Weekend Explorer

Goose Lake Prairie

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by LeAnn Spencer

At certain times of the year, Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area might better be named Pelican Oasis. In truth, this prairie remnant — the largest original tallgrass prairie east of the Mississippi — is an important site for all sorts of birds. But it was the pelicans — yes, pelicans — that caused my mouth to gape when I dropped in last spring.

It’s this kind of surprise that makes Goose Lake Prairie, roughly 50 miles southwest of Chicago, a destination for nature lovers. A trek to the prairie starts at the visitor’s center to pick up the bird checklist, where a volunteer naturalist can tell you what birds are active on that particular day or season. While the prairie is home to a variety of animals, including the state-threatened Blanding’s turtle, it is best known for grassland and marshland birds. At least 175 bird species have been reported since 1970. Common birds include meadowlarks, killdeer, and sandpipers. Quail-sized soras, flotillas of mergansers, and the unusual ruddy duck also put in appearances. Rarer birds include the king rail, least bittern, and breeding Henslow’s sparrows and upland sandpipers. Or, in our case, a gathering of migrating pelicans.

With more than 2,500 acres, including 1,500 acres of dedicated nature preserve, Goose Lake Prairie offers a variety of habitat, including mixed grass and sedge meadows, tallgrass prairie, and marshland. Seven miles of hiking trails provide relatively easy access to these communities. For the best close-up of the prairie, set your boots on the Tallgrass Nature Trail that loops east and north for 3.5 miles. It reveals a glimpse of the past, when prairie covered 60 percent of Illinois, and visitors might find themselves feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed by an imposing landscape under an infinite sky. About 60 percent of the prairie consists of towering grasses — big bluestem, Indian grass, and switch grass. The tallest is prairie cordgrass, which can reach up to 12 feet tall. The rest of the prairie is made up of various flowering plants, such as cream false indigo, shooting star, New England aster, and prairie milkweed. Dan Kirk, natural heritage biologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, recommends following the trail to the photo blind. From there, he says, “You can get a good look at a large part of the prairie without being seen, and experience its full effect.”

Goose Lake Prairie gets its name from a 1,000-acre lake drained by farmers more than a century ago. The lake is long gone, but visitors who squish along the half-mile Marsh Loop Trail that skirts wetlands will see just how soggy the site is. To get the big picture, take the 3.5-mile Prairie View Trail to the steep strip mine spoil piles for a bird’s-eye view of the prairie and gleaming medallions of open water.

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area was born in 1969 when the State of Illinois purchased the first 240 acres. The state has steadily added to reach the present 2,537 acres. The visitor’s center has details on the region, its history, and geography. And for those reluctant to take to the trails, a screened butterfly enclosure provides a repository of wildflowers and butterflies for close viewing.

On the day of my visit, though, the possibility of spotting the pelicans lured visitors away from the center and into the preserve. The American white pelican — Pelecanus erythrorhynchos — migrates north from the Gulf Coast in the spring and returns in the fall, and it’s not uncommon to see the birds soaring high on warm thermals. Observers say that up to 200 pelicans have been counted here at one time. When I was at the prairie, there were 20, in the air and gathered in a secluded marsh. Whether 20 or 200, their commanding presence is sure to inspire gasps of surprise. For more information about Goose Lake Prairie, call (815) 942-2899.

Roaming

More opportunities for birding and wildflower viewing are available in adjacent open lands. Abutting the prairie on the north is the 2,000-acre Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, a popular destination for boaters, fishermen and hunters. To the east lies the 5,000-acre Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area, accessible from I-55 at mile marker 241, Wilmington exit. A bit farther east is the 19,000-acre Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the country’s first dedicated national tallgrass prairie, at 30239 South State Route 53, Wilmington, IL, (815) 423-6370.

Daytripping

For something with a more cultural bent, the 75-mile Illinois and Michigan Canal Corridor features hiking, biking, and historical landmarks. It runs from Lemont west through the town of Morris, ending in LaSalle-Peru. For a printed map, call (800) 926-2262.

Native American burial mounds, the Briscoe Mounds, are in the tiny village of Channahon on Front Street at the Des Plaines River. Exit I-55 at Bluff Road and continue south toward Channahon on the frontage road.

Foraging

Goose Lake Prairie is about 20 minutes from downtown Morris. Its historic downtown is just south of the intersection of I-80 and Illinois Highway 47 and is home to local department stores, gift boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, and pubs.

At Al’s Family Restaurant, 306 Liberty Street, (815) 942-0921, the menu boasts chicken, ribs, and steaks. It’s an old-timey place open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., where locals gather for coffee and gossip. And you can’t beat the tenderloin sandwich at the ‘R’ Place Restaurant and Truck Stop at the northeast corner of I-80 and Highway 47, (815) 942-3590. Decorated with beamed ceilings and Victoriana, this is no ordinary truck stop. Be sure to pick up a box of homemade fudge on the way out. Open 24 hours.

Bedding Down

The town of Morris has a variety of accommodations by national chains. For a more personalized experience, Andrews Chester Manor Bed and Breakfast, 116 S. Kankakee Street in nearby Wilmington, (815) 476-1055, offers rooms ranging from $95 to $135 a night.

Primitive camping is available at Gebhard Woods State Park, 401 Ottawa Street, Morris, (815) 942-0796. Permits can be picked up at the park office for $6 per tent per night.

Related Articles:

Profile of Goose Lake Prairie, Into the Wild, Spring 1999