6 Ways to Enjoy Illinois' Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Sixty miles southwest of Chicago, a tallgrass prairie is springing to life, bringing back the landscape that once rolled over the Midwest like an ocean.
Take a hike
Of the 18,023 acres at Midewin, more than 9,100 are open to public use, with 29 miles of trails. Wandering this prairie is almost like being on safari; you may feel like the only humans for miles.
Along Grass Frog Trail, mint-green leopard frogs and ring-necked pheasants scurry across the path. The trail winds through South Patrol Road Restoration Area, a stunning tallgrass prairie. In summer, it's a waving mass of coneflowers, compass plant and blazing star; in spring, migrating ducks use it as a rest stop. Illinois prairies are naturally wet; standing water is a sign of balance returning to the land.
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