Crabtree has always been a part of our lives. We have typically gone in the spring and fall, avoiding the hot summer months. But this past weekend, it was in the 70s so we decided to go for a short hike. The weather was beautiful. The main difference with the summer months is not that many flowers are blooming, so while everything is green, the multiple colors of flowers weren't there. Also, we didn't see much wildlife this time - one chipmunk was all we saw. It was early afternoon, so many would have been in the woods, or in their burrow. They have a few large cages for owls and a red-tailed hawk. I've never cared much for seeing animals caged, but seeing carnivores like these - it's probably safer for them to be separated from visitors. The cages are large so it is humane. There are a lot of options for paths through the nature center. We took a 1 1/2 mile loop around the lake since we had a limited amount of time. We'll go back next weekend and go for a longer hike. read more

Everything about this place is wonderful for kids and adults to enjoy the outdoors. The staff is amazing and they deserve a ton of praise for how much they do to help support it. read more

Beautiful trails and nature center. Where does pride fit in? Can we enjoy w/out this? read more

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I'm very lucky to live close by to Crabtree Nature Center. There are several trails that you can go on, to see the different plants and wildlife in the area. My brother is a nature enthusiast and loves coming here due to how well kept it is compared to other nature preserves in the area. They seem to do a good job with limiting invasive species. I also enjoy that the nature center puts on events during the year to encourage locals to come visit and learn about a particular topic. Earlier this year, I went to a birdwatching event. I only wish that I could bring my dog here, though there is a trail across the street that dogs are allowed to instead. Make sure you check hours because once dusk comes, the gate is closed! read more

First time here. It was a beautiful day, perfect for discovering this gem. Took the long path around. Saw birds, butterflies and a deer. The attendant, Sarah, was very pleasant and informative. She explained that the caged birds had been found injured, and now caged for their protection. read more

Our grandchildren ages 3 (twins) and 5 had a great time with us on one of the coldest days of the winter break. We loved the live animals, outdoor activities like frozen pond for the 5 yo to "salt" and watch ice melt, drawing for the little ones, cotton snowballs for the little ones and great client service to our family. Thank you all. read more

Today (July 31, 2022) I visited for a program on toxic plants called Poisons of the Prairie that grow in the area. Karen Holmes, one of the naturalists, and ranger Ricky led our discussion. The area that is now Crabtree was prairie long ago, but then was made into farmland. And so there was a lot of changes made--for instance to the flow of the water. Crabtree is an important migratory stop, so they are trying to I appreciated that they do a very short acknowledgment that this lane is the ancestral home of the Council of the Three Fires (Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and ). As such, she is trying to approach her teaching from the perspective of those peoples would view the plants and their ties to the land--for instance, that they might not simply look at plants as food, medicine, poison; but might fire things more holistically. We saw a wild black cherry tree. The fruit is edible and is used by wildlife, but can be poisonous--the pits are laced with cyanide. Thanks, nature! There have been people poisoned by it, so be careful. We also saw orange spotted jewelweed as we hiked. This is a native impatiens, and is also known as the Spotted Touch-Me-Not. It's used similarly to aloe, and the juice in the stem may be used to treat poison ivy. When ripe/fat, the seeds will explode when you squeeze them. That sounds obvious, but it doesn't take much pressure and it's almost like nature's fireworks! Anyway, that's why they are called the Touch-Me-Not. As we wandered by the cattails, our guide told us they were probably the most useful plant to the people who lived here. The male part of the plant, which is the spike at the top, is covered in yellow pollen when at it's peak and the pollen would be used in making food preparation. The brown part-when it is still young, perhaps called a catkin?--would be cooked as cattail corn on the cob. Even the root is edible, and it has many medicinal properties. The leaves would be used to make baskets, mats, and so on. The brown part of the stalk was also used to absorb infant waste in the times prior to diapers! TIL that raspberry is part of the rose family! We saw lots of wild bergamot, which I have become a fan of. You can make tea out of leaves, and the leaves also smell like oregano when you rub them. You can use it in place of the herb. It was once also used to treat acne. We also stumbled upon an elderberry plant; until berries come, the entire plant is toxic. You can eat berries when ripe but they're not very good, but cooking them makes them much more pleasant to eat. Other plants we saw included: - Swamp rose mallow (aka wild hibiscus) - Willow Tree: the bark was Used to make aspirin - Dogbane: The sap can be used, in the right dosage, for heart conditions. Too much will kill your immediately. Probably the most poisonous plant at Crabtree. - Virginia Creeper: A highly toxic plant. Children have died by eating as few as five berries. It looks very much like grapes. It was a lovely walk and I learned quite a lot. They have some animals here, including a red tailed hawk. We were her last tour--as of the end of the day she was retired! This nature preserve has some portions that are paved, but does have some areas (both paved and not) that have an incline. There's a huge parking lot--in fact, several of them, though only one was open--and there's a bit more of a walk to the building than at the other preserves I've been to (though it is paved), so bear that in mind. As of July 1, 2022, the building itself is closed until spring 2023 for renovations, but the trails are still open. read more

