Champaign County Forest Preserve District

10/30/2026

During a walk through Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, wildlife was playing peek-a-boo, hiding amongst fall foliage and floating in and out of sight on the lake while bright leaves were a treat to the eye. Post your fall pictures from around the preserves in the comments below.

10/29/2026

November starts in just a few days!? 🍂🍁

Spend some time in Champaign County Forest Preserves in November. Whether you're exploring archaeology at Museum of the Grand Prairie, learning about unique wildlife, hiking through to see the fall colors and connect with your community, or enjoying the kickoff to Night Lights, there's something for you to discover during the month of November at Champaign County Forest Preserves.

Find more details and info. at champaignforests.org/events

10/29/2026

Oaks have been part of Illinois’ landscape for around 10,000 years. What can we do to help them thrive for generations to come?

Protect existing oak systems. Plant native species. Learn to identify the oaks around you. Support healthy oak habitats. The more we understand these trees and the web of life they support, the better we can protect biodiversity and the health of our ecosystems.

Visit champaignforests.org to get involved by volunteering or making a donation. Help support the health of local oak savannas and other oak systems in Champaign County Forest Preserves.

10/28/2026

Good morning from the HI Tower at Lake of the Woods!
The views and cool climbing weather are top notch right now!

10/26/2026

It's that time of year again for an important reminder! 🎃

❗Dumping pumpkins in the forest preserves is prohibited for a variety of reasons.❗
💀: Central feeding areas, especially in the forest preserves where we have MANY deer, can become vectors for the spread of communicable wildlife diseases.
🎃: Pumpkins will often grow wherever they’re dumped, which means we’ll find them growing in our prairies and woodlands the following year, competing with native vegetation.
🚨: It is prohibited under the County Forest Preserves’ ordinances and feeding or baiting wildlife where wild deer are present is illegal in the State of Illinois. We will contact the local Conservation Police Officer if we suspect visitors are baiting wildlife within the preserves.

Consider composting your pumpkin or finding a local drop off location in or around your area. Check out this link from the extension as well for more information!

Don't trash it, smash it! Fall is the pumpkin’s time to shine, but what happens when it is time to say goodbye to the short-lived Jack-o-lanterns? Green your Halloween

10/22/2026

Important info. on kayak rentals at Homer Lake Forest Preserve as we start to get closer to colder weather:

🛶Kayaks will likely not be available for rent after November 1.
🛶Rentals come with a kayak, life jacket, and paddle.
🛶Costs $25 for 2 hours

*Download the Movatic app from your App Store or Google Play, then check kayak availability in Rent.Fun before arriving. Rental hours may be limited based on the forecast, and kayaks won't be rentable when temperatures are too cold.*

Fortunately, the 10-day forecast includes several days with ideal kayaking weather.

10/22/2026

Did you know oaks are resistant to fire?
Larger oak trees have thick, insulated bark, allowing them to survive fire moving across the landscape. Oak leaves are particularly good at carrying fire because of their shape, thickness, and low moisture. As leaf litter burns, it not only kills competing hardwood species, but also creates open seed beds that facilitate the germination of acorns!

10/21/2026

The Interprtive Center at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve will be closed this week starting Thursday, Oct. 22 - Sunday, Oct. 25.

10/19/2026

Natural Resources staff will be conducting prescribed burns at Buffalo Trace today, Monday, Oct. 19, starting at 12 PM.

Our main burn area sits right next to Route 47, so we need a wind coming from the south and east to do it safely. Today’s forecast calls for a south-southeast wind, making it the perfect day to get it done.

You may see smoke from nearby roads and trails this afternoon, so please use caution if you’re driving along Route 47. Our trained crew carefully plans each burn around wind, humidity, and other weather conditions, and they’ll be on site the entire time. For your safety, please stay clear of any areas where staff are working and follow posted signs.