The 100-acre Isle a la Cache Preserve is on an island in the Des Plaines River, and was historically used by French voyageurs in the 1700s to cache the supplies and goods they traded with local Native Americans. In the early 1900s, the island was used for summer homes, private recreation, and sportsmen's clubs. Beginning in 1982, the District acquired 100 acres of the area, including the island and nearby river shorelines, to preserve the rich history and natural resources of the site.

 

Isle a la Cache Preserve offers a variety of recreational and educational opportunities.  The Isle a la Cache Museum is located on the island and provides interpretation of the 18th-century fur trade history of the area. The Museum has been completely renovated and reopened in June 2007; all new exhibits, many of them interactive, an enlarged display area, and enhanced native landscaping around the Museum make for a totally new experience for Museum visitors.

 

Access to the Centennial Trail, which runs between Romeoville and Lockport, can be found on the preserve grounds. This 3-mile stretch of the trail follows the historic I&M Canal and is ideal for biking, hiking, or cross-country skiing. Plans call to continue the trail for 20 miles north into DuPage and Cook Counties.

 

A picnic grove, a peaceful setting ideal for lunch, is located nearby the Des Plaines River. Anglers can use preserve grounds to fish in the river, and canoeists can enter the river from the preserve.

 

A small lagoon next to the Museum connects to an inlet of the river. Follow the hiking trail that leads over a bridge that spans this inlet and you will find a short trail that leads into a forested area teeming with wildlife. While walking this secluded trail, look for beaver activity and check the inlet for wetland birds like great egrets and turtle.

Photograph Courtesy of Glenn P. Knoblock