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Beautiful setting. Garden and forest path areas designed by Jens Jensen. There are so many special views, nice hilly areas, and lots of birds to observe. There's even a camping area. read more

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We are regulars here. It's is a hidden gemstone of spectacular nature that's nearby and yet rustic and undisturbed enough to be somewhere distant. As birdwatchers, there are very few parallels on the Chicagoland area and they feature a wide selection of waterfowl. There's also: terns, heron, loons, cormorants, and about twenty species of ducks including wood ducks and hooded mergansers. They have a wonderful nature center and very well manicured trails that will accommodate all levels of fitness and mobility. It's amazing! read more

Crabtree Nature Center - From the Sanctuary Area Shelter overlooking Crabtree Lake - Hiking Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Beautiful trails and natural areas. There are options for a shorter loop trail, or to connect trails to make a longer trek. The trails have good signage to direct you which way to go. There are some very minor "hills" here and there, but overall it's relatively flat. The natural play area was pretty rugged. It was not great for my 18 month old to navigate, I would recommend it for a little bit older age group. It would be nice if there was a bench or something for caregivers to sit while kids play. The inside building and displays could use a facelift, which it seems like they'll be getting with renovations closing the building starting July 1, 2022. Im looking forward to seeing the updates when they finish. read more

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Peaceful green trails and very serene and well maintained. Also a very adorable nature center and raptor display.

I love this place been coming here for 2 months with my service dog for afternoon walks with no.problems the director Jeff stopped me at the entrance & was very rude he said no dogs allowed so I told him she's my service dog I'll pull up her certificate on my phone just give me a min he started asking me what's my condition & telling me there's no such thing as a certificate so I just said you know what I'll just leave then he started following me asking me if my dog is trained Very unprofessional read more

Crabtree Nature Center is a wonderful place to explore the outdoors and teach kids about animals. It is located in Barrington on a very large plot of forest preserve. The area is well maintained are there is friendly staff to guide you around and help ensure that people do not disrupt the natural animal habitats. There are multiple walking trails so you can get out and get a little fresh air. They are pretty flat and the walk is quite easy for people of most ages. You can hike out by the lake and hang out in the bird viewing cabin. There is also a children's nature area outside with many structures for kids to climb on and burn off energy. The three large bird cages house owls, hawks and other majestic animals of the sky. The indoor nature center has a number of animals that have been preserved. There is also a large turtle habitat and multiple fish tanks. My kids loved the fossilized buffalo poop - not something you see everyday. There are some craft projects for kids and other educational activities. It is well worth the trip out to Barrington to get out in nature and learn a little while you are at it! read more

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Staff here was very nice and my kids had a good time playing in the Nature Center. They have a few animals, some fish and a few exhibits for the kids to look at. There's also a small play area with a little tent, puppets and other activities. The trails are really pretty. They are unpaved, so some spots were a little bumpy with a stroller, but it wasn't hard by any means. The scenery is beautiful and quiet. There is a long stretch where you are in the sun, so make sure to wear sunscreen. The kids Nature play area is adorable. There are activities on laminated cards with all of the supplies you'll need. In total, we spent about 3 hours between the trails and the play area. We will definitely be back! read more

