Sugar Creek Preserve
Location
Sugar Creek Preserve is located on Laraway Road, east of Route 53 and west of Route 52/Manhattan Road, in Joliet Township.
Hours
8 a.m.-sunset
Trails
Sugar Creek Nature Trail
Wauponsee Glacial Trail
Phone
815-727-8700
The 318-acre Sugar Creek Preserve features a mix of forest, prairie and wetland habitats along a portion of Sugar Creek, supporting a variety of plant and animal life.
Planning your visit
Sugar Creek Preserve is open sunrise to sunset every day of the year except Christmas.
The Sugar Creek Administration Center serves as the Forest Preserve District’s headquarters and is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The facility offers permits for picnicking, camping and dog park use.
Exploring the preserve
The preserve provides access to the 22.29-mile Wauponsee Glacial Trail, with both crushed limestone and paved segments suitable for biking, hiking, running, in-line skating, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. A 0.57-mile natural surface trail is also available for hiking, running, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Flora and fauna
Sugar Creek Preserve supports a variety of wildlife, including mink, dickcissel and northern harrier. Plant communities include species such as cream wild indigo and downy sunflower.
Ongoing management — including invasive species control and prescribed burning — helps maintain and enhance these ecosystems.
Preserve history
Sugar Creek Preserve was acquired between 1972 and 2011. The preserve is part of the Sugar Creek preservation system, which protects than 320 acres.
Upcoming events
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Volunteer Morning: Sugar Creek Preserve
Get some fresh air and exercise while helping to make a difference in your community by attending one or more of the Forest Preserve’s volunteer mornings.
Lake Renwick Migratory Bird Viewing
See the dazzling spectacle of nesting herons, egrets and cormorants at our weekly bird viewings at Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve.
Tic-Tac-GO!
Turn this summer into a summer of adventure with weekly explorations at Monee Reservoir and Plum Creek Nature Center.
Latest headlines
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What you need to know about the lone star tick
Lone star ticks are grabbing headlines because they can cause people to develop an allergy to red meat. Learn how to identify them and how to prevent tick bites.
Vehicle access to be restricted at Lockport Prairie to protect at-risk wildlife
The move comes as a result of data showing increased turtle deaths on Division Street during nesting season.
One small gosling's rescue highlights a big problem in the preserves
A gosling tangled in fishing line got a second chance thanks to wildlife rescue volunteers. The rescue highlights the dangers discarded fishing line poses to wildlife.
Frequently asked questions
There are many opportunities to volunteer with us. Visit the volunteer information page for more information.
Electric-assist bicycles are allowed within the preserves as long as they meet certain requirements. The bikes must:
- Be low speed (an electric motor of less than 750 watts).
- Have a maximum speed of less than 20 miles per hour.
- Have functional pedals.
- Have a rider who is 16 years of age or older.
Per the District's General Use Ordinance, persons riding a bicycle must conform to federal and state bicycle laws.
Leashed dogs are welcome in the forest preserves, excluding natural surface trails in areas designated as state nature preserves. With a permit, dogs are allowed off-leash in designated dog parks only. Visit the dog park page for more information.
Call 911 in an emergency. Non-emergency safety concerns should be directed to the Laraway Communications Center dispatch at 815-727-6191 (option 9) to have a Forest Preserve District officer dispatched. Non-emergency and past concerns can also be reported to the District's police department by calling 815-727-8700 or through the online form.
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions: Concealed Carry page for information about firearms in the District's forest preserves and visitor centers.