Forked Creek Preserve

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Wilmington, IL
Forked Creek Preserve

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The Forest Preserve District of Will County's Forked Creek Preserve has three access areas: Ballou Road, Forsythe Woods and Butcher Lane. Open 8 a.m.-sunset.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County's Forked Creek Preserve - Forsythe Woods provides a parking area, shelter, latrines, water pump, and access to 1.34 miles of natural surface trail, ideal for hiking/running and, in the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

10/30/2026

Now is the time to plant milkweed seeds both because this is when the plants naturally release their seeds and because the seeds require freezing temperatures before germinating in the spring. A freeze-and-thaw cycle softens the coating on the seeds, which then allows the plants to grow come spring.

Monarchs are one of several popular symbols in the celebration of Día de los Mu***os, or Day of the Dead. Learn what they symbolize and how you can attract them to your yard.

10/13/2026

Just like people, animals need reliable sources of food, water and shelter all year long.

Want to see wildlife in your yard all winter long? The key is to make it a welcoming place for them to visit.

10/06/2026

“There are a lot of really good photographers out on the trails, and I’m honored to have my shot chosen as the winner,” Viola said after being notified that he had the contest’s top picture for the second time this year.

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09/29/2026

Once the color display starts, the weather is important to how long it will last. If you want to soak it up for as long as possible, hope for days free of heavy rain and winds. These conditions can put a quick end to fall color by prematurely knocking leaves to the ground.

If you love fall color, hope the coming weeks bring us warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights.

09/22/2026

House finches and purple finches, in particular, can cause a lot of confusion because they do, in fact, look quite similar. There are some key ID features that will help you tell these birds apart, but the calendar is actually the best place to start.

House finch or purple finch? Learn to tell the difference between these similar-looking birds.

09/15/2026

Participants who complete seven of 10 preselected trails will earn a medallion that can be pinned to a backpack or tacked on to a walking stick. The medallions change each year and have become collector’s items for longtime Woods Walk hikers.

Explore seven of 10 trails to earn a hiking medallion.

09/08/2026

The reason for this flurry of activity is simple: The squirrels need to eat all winter long.

Squirrels stay busy in the fall collecting and burying nuts, but all for good reason.

09/01/2026

Soaking up the sunshine, sharing a favorite spot and enjoying the simple things. Sometimes nature gives us the sweetest little reminders that life is simply better when we share it with someone.

(Photo courtesy of Laurie’s Trail)

08/25/2026

Red admirals are hard to miss with their bold orange-red bands and white spots, but there’s more to these butterflies than their flashy wings.

08/18/2026

Opossums aren't superheroes like Batman and Spider-Man, but they do have something of a superpower that's beneficial to their survival. They are immune to the venom inflicted by honeybees, scorpions and rattlesnakes, among other venomous animals, and they are also unaffected by toxins such as botulism. In addition, opossums rarely contract rabies because their normal body temperature is too low for the virus to survive, and they only rarely contract Lyme disease from tick bites.

From their appearance to their behaviors, opossums are unique in many ways.

Address

21200 W Kahler Road
Wilmington, IL
60481

Telephone

(815) 727-8700

Website

https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/preserves/forked-creek

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