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The first time I came to Crabtree Nature Center a couple of weeks ago, I was attacked by mosquitoes. I went at 8am with good intentions to explore and walk around. After about 5 minutes, I felt an itch so I stopped walking for a second. I looked down and I was covered in mosquitoes all over my shirt. It was the craziest swarm I had ever seen so I screamed and ran back to my car at lightning speeds. I had bites all over my body but mostly all over my scalp and neck! :( Well this morning, I was much better prepared. Before leaving home, I sprayed every inch of my body and clothes with Deep Woods Off! and I'm happy to say I came away unscathed. I must say that when I went at 8am I was the only person at the entire place. I ended up leaving about 945am and by this time there were 2 workers present around the actual Nature Center building but no fellow patrons. Now for this reason, the entire time I was on the trails, I was totally freaked out. I screamed a couple times when bugs flew into my head or I thought I heard something in the woods. Seriously I feared for my life thinking what a great place it would be for someone to lurk and steal me then I'd never be heard from again. 'Course I had my phone with me and was ready to call for help but I'm sure my heart was accelerated throughout my entire walk. Not to mention the main, long path ventures to Phantom Prairie...Great, I thought. Aside from that, I really enjoyed Crabtree and am planning on going back. So the main path which they call Phantom Prairie loops around 2 miles going around swampy marshes, prairies and plains, and deeply wooded areas. Burr's Edge trail is another 1.67 miles and then Giant Hollow's Trail is .5 miles. I enjoyed going through the prairies most of all as it's a bit different than the usual. The paths varied from grassy to muddy to dirt to woodchips and are only paved right in front of the nature center. So be prepared because my feet got soaked since it rained last night. On the paths, you'll chipmunks darting in front of you, I nearly killed a frog as he hopped right out from under my foot, and of course the usual suspects like squirrels and bunnies. And holy birds! They had so many different kinds of birds flying around plus some a few super cool looking huge birds in the marsh areas. I know there are deer here too as is evident from the many deer prints on the path...and their dung! Watch your step at all times on the path! After you hit the prairies, there is dung every few feet!!! I also saw either coyote or fox droppings, too. Gross to see yet cool to know they're around. I'm a weirdo. There are also benches every so often so don't worry about getting going and not being able to go the full distance. Rest, take a load off, regroup and trudge on! The cages for the birds are right outside the exhibit building. There is a badass turkey vulture that does his thing and couldn't care less if you're standing outside his cage snapping shots and staring at him. Next to him was a barred owl I felt bad when I first rolled up on him because he started making this clicking noise like I was making him uncomfortable. He was so gorgeous and adorable but I tried to keep my distance because I wanted the little guy to be at ease. At first I was a bit worried about the red-tailed hawk because he had these leather bands around each of his feet and when he tried to fly they seemed to stunt him. He even ran into a log once, poor little guy. But I then read about how these animals are in their exhibit because they had injuries or some other condition so they couldn't survive out in the wild. That made me feel much better about these poor little guys being in cages and my gawking at this beautiful animals. The final birdie in the lineup was the Great Horned Owl. He looked so gangster - didn't bat an eye or a wing the entire time I was observing him & his homies. After checking out the birds on display, I ventured a bit more because for some reason I thought they had coyotes and foxes but I guess not. I did find a cool lookout point with binoculars and a chair so you can observe ducks. I went through the exhibit building and it was cool being the only person in there. They have a good number of smaller, native animals which I thought was pretty rad - Snakes, Turtles, Catfish, Screeching Owls, Flying Squirrels, tons of fish and birds. Plus activities for kids! And bathrooms! I really think Crabtree is another one of those hidden suburban gems. I love ALL animals so loved that I got to get my walk on plus see a bunch of cool creatures. read more

