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Whalon Lake Preserve in Naperville/Bolingbrook and Rock Run Rookery in Joliet are currently the only fishing lakes where the District allows the launch of fishing boats (trolling motors only). Canoes and kayaks may also be launched at both preserves; no launch pass is required.
You may also launch your own canoe or kayak at Monee Reservoir if you have a daily or seasonal launch pass. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedalboats may be rented from Monee Reservoir as well. Visit the Activity Fees and Permits page for details and fee information.
Boats may be launched between April 1 and October 31. For more information about the use of watercraft in District preserves, visit the Boating page or Canoeing/Kayaking page.
At Whalon Lake in Naperville/Bolingbrook and Rock Run Rookery in Joliet, you may launch your own boat free of charge, but the following regulations must be followed:
- Boats may be launched between April 1 and October 31.
- Non-gasoline powered watercraft up to 18 feet are permitted, including fishing boats, rowboats, canoes, and kayaks. (Gas-powered motors must be raised and out of the water.)
- All watercraft must be registered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
- All IDNR boating regulations are enforced.
- Federal and State regulations require that watercraft contain one well-fitting Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for each person on the watercraft. Children under the age of 13 must wear PFDs when on water. The District requires all individuals regardless of age to wear PFDs when in private canoes and kayaks.
- At the Rock Run Rookery, boats are not allowed in the small west lake, or in the portion of the large east lake, marked by buoys, which protects an established rookery.
Visit the Boating page for more information about boating opportunities at District preserves.
Tent campsites are available at a number of our preserves. Visit the Camping page for more information.
Family and group camping permits may be obtained in person at the Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, and Monee Reservoir in Monee. Reservations for campsites may also be made over the phone up to three days prior to the reservation date. Effective April 1, 2010, drop-in camping is no longer allowed. Reservations must be made a minimum of three days prior to the reservation date. Visit the Camping page for more information.
Each campsite includes picnic tables and grills for cooking, and is near bathroom facilities, drinking water, and trails. Some campsites are near fishing opportunities as well. Only primitive camping is allowed, with no accommodations for recreational vehicles (RVs). Visit the Camping page for more information.
Leashed dogs are welcome in the forest preserves, excluding areas designated as nature preserves. With a permit, dogs are allowed off-leash in designated dog parks only. Visit the Dog Park page for more information.
Yes, a permit is required to use our dog parks. The permit comes on a lanyard and must be displayed while you are in the park. Visit the Dog Park page for more information.
In order to obtain a dog park permit, you much provide each dog's rabies vaccination tag number and the full date of when the dog is due for re-vaccination. You will also need to provide your driver's license number and license plate number. Visit the Dog Park page for more information.
A maximum of three dogs per person are allowed in the dog park. Visit the Dog Park page for more information.
We offer in-school educational programs to schools in Will County during the months of November through March. Visit the Education page for more information.
Youth group programs are available at several of our Visitor Centers. Visit the Education page for more information.
Fishing is allowed in any forest preserve unless posted otherwise. Visit the Fishing page for more information.
There is no special permit required to fish in Will County Forest Preserves. However, in accordance with State law, anyone over the age of 16 who fishes a public Illinois waterway is required to have a fishing license, which may be obtained from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, or at the District's Monee Reservoir. Visit the Fishing page for more information.
Monee Reservoir offers the following bait for sale at its concessions building during the fishing season (April 1-October 31):
- Large Minnows - $2/dozen
- Small Minnows - $2/dozen
- Nightcrawlers - $2.50/dozen
- Jumbo Red Worms - $2.50/30 count
- Little Red Worms - $2.50/50 count
- Wax Worms - $2/20 count
- Wax Worm Tub - $9/approximately 250 count
- Dough Bait - $4/jar
- Stink Bait - $5/jar
Ice fishing is not allowed in Will County Forest Preserves.
No hunting is permitted in Will County Forest Preserves.
The District does not allow wading, swimming, or dogs in the water at any of its preserves.
Visit our Employment page for a list of current opportunities and information about the application process.
The following items are accepted: personal computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, electronic mice, modems, hard drives, CD-ROM/zip/tape drives, cords and cables, CDs, DVDs, floppy disks, battery backups, printers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, laser disc players, portable radios and CD players, speakers, stereo systems, CBs and two-way radios, digital clocks, microwaves, cameras, palm organizers, hand held games, video game players, joysticks, game controllers, typewriters, word processors, copy machines, fax machines, scanners, adding machines, postage machines, calculators, paper shredders, telephones, cell phones, answering machines, and pagers. For more information, including hours of operation and location, see our news article about these recycling locations.
Alcohol is allowed in forest preserves but is prohibited inside of the District's dog parks.
Groups of 25 or less may use picnic groves and shelters on a first-come, first-served basis without a picnic permit if the picnic area is not already reserved. However, purchasing a picnic permit is recommended due to the high demand for picnic groves and shelters. A picnic permit will reserve your space. Visit the Picnicking page for more information.
No special permission is required to have alcohol at a picnic. Alcohol is allowed in forest preserves but is prohibited inside of the District's dog parks.
To register for one of the District's programs, call the number listed in the program description in the Event Calendar.
Visit the Visitor Centers page for more information about each of our Visitor Centers, including their hours of operation.
The Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Visitor Center is open from May 1 through August 15 on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon. From August 16 through April 30, the Visitor Center is closed except for program dates/times as listed in the Event Calendar.
There is no admission fee for our Visitor Centers because we are tax supported.
Visit the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center page to access the Wedding Rental FAQs, check out our wedding Photo Gallery, or view rental availability calendars for the Center's Illinois River Grand Hall and Four Rivers Shelter.
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