Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
| Address: | 30239 S. State Route 53, Wilmington, IL 60481, USA |
| Phone: | +1 815-423-6370 |
| Site: | fs.usda.gov |
| Rating: | 4.8 |
| Working: | 8AM–4:30PM 8AM–4:30PM 8AM–4:30PM 8AM–4:30PM 8AM–4:30PM 8AM–4:30PM Closed |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 42
CL
Clay Hamm
Midewin is a great place to relax and enjoy nature. There are brochures available to help identify the many wildflowers and birds youll see in the prairie restoration areas. You could easily spend a full day here. If you have a good camera bring it. Bring your backpack with water bottles and Cliff bars. The bison move around and may be not be close to the fence first easy viewing - BRING BINOCULARS. There are picnic tables and outhouses at the Iron Bridge Trailhead. Walling paths are wide, flat, well-groomed, and suitable for strollers and bikes.
AI
Aidan Piwnicki
As many describe, this place is a diamond in the rough. Theres so much open land to explore, and seeing the bison in a large prairie where they belong puts zoos to shame. The forest service has done a great job in restoring the land to what it was. It feels so authentic that I feel proud to live in the Great Plains region! My complaint comes from Route 53, where the noise of nearby traffic on certain trails can take a little bit out of the serenity. Its a great place to visit, and I cant wait to keep exploring its views and history!
EM
Emma Norris
Very nice welcome center with lots of interesting displays & fact sheets. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable and even let us borrow a pair of binoculars for our hike. The trails around the bison pasture were wide and flat - but long, so next time Ill bring a bike to cover more distance. Definitely make time to visit the bison herd - it was truly incredible to watch them! I will be a return visitor, for sure.
AM
Amy Y
They got bison here now!! Even baby ones. It is an awesome place, with miles of trails for hikers and bicycles (note: limestone path) and horses. Usually very quiet and not crowded at all, except some people gathering around bison areas. Park is completely free. Used to address for storing arsenal and now a very lovely park. Great for day trip from Chicago. Do do a tick check after if you come during summer!!!
ER
Eric Hiller
Simply stunning. Honestly, one of my favourite places in the world. It reminds me every time I go there of how fragile life is, and how previous I should hold it. A seeming post-apocalyptic world at times, a paradise at others. Those, like myself, that are from the area and grew up walking its lands call it the arsenal, and it is truly a treasure, as a marker to what wild land can be.
JO
Joel Finkle
NOTE: Position of marker is not where the facilities are, theyre just off of Rt 53 on a line directly southwest of this marker! Facilities are closed on Sundays, but they have trail information at the end of the driveway. Many wildflowers and great birding site.
JI
Jim Cox
This is an on going project. They have a small head of Buffalo on the preserve. The visitors center was excellent. It was a little hard to find the grass seed beds but it was worth the effort. The grass was not as tall compared to Buffalo Gap Grasslands on SD.
AM
Amanda Monahan
The NPS has really improved the trails here! They are now great for biking and walking. The trail we went on today circles the buffalo pasture. Wonderful place to go! (There is very little shade on the trail, so make sure to bring sunscreen!)
KI
Kimberly Marie
Beautiful trails through a tallgrass prairie. This national park is strewn with old, overgrown military bunkers which are cool to explore. Didnt catch a glimpse of any bison, but theyre in an expansive fenced off area for protection.
JO
John Marsiglio
Fantastic prairie I keep coming back to! You can hike all day at this National Forest unit. From year to year its most interesting seeing how the land has changed. I highly recommend a visit here to any local
MI
Michael Bessler
This is "Where the buffalo roam". Stop in to the welcome center to ask where the buffalo are today. They also offer many night and weekend drives/hikes, some are ranger lead which should be the good ones.
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Stefan Sampaleanu
Rolling fields of goldenrod, lilac and green. I would take my true love there and feed them local apples while we gaze at bison from afar. Truly a memorable jaunt.
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Maximilian Mazur
A great hidden gem. It a great trail for a bike ride, not busy or crowded. If youre in the area stop in for a walk, its almost too peaceful out here.
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Jesse Morris
The bison were right by the fence today very exciting... Tip: we learned that there is a difference between bison and buffalo. Midewin has bison.
SC
Scott Coates
One of the best places around to absorb nature and the serenity and tranquility it provides. any time of year is a good time to visit !
RA
Ray M
Your brochure said Northern Mockingbirds were common throughout Midewin. Went there 5or 6 times only saw the U.S.s best singer once.
KE
Kerry Morris
Great place to walk...please keep dogs on leaches coyotes have been seen and my dog were sprayed with skunk
SC
Scott Glover
Nice to ride a bike, walk, or run. A lot of rules thought. But a great place to see nature and history
WI
William Bromer
Largest tallgrass prairie restoration east of the Mississippi River - more than 19,000 acres
LA
Laura Taylor
A must see for native wildlife! Great trails and the visitors center is lovely :)
DE
Debbie Serling
Here for solar eclipse. Great place and great work they have done.
BO
Bob C
Cool place to visit. Dont be surprised if you see some wildlife.
JA
James Franke
Cool place, nice long walks in the prairie with views of bison.
NI
Nik Macholz
I love the hiking trails and nature reclamation done here.
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Shannon Fr
Wonderful trail. Plus theyre bringing back the bison!!
JO
joe kalló
An absolutely beautiful hidden gem. Go see the buffalo!
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Ethan Barse
Great place to walk around at. Feels like wilderness.
DA
Dan Schaeflein
was able to see the bison,made the trip worthwhile.
LO
Logan Tucker
Wonderful job by the USFS restoring this land.
DA
Dan Hartman
a nice place to relax and be one with nature.
AL
Alex Hamling
Ask for the stamp at the visitors center.
HU
Huy Nguyen
Didnt see buffalo but still worth the trip
LO
Logan Ward
Great place for a quiet hike.
DA
Dawn Young
Tranquility at its best.
DA
Dale Padalik
Passing by a scenic view
RO
Robert Alexander
Love the our doors here
LA
Laurie Martin
Nice place to walk.
JI
Jim Helfrich
Love this place.
AR
Arthur Tseng
I saw bisons!!!
VI
Victor Jaimes
Long walking
AD
Adil Chouqui
Nice place
KE
Kenneth Hicks
Okay
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