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Nature. That's a thing, huh. People like doing all that outside stuff and things... or so I'm told. Me, I'm okay with nature. We know each other exist, but we don't always get along. I like animals and stuff... stuff does not include insects. Well, not all bugs. Spiders can suck it. Mosquitoes can hella suck it. Maggots inside things I was planning on eating: Suck it. You get the picture. Plants... I eat them. I don't LOVE them, but I respect them. I'm not drawn to them or having them in my house or taking care of them, but they're not a threat (for now... anyone who's seen The Happening knows what I'm talking about) is all I'm saying. I guess the gist of what I'm saying is that I'm not nature freak. I like fun nature like tropical beaches and sunshine but Midwest nature? Meh. Pretty take it or leave it... but have to admit this place is pretty cool. They've got some decent flat-land hikes, great for all you photographers out there looking for a pretty scene. If you go towards the end of summer into early fall, you'll be amidst miles of those amber waves of grain everybody's always raving about. The hikes here are pretty easy peasy if you've got the time. Perfect for kids and old people, but nothing too crazy and there's some cool activities along the main hike route. You start off at an educational nature center then walk through some trees, field of high grass (or whatever it is), there's multiple ponds, ducks, turtles, etc, a cool bird lookout on one of the ponds, a fun bee playground and mini rope course in the shape of a spider web, and the grand finale for me where the raptor cages with the owls, vultures, and such were tearing apart their meals. Super fun and animals seemed to be pretty happy even though caged. Just a nice little place to spend the day, and that says a lot coming from a person who more often than not finds herself at odds with nature. read more

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I have cousins that live near here so we sometimes wind up here for a walk especially after a big meal. There's about 5 miles of trails. We did them all in the span of a couple hours and that's even with snow on the ground. I am a city boy so its always nice to connect with mother nature. Last time here there was a snow cover so the only traces of animals were their tracks and their poop. They have snow shoes that you can rent. They looked like a hit with the families with kids. Price is free with a drivers license ID. read more

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Crabtree has a lot of great events, though many of them are more child-oriented and have less variety than at some other FPDCC nature centers. The diversity within these kid-friendly activities like Budding Naturalist days, the Viva Vultures party (an actual birthday party for a vulture), and night hikes mean that if you do take your kids here, you can come back again and again without worrying about your kid getting bored. There's some good birding on the trails, which have some nice variety in the terrain. You'll go through wooded areas, prairie, and marshy areas by the water. Bring bug spray, sunglasses, and, if it has rained lately, rubber boots. (Stay away from the marshy trails if frogs squick you--I was here once last summer and they were hopping right across my feet!) If you'd rather birdwatch from inside the nature center, they have feeders set up in such a way that you can see them very well from indoors. There are also some rehabilitated but unreleasable critters if you want a "guaranteed" wildlife spotting. read more

Such beautiful trails and always having great educational programs! Make sure to check out the signs as you walk in for dates of events coming up and register. Also, make sure to bring a mask and check out the inside as well. read more

Me: You know, I can just picture zombies busting out from behind those trees. Friend: You watch too much of those crazy shows. Me: That's true. But don't you agree that this is where you might see a bunch of zombies if there were a zombie apocalypse? Friend: *speechless* Ok, so I have a vivid imagination. True, I loved World War Z (the book of course) and I am a huge fan of the Walking Dead (TV, never read the books). So if you need a place to enjoy nature and let your imagination run wild, check out Crabtree. My friend, my son and I took a leisurely hike one morning. The area is well-maintained and such a wonderful space. There are walking trails and a separate path made especially for the kids. That separate path makes it more of a playground with a roped "spider web", a bridge, some stepping stones and an area perfect for hide and go seek with hollowed wood structures and makeshift canopies. (where zombies could totally be hidden) The fields are wide and lush. There's a lake with a small "duck lookout" building with a telescope to help you scout ducks or geese (or zombies). Wildlife? We were lucky to see a young deer amble past us, looked curiously at us and then walk away. There are owls and a vulture that are kept on site. They were injured in the past and could not live on their own so the Nature Center takes care of them now. We spent a bit of time here because my son is a total animal lover and loved watching them swoop around in their areas. The Nature Center building is closed on Fridays so we'll have to check that out another time. The bathrooms are located on the outside of this building so no worries if you need to stop (or hide from zombies). Great place to check out year round. read more

