Openlands Lakeshore Preserve
Openlands Lakeshore Preserve
Openlands Lakeshore Preserve
4.5
About
Located just 25 miles north of Chicago, the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve presents a rare opportunity to visit one of the last remaining ravine and bluff ecosystems in the metropolitan region. The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission designated the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 2013, recognizing the quality of our restoration efforts.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Chicagonative_7
Chicago
Mar 2020 • Couples
The opportunity to get some fresh air was made even better by visiting this gem along the lakefront. Amid the scattered ruins of prior overgrown building foundations were numerous birds.... in full throat this Spring with fewer man made noises than usual. The path winds through prairie and then gives a marvelous view from walkways a hundred feet above the lake level. A new bridge connects the paths and if you’re willing to do lots of stairs, you can drop down to lake level and take the service road back.....
Make sure to park legally or you’ll possibly be ticketed and towed!
Make sure to park legally or you’ll possibly be ticketed and towed!
Written 31 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mar 2021
Currently entrance is considered trespassing and potentially dangerous. Suspected explosives were discovered in April and the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the public is forbidden to enter. Just call it "Closedlands Lakeshore Preserve".
Written 27 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apr 2020
There are three ways to enter. Since the sale of the adjoining property at 2789 Oak Street, all that remain of the former parking lot are the two handicapped parking spaces.
There are steep eighty-foot bluffs, three wooded ravines, and a mile of shoreline in this nature preserve. These lands have never been plowed and remain undeveloped.
That makes this property a birder's paradise.
Look for robins, sparrows, blue jays, woodpeckers and other common birds.
But spring (now through May) and fall (late August through November) you can see over 300 species migrating along Lake Michigan and using the Preserve as a place to eat/rest/shelter. Every bird that breeds in the eastern half of Canada passes through here.
Currently the Preserve has posted COVID 19 safety precautions, but it remains open 6:30 a.m. to sunset. The portable bathroom has been removed.
See my May 4, 2019 review for more details.
There are steep eighty-foot bluffs, three wooded ravines, and a mile of shoreline in this nature preserve. These lands have never been plowed and remain undeveloped.
That makes this property a birder's paradise.
Look for robins, sparrows, blue jays, woodpeckers and other common birds.
But spring (now through May) and fall (late August through November) you can see over 300 species migrating along Lake Michigan and using the Preserve as a place to eat/rest/shelter. Every bird that breeds in the eastern half of Canada passes through here.
Currently the Preserve has posted COVID 19 safety precautions, but it remains open 6:30 a.m. to sunset. The portable bathroom has been removed.
See my May 4, 2019 review for more details.
Written 17 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iTraveltheworld195
Highland Park, IL
Jul 2019 • Solo
We are so lucky to have this beautiful natural resource in our backyard! About a mile and half of walkway along Lake Michigan. Currently there is a an unpaved portion of "prairie" walk in the middle but I have heard from a reliable source that they have finally obtained approval to connect the two completed portions.
We had no idea that this walk was being developed and were so happy when it popped up a couple of years ago. Lovely place to walk your dog, go for a run or ride your bike.
We had no idea that this walk was being developed and were so happy when it popped up a couple of years ago. Lovely place to walk your dog, go for a run or ride your bike.
Written 16 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
May 2019 • Solo
To park:
Turn east on Walker Avenue (at Oak Street) to access the small dawn-to-dusk parking lot.
There are 2 handicapped reserved spaces, and ten others. The spaces on the south side of the lot belong to Arlyn School.
Openlands acquired 77 acres from the former Fort Sheridan site and is restoring ravines, bluff, coastal lake. beach, and dunes.
There is an elevated, paved path which will take abut 25 minutes or so to walk roundtrip. Your view is lake, sky, birds, wildflowers, and other happy strollers/joggers/cyclists/dogwalkers.
NO RESTROOMS. NO DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
Turn east on Walker Avenue (at Oak Street) to access the small dawn-to-dusk parking lot.
There are 2 handicapped reserved spaces, and ten others. The spaces on the south side of the lot belong to Arlyn School.
Openlands acquired 77 acres from the former Fort Sheridan site and is restoring ravines, bluff, coastal lake. beach, and dunes.
There is an elevated, paved path which will take abut 25 minutes or so to walk roundtrip. Your view is lake, sky, birds, wildflowers, and other happy strollers/joggers/cyclists/dogwalkers.
NO RESTROOMS. NO DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
Written 4 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mar 2019 • Solo
This park tucked away behind military housing in fort Sheridan is one of the most stunning places around. Open lands has restored this once overgrown and neglected areas to be a great place to find some peace, rode a bike, and enjoy nature.
Written 3 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where do you legally park for this? Is there a parking or entrance fee?
Written 22 August 2020
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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