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Can I launch my own boat at Monee Reservoir or Whalon Lake? |
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You may 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.
Whalon Lake Preserve in Naperville/Bolingbrook is currently the only location where the District allows the launch of fishing boats (trolling motors only). Canoes and kayaks may also be launched at Whalon Lake; no launch pass is required. |
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What are the watercraft rental prices at Monee Reservoir? |
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Visit the Activity Fees and Permits page for the rental details and fees for canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedalboats at Monee Reservoir. |
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What are the boating regulations at Whalon Lake? |
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At Whalon Lake, you may launch your own boat free of charge, but the following regulations must be followed:
- Non-gasoline powered watercraft up to 16' are permitted, including fishing boats, rowboats, canoes, and kayaks. Gasoline motors may be on the watercraft but must not be used.
- 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.
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Where can I rent a canoe or kayak? |
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Canoe and kayak rental is available at Monee Reservoir. |
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Is camping allowed in the forest preserves? |
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Tent campsites are available at a number of our preserves. Visit the Camping page for more information. |
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Is there a fee for camping? |
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Visit the Camping page for fee details. |
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How do I make a reservation for a campsite? |
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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, Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher, 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. |
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What amenities are at your campsites? |
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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) or electrical output. Visit the Camping page for more information. |
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Are dogs allowed in the forest preserves? |
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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. |
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Do I need a permit to use the dog parks? |
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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. |
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How can I obtain a dog park permit? |
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A dog park permit may be purchased at Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher, or Monee Reservoir in Monee; or by downloading the Dog Park Brochure and mailing the application form and fee to the Sugar Creek Administration Center. Visit the Dog Park page for more information. |
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How much does a dog park permit cost? |
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Annual permits cost $25 per dog for Will County residents ($20 for senior citizens age 65 years or older), and $50 per dog for out-of-county residents ($40 for senior citizens age 65 years or older). Semi-annual permits and daily permits are also available. Semi-annual permits, good from July 1-December 31, cost $15 per dog for Will County residents, and $30 per dog for out-of-county residents. Daily permits cost $3 per dog for both in-county and out-of-county residents. Visit the Dog Park page for more information. |
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What information must I provide in order to buy a dog park permit? |
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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. Visit the Dog Park page for more information. |
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How many dogs can I bring to the dog park? |
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A maximum of three dogs per person are allowed in the dog park. Visit the Dog Park page for more information. |
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Can schools go on field trips to forest preserves? |
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We offer educational programs for school groups at the Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher, and the Environmental Learning Center in Mokena. Visit the Education page for more information. |
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As a teacher, how can I sign up my class for a field trip? |
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Reserve your field trip online by visiting the Education page. |
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Can a naturalist come to my classroom to give a presentation? |
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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. |
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Do you have programs for scout groups? |
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Youth group programs are available at several of our Visitor Centers. Visit the Education page for more information. |
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Is fishing allowed in the forest preserves? |
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Fishing is allowed in any forest preserve unless posted otherwise. Visit the Fishing page for more information. |
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Do I need a special permit to fish at Will County Forest Preserves? |
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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. |
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What kind of fishing bait is available for purchase at Monee Reservoir? |
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Monee Reservoir offers the following bait for sale at its concessions building:
- Large Minnows - $2.00/dozen
- Small Minnows - $2.00/dozen
- Jumbo Red Worms - $2.50/30 count
- Wax Worms - $2.00/20 count
- Wax Worm Tub - $9.00/approximately 250 count
- Dough Bait - $3.00/10-oz. bag
- Stink Bait - $4.50/jar
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Is ice fishing allowed in the forest preserves? |
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Ice fishing is not allowed in Will County Forest Preserves. |
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Is hunting allowed in Will County Forest Preserves? |
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No hunting is permitted in Will County Forest Preserves. |
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Can I or my dog swim at any preserves? |
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The District does not allow wading, swimming, or dogs in the water at any of its preserves. |
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What winter recreational activities are offered by the Will County Forest Preserve? |
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We offer sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing at preserves throughout Will County. Check our Winter Recreation Report during the winter season for current conditions for these activities. |
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Are there any opportunities for employment at the Forest Preserve District, and how can I submit an application? |
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Visit our Employment page for a list of current opportunities and information about the application process. |
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Are there opportunities for me to volunteer with the Forest Preserve District, and how can I sign up to volunteer? |
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There are always many opportunities to volunteer with us. Visit the Volunteer Information page for more information. |
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What can I recycle at the electronics recycling drop-off locations at Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet and Monee Reservoir in Monee? |
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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. |
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Do I need to make a reservation in order to use a picnic shelter or grove? |
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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. |
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How do I rent a picnic shelter or grove? |
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A picnic permit must be obtained in person at the Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher, or Monee Reservoir in Monee. Call 815.727.8700 for picnic site availability. To reserve the shelter at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, call 815.722.9470. Visit the Picnicking page for more information. |
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How can I find out if a picnic shelter or grove is available for rental? |
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To check on the availability of a picnic area, visit or call the Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet. |
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How do I register for a program offered by the District? |
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To register for one of the District's programs, call or visit the Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher, or Monee Reservoir in Monee. On-line registration is not currently available but is planned for the future. For programs which require a fee, a registration form is available for download on those programs' listings in our Event Calendar. That registration form may be filled out and mailed with the program fee to the address listed on the form. |
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What hours are the Visitor Centers open? |
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Visit the Visitor Centers page for more information about each of our Visitor Centers, including their hours of operation. |
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How much does it cost to visit the Isle a la Cache Museum or the Plum Creek Nature Center? |
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There is no admission fee for our Visitor Centers because we are tax supported. |