Crabtree Nature Center - Fall - Hiking Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

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Great place to go for a stroll. Nice wide trails and a decent length loop if you combine the two smaller loops. Lots of wildlife to see and good variety of terrain to pass through. This place is great to bring kids to discover live wildlife inside the nature center. There are also caged owls, a hawk, and a vulture just outside the nature center as well and I had a great time just watching them. There is also a little hut along the trail that is used like a hide for viewing birds on the pond that is protected from any human intrusion. Get a close up view with the provided binoculars. Be aware that the trails can be very muddy or even impassable after heavy rains. We had to detour about 300 yards through prairie to avoid a flooded low area next to a pond. Other muddy parts of the trail were made passable by people throwing branches in the mud. Chances are you will get dirty so prepare accordingly. read more

Crabtree Nature Center - This ugly turkey vulture has no fear. - Hiking Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Used to be a regular visitor and regular donor. No longer! A 65 degree day in March, we show up, and the lot is full. Truth be told, the place has THREE lots, and they always keep two of them closed for whatever reason. Well, anyone with a lick of common sense could have anticipated a heavy crowd on the first beautiful day of the year, except these folks. So, we call and tell them their lot is full. They say they'll open another lot. Some tool strolls down at a snail's pace, comes up to my (big) truck, and tells me there's a spot at the end of the first lot open. Instead of just opening the second lot, I need to be told to try to squeeze my big ass truck into some tiny spot that I can't fit in? Not happening. And if we wouldn't have called to report the full lot, someone else would have, so why not just open the other lot(s) and be done with it? Anyway, I don't need to be lectured by some clown who was pissed that he had to get off his ass and walk a block, so I left, and I won't return. I'll give my donations to some other nature spot. read more

We went her on the spur of the moment to get out of the house. They loaned us snow shoes and we walked a small trail. Staff was friendly, they have a nice kids play area and we waited 15 minutes for a nature talk and craft project. Best part- it was all free! It has always been pleasant I have been coming here for 30 years. read more

I saw this on a map and decided to meet my friend here before going to the movies. It's pretty easy to get in and out of here as well as free parking. It's open from sunrise to sunset and there is a main visitor center. The visitor center has examples of leaves and trail markings you'll find when you're outside. They also have live turtles, live snakes, live birds inside as well. There is a viewing area for the bird feeders and they have microphones set up near them so you can hear them from inside. There are 3 trails with 2 of them around the main lake. They are not paved, but pretty well stamped down by the grass or dirt. We went counter clockwise around the shortest path and at the end, near the main visitor center were a couple of group/children's activities. One resembled a spider web while another was a bee path using tree stumps. There were also some caged animals including owls and hawks and an explanation on controlled burning. Overall, it's good for a nice quiet walk or just to get away for a few hours. read more

Wild things make everything groovy! Crabtree Nature Center is one of those places to go to get away. Walk, observe, take pictures, let the sun shine down on you, let the wind blow in one ear and out the other: clear your brain. For those expecting bells and whistles; get with those softer bells and whistle at Crabtree. This is a Cook County preserve, there are tons of trails; they also have a Naturalist who can explain the small exhibits. These include a number of rehabilitated creatures, who help educate kids. Crabtree is a huge migratory stop off for Canada geese, as well as ducks. But it is also home to beautiful hawks, coyotes, skunks, owls, otters, and deer, who you actually do see. No bikes allowed; nothing living there is riding a bike, so you hafta hoof it. One yearly event is Bird Day. Very cool to see humans in Nike's or other foot gear meander through a Migratory Bird Obstacle Course. It's a common sense way to teach kids about inherent/not so inherent dangers to these creatures, i.e. oil spill, fishing line, etc. Crabtree is also exceptionally pretty when the seasons change. One point: Crabtree Nature Center lets nature take its course with as little interference as possible, unless a creature is seriously injured and a risk to visitors. That's a good heads up in the event you are bringing small kids. You may have some "splain'in" to do as to why you can't go help a limping goose. So, pretend you're Lewis & Clark and go: you'll enjoy what they have to offer and burn a few calories too! read more

