Closures & Alerts

Know Before you Go
Winter Site Closures are in effect. Parking Lots Closed, but walk-in trail hiking allowed sunrise to sunset. See the Site Closures List below.
Prairieview Education Center open by appointment or for programs only.

Covid-19 Impact:
Visitors - Face masks are required for all visitors inside any building.
Programs - Participants in indoor programs need to wear a face mask. Participants are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer.

seasonal closures - Many McHenry County Conservation District sites are open year-round for your enjoyment.
However, weather, seasonal closures or safety concerns often dictate the closing of certain sites, trails, and launches.

Check current conditions and status updates prior to your adventure:
Site Closures (Weather-Related, Special Circumstances, and Seasonal Closures)
Bike Trails
Canoe/Kayak Launch Status
Cross-Country Ski Trail Status
Facilities
Horse Trail Status

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 for the season; but remain open to walk-in traffic for use of the trails during daylight hours.

Status and Conditions

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

updated 1/24/2021
Beck's Woods
Main 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).

Piscasaw
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).

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: 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).

Brookdale
Rt. 14 Entrance
West side trails: OPEN
Main parking lot: OPEN

Paulson Road Entrance
Multi-Use Trail: 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).

Community Research Forest
Pedestrian use: CLOSED (Exception: Trail OPEN 10:30am-1pm daily)
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).

Coral Woods
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN
(Site closes Feb. 25-Mar. 19; open for Festival of the Sugar Maples Mar. 12, 13, 19 & 20 from 10am-3pm)

County Line Road Access
Pedestrian use: CLOSED
Parking lot: CLOSED (for canoe launch access, 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
Disc golf holes:
Front 9: OPEN
Back 9: 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
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. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).

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*
*East loop trail South of Behan Road CLOSED

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).

Horse Trail Status

Updated 1/24/2022

Boone Creek
Horse Trail: OPEN

Brookdale Multi Use
Horse Trail: OPEN - but parking lot is closed for season

Glacial Park
Horse Trail: Trails CLOSED where snowmobile use is active on trail.

Hebron Trail
Horse Trail: OPEN

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

Pleasant Valley
Horse Trail: OPEN

Prairie Trail North
Horse Trail: CLOSED while snowmobile use is active on trail.

Rush Creek
Horse Trail: CLOSED - Ice at Crossings

Stickney Run
Horse Trail: OPEN

Cross-Country Ski Trail

1/24/2022
Packing and Tracking Trails 1/24-1/25

Glacial Park
Condition: Good

Harrison Benwell
Condition: Good

Hickory Grove
Condition: Good

The Hollows
Condition: Good

Lyons Prairie & Marsh
Condition: Good

Marengo Ridge
Condition: Good

Pleasant Valley
Condition: Good

Prairieview
Condition: Good

Rush Creek
Condition: Good

Silver Creek (Skate Ski)
Condition: Good

Canoe/Kayak Launch Status

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

Keystone Landing
Launch: CLOSED

Lyle C. Thomas
Launch: CLOSED

Nippersink Canoe Base
Launch: CLOSED

Pioneer Canoe Landing
Launch: CLOSED

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: 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
Hillside parking lot: CLOSED
Main street north parking lot: OPEN
Main street south parking lot: OPEN
Main street bathrooms: CLOSED for the season
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. - 5:30p.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
Note: Building Only Open for Programs and by Appointment.
Register for a program or event at Prairieview Education Center.
(815) 479-5779

Brookdale Administrative Staff Offices
Monday-Friday hours vary.