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.
Site Closures (Weather-Related, Special Circumstances, and Seasonal Closures)
Bike Trails
Canoe/Kayak Launch Status
Cross-Country Ski Trail Status
Facilities
Horse Trail Status
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.
Status and Conditions
updated 1/23/2022
Beck's Woods
Main Entrance
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. Closed January 2 - March 29).
Piscasaw
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. Closed January 2 - March 29).
Boger Bog
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Boone Creek
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
Brookdale
Rt. 14 Entrance
West side trails: OPEN
Main parking lot: OPEN
Paulson Road Entrance
Multi-Use Trail: CLOSED
(Closed for Hunting Nov. 1-Jan. 15)
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Community Research Forest
Pedestrian use: CLOSED*
Parking lot: CLOSED
*Trail remains open 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. daily.
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Coral Woods
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN
(Closed to drop in traffic February 24, 2023 to March 18, 2023 while the District hosts the Festival of the Sugar Maples. Public dates March 4-6 and 11- 13. School programs are February 28-30 and March 7-9, 2023.)
County Line Road Access
Pedestrian use: CLOSED
Parking lot: CLOSED
(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: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
North Entrance
Parking lot and pond: CLOSED (Closes at first ice and stays closed for the season)
Elizabeth Lake Varga Archaeological Site
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Exner Marsh
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Fel-Pro RRR
Pedestrian use and parking lots: OPEN *
*West loop trail west of power lines closed Oct. 1-Jan 15.
Disc Golf Course:
Front 9: OPEN
Back 9 (wooded): OPEN
Fox Bluff
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
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 (fishing at Riverfront remains open)
Highlands and Lyons Parking Lots: OPEN
Riverfront Parking Lot: CLOSED (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 if temperatures become mild. Closed January 2 - March 29).
The Hollows
Main
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
Lake Atwood
Parking lot: OPEN
Keystone Landing
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
Kishwaukee Headwaters
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Lake in the Hills Fen
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Lyle C. Thomas Memorial Park
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
Marengo Ridge
Pedestrian and parking lot: OPEN
Nippersink Canoe Base
Pedestrian and parking lot: CLOSED
(Open as conditions dictate: ice formation and/or cold temperatures.)
North Branch
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Pioneer Canoe Landing
Pedestrian and parking lot: CLOSED
(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: CLOSED
(Parking lot closes with 2" of snowfall. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).
Updated 1/23/2022
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: OPEN
Pleasant Valley
Horse Trail: CLOSED
Prairie Trail North
Horse Trail: CLOSED
Rush Creek
Horse Trail: CLOSED
Stickney Run
Horse Trail: CLOSED
Glacial Park
Condition: -
Harrison Benwell
Condition: -
Hickory Grove
Condition: -
The Hollows
Condition: -
Lyons Prairie & Marsh
Condition: -
Marengo Ridge
Condition: -
Pleasant Valley
Condition: -
Prairieview
Condition: -
Rush Creek
Condition: -
Silver Creek (Skate Ski)
Condition: -
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: CLOSED
Lyle C. Thomas
Launch: CLOSED
Nippersink Canoe Base
Launch: CLOSED
Pioneer Canoe Landing
Launch: CLOSED
Hebron Trail
Trail: OPEN
Note: Trail dead ends at Lange Rd. before un guarded railroad crossing.
H.U.M. Trail
Trail: OPEN
Parking lot: CLOSED
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*
*The Section from Meyer Lot N to Main Street Parking will be closed from February thru May 2023. No thru traffic or detour. More info >>
Main street north parking lot: CLOSED
Main street south parking lot: CLOSED
Main street bathrooms: CLOSED
Meyer Drive parking lot: CLOSED
Glacial Park Harts Rd. parking lot: CLOSED
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
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) 678-4532
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) 479-5779
Brookdale Administrative Staff Offices
Monday-Friday hours vary.