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This 48-acre former Boy Scout camp still includes the dining hall lodge, three enclosed shelters with wood stoves, hiking /cross country trails and a dozen tent campsites. It is one of the most botanically rich and topographically varied forested preserves in our district. Showy Orchis, Glade Mallow, Cancer Root, ferns, and a nice array of other uncommon plants occur in the diverse upland and floodplain forests. A 100 foot bluff, too steep to walk, drops to the South Branch Kishwaukee River – a run where the river flows across limestone bedrock and the drops over THE GREAT KISHWAUKEE FALLS: an eroded fracture straight across the river’s bed that allows the water to crash straight over the precipice before falling six inches to the bedrock below! (OK, maybe not spectacular, this is the Midwest, after all.) The state endangered Black Sandshell mussel has been found in this portion of the river and Bald Eagles nest less than a mile west, down the river.
Nice little walking path in the spring. No people around when we went. Nice and peaceful. River views.
Absolutely my favorite place within an hour of the outer suburbs. If you put your kayak in at Potawatomi down the road it is a stunning section of the kishwaukee river. There is also good and easy hike in camping
Beautiful place to camp primitive style
But; the shelters are now day Rentals or organized weekend groups only. Where as the old management allowed anyone to rent the cabins and lodge for overnights. We are very disappointed in this change.
Very nice small camp site.
There 8 camping spots. They have a picnic table, grill and a fire pit. Camp sites are well mowed and clean. Tent pad areas are OK.
You WALK to your camp site. Cary In, Cary out.
Nice preserve, I saw a family of raccoons and a fox. River access is not real easy for fishing, and there were lots of juvenile bass.
