Messenger Woods Nature Preserve is one of Will County's oldest and most unusual forest preserves. The 444-acre preserve began with a 144-acre purchase in 1930, and visitors to the preserve can enjoy one of the few remaining forests in northeastern Illinois that has not been altered by grazing, cutting, farming, or development.

The preserve has old groves of oak and rich maple bottomlands amidst rolling hills. Spring Creek, which runs through the preserve, has cut steep ravines through the hilly forest. The site was dedicated as a State Nature Preserve in the 1990s in recognition of its diverse habitats for state-listed species, including rock elm, heart-leaved plantail, red shouldered hawk, and Cooper's hawk. A large-scale habitat restoration project is currently underway at the Preserve. View more information about this project here.

Visitors can hike or cross-country ski along 2 miles of looped trails that meander through this scenic preserve. Two picnic shelters are available for reservation for large groups, and primitive campsites are available for tent camping.

Messenger Woods Nature Preserve is known for its abundance of spring wildflowers that carpet the forest floor. Watch the numerous nature photographers perch over their cameras to capture the blue-eyed Mary, showy trillium, wild geranium, and hepatica in bloom. The biggest attraction is the Virginia bluebells; far more appear at Messenger Woods over a few fleeting weeks in April and May than anywhere else in Will County. Because of these sensitive natural resources, dogs are not allowed in the preserve.

Photographs Courtesy of Jeff Tolley and Phyllis Schulte