Closures & Alerts

Know Before you Go
Weather, seasonal closures or safety concerns often dictate the closing of sites, trails, and launches.
Check current conditions and status updates prior to your adventure: Check complete site/activity specific list below.

NOTE UPCOMING CLOSURES:
Dec. 1-4: Marengo Ridge; Rush Creek

CLOSED through January 15:
County Line Road Access, Marengo (Note: parking lot remains open for canoe launch access, then closed as weather conditions dictates.)
Silver Creek, East Loop Trail, South of Behan Rd., Crystal Lake (Note: open for fishing)
Fel-Pro RRR, West Loop Trail and west of power lines, Cary
Community Research Forest, Harvard (Exception: Trail remains open 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Brookale's Paulson Rd. eastside multi-use trail

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

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

updated 11/21/2022
Beck's Woods
Main Entrance
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(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: OPEN
(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: OPEN
(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: OPEN
*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: OPEN for launch access.
(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. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).

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. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).

Exner Marsh
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(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: OPEN

Fox Bluff
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(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: OPEN
(Riverfront parking lot closes at first ice, but trails are open to walk-in traffic)

High Point
Pedestrian use: OPEN
Parking lot: OPEN
(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: OPEN
(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: OPEN
(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
(Closed for hunting Dec. 1-4)

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. Will reopen if temperatures become mild. After Jan. 2 and a significant snowfall, lots close for season).

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
(Closed for hunting Dec. 1-4)

Silver Creek
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN*
*South loop of east loop trail south of Behan Rd. Closed Oct.1 - Jan. 15

Stickney Run
Pedestrian use and parking lot: OPEN

Winding Creek
Early parking & Prairie Loop: OPEN
Wooded Trail: OPEN
Main Parking: OPEN
(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 11/18/2022
Boone Creek
Horse Trail: OPEN

Brookdale Multi Use
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Glacial Park
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Hebron Trail
Horse Trail: OPEN

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

Pleasant Valley
Horse Trail: OPEN

Prairie Trail North
Horse Trail: OPEN

Rush Creek
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Stickney Run
Horse Trail: CLOSED

Cross-Country Ski Trail

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.)

11/18/2022
Keystone Landing
Launch: CLOSED

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*The Section from W. Solon Rd. south to School Rd. will be CLOSED Nov. 18-20 for Hunting.
Main street north parking lot: OPEN
Main street south parking lot: OPEN
Main street bathrooms: CLOSED
Meyer Drive parking lot: OPEN
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) 678-4532
Closed: November 24, December 25 and January 1

Prairieview Education Center
Drop-In Hours
Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed Nov. 24
Register for a program or event at Prairieview Education Center.
(815) 479-5779

Brookdale Administrative Staff Offices
Monday-Friday hours vary.