Beautiful paths around the water with so many animals to see (birds and frogs and tadpoles and chipmunks). If you want to do a loop around the lake, try to go when it hasn't rained recently since it can be very muddy. This place is great for kids, and u even get to see owls, hawks, and vultures in large cages! read more

My husband and I took our three kids here on Sunday afternoon and it was a lovely family outing! To get to the trails you first walk through a nature center building. It is free, and there are interesting exhibits. There were live turtles, fish, birds, an owl, etc. We were more interested in an outdoor walk so we didn't spend a lot of time inside, but it was interesting and the kids enjoyed it! We took a nice walk around a lake once we went through the nature building. So many big and beautiful trees, plus a large portion of the path was natural prairie. At the end of the loop there were caged birds - a hawk, two owls, and a turkey vulture. So fun to see! The walk was easy and not too long for our 9, 7, and 3 year old kids. The path is unpaved but you could easily do it with a jogging stroller. The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars is because there seemed to be a lot of rules posted. No food, no bikes, etc. They want you to come, walk around, and leave. No family picnics here. read more

This is one of our favorite nature centers! It is a decent length walk and the trail takes you through a few different terrains (woods, prairie, wetland). We always see a variety of birds, frogs, and turtles whenever we go. In fact last time we were here we saw a "nut" in the middle of the trail - it turned out to be a palm-sized baby turtle! For us a trip to Crabtree is always a memorable experience and a great opportunity to find peace in nature. Even when I lived a little further away than I do now it was always worth the trip to come here. read more

This is a cute little nature preserve in the North burbs. It doesn't have a lot, but it's nice to walk around in the Spring. read more

Crabtree Nature Center - Hiking Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

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Great non-strenuous hike through woodland, prairie and adventure center. There are some moderate hills to mix it up and tire out smaller folks. I recommend starting on the bur edge trail to the right so you end at the adventure area (otherwise you could get stuck there if with kids). If coming from Chicago, I'd recommend taking 94 and Willow Road vs. 90, as it's a nicer ride. read more

I have been here during every season, yes even a day after the Blizzard of 2011. The staff here is fantastic and will be happy to answer any nature question you might have. The trails have creeks, ponds, lakes, prairies and plenty of trees. One interesting thing you may notice if observant are the charms that people place in trees. I have spotted a silver fairy and a few others. Turtles, Deer, Frogs, Beavers and many birds can be seen here. If you want to do a quick 3mile hike with friends or family this is a great place to visit. read more

I enjoy visiting this nature center to take long walks through the prairie, and for watching birds, especially waterfowl. It is very pretty and peaceful. It is clean and safe, and you feel a million miles away from civilization. read more

My family has been visiting here for years. It has a large loop and small loop that are both a very nice walk through nature. It also has a park for kids. The sounds of nature and birds are my favorite part! So many different bird species as well as frogs and turtles usually can be seen in the water. Sometimes it does get a little muddy when it rains so dress accordingly read more

Stopped by here Labor Day weekend for something to do on a nice day. Great trails (not paved but nice and wide and easy to follow), but bring bug spray! Center itself has some nice exhibits - the live animals (owl, snakes, turtles, fish, mice, etc) are really neat and fun to watch. There weren't any events going on at the time, but we grabbed many brochures describing events throughout the year. What a great, free, place to spend a couple of hours. Close to Barrington Arboretum for dinner or treats afterwards! read more

In this world of unnatural it's a perfect oasis to return to the real world!

Awesome park. Nice trails that go by ponds, tree covered areas and prairie. It's for hiking only, so no bikes to run you or your children over. The trails are nice and wide. There's a nice nature center at the entrance with some of the local wildlife on display and a play area for kids. Will definitely be here again! read more

Nice place to visit. We usually go to watch the bird feeders. There's a room where they feed right outside the window. The employees are always nice and helpful. read more