Restoring Prairies in the Beautiful Prairie State | Explore Nachusa Grasslands

Tucked into the northwestern corner of Ogle and Lee Counties in Illinois is an ecological treasure. The expansive Nachusa Grasslands is comprised of 4,000 acres of restored and remnant prairie, 700+ native plant species, conservative grassland birds, and a herd of nearly 100 American bison. Beautiful in all seasons, a visit to Nachusa will transport you back in time to envision the landscape as it was hundreds of years ago.

Visitors can explore the grasslands in five unique units along hiking trails that wind through woodlands, savannas, hill prairie and wetlands. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot one or more bison moving across the prairie. In this article I’ll highlight two of Nachusa’s five hiking trails, tips for spotting bison, and an abundance of conservative plant species uncommon throughout much of the region.

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Nachusa Grasslands | Visitor Center

Your first stop should ideally be the Nachusa Visitor Center. Located at 2075 S. Lowden Road in Franklin Grove Illinois, Nachusa’s Visitor Center includes a beautiful open pavilion with informational panels about animal and plant species found throughout Nachusa (pictured below). There are restrooms and a hand pump for water available near the visitor’s parking area.

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For a brief taste of what Nachusa has to offer, consider the short hike along a half-mile long mowed path, beginning at the Visitor’s Center. This trail can also be accessed from the main parking lot (2075 South Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, Illinois). If you’re lucky, you may see the bison from this trail. Be sure to bring your binoculars! For longer hikes, consider the Clear Creek and/or the Stone Barn Savanna trails, discussed in more detail below.

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Nachusa Grasslands | Clear Creek Knolls Trail

The Clear Creek Knolls trail is one of my favorite areas of Nachusa. Passing through both remnant and restored prairie, the trail crosses over Clear Creek. The creek is generally low enough to cross, but I would recommend shoes or waterproof hiking boots, as the rocks along the creek bed can be a bit slippery. Throughout the Clear Creek trail, you’ll find numerous conservative plants not commonly found in Illinois (photos below).

Of the many plant species along the Clear Creek Knolls trail, one of the most unique is the Fameflower (the tiny, bright pink flower pictured below with a U.S. dime for scale). Also known as “Flower-of-an-Hour”, the Fameflower blooms for only about an hour a day in the late afternoon along the edges of sandstone outcrops. If you’re hiking the Clear Creek trail between 3-5pm, you may spot this tiny beauty. The sandstone outcrops are a delicate environment home to numerous conservative plant species; it is important to take care in walking around them. Fameflower blooms between May and September.

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Nachusa Grasslands | Stone Barn Savanna Trail

The Stone Barn Savanna trail is comprised of multiple landscapes, from steep sandstone outcrops to savanna, woodland, open prairie, and wetland. Located two miles northwest of the visitor center at the end of Stone Barn Savanna Rd., you’ll find the trailhead for this trail. There is no formal parking area; however, parking is available along the roadside near the trailhead gate. From the trailhead, you’ll zig-zag along a winding trail through woodland out into an open prairie. You’ll pass sandstone outcrops perched above the trail along steep slopes. The trail is a loop 1.8 miles in total.

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During the spring season, the woodland section of the Stone Barn Savanna trail is home to an abundance of trillium, jack-in-the pulpit, and wild geranium, a beautiful, delicate pink flower covers the forest floor (pictured below). During the early summer, native lupine bloom along the slopes beneath the sandstone outcrops, providing a beautiful display of varying purple hues as seen in the photos below.

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Nachusa Grasslands Bison

In 2014, a small herd of American bison were introduced to Nachusa. The bison are contained with a fenced area 1500 acres in size where they roam freely. You may catch a glimpse as they move across the landscape, linger at the edge of ponds, or wallow in bison wallows throughout the prairie. The herd is around 100 animals, and if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of a calve during the spring season (generally April or May). If you’re hoping to see the bison, be sure to bring your binoculars, as there is no guarantee they will be close to fences, roads, or the visitor center.

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Nachusa Grasslands | Bison Tours

Public tours are offered for visitors to see the bison up close. I enjoyed such a tour a few years back and was impressed! The last time I observed bison up close was nearly 40 years ago in the Badlands National Park and Yellowstone National Park in their natural habitat. Seeing these majestic animals up close allowed me to once again appreciate their size and beauty. I recommend signing up for a bison tour. Below, I’ve included a video below from my tour a few years back.

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Nearby State Parks | Lowden State Park

For another notable sight near to Nachusa Grasslands, consider a visit to Lowden State Park in Oregon, Illinois. Just a 20 minute drive from Nachusa, Lowden State Park is located at 1411 N. River Road. Lowden State Park has four miles of hiking trails, camping, access to the Rock River for boating and fishing, and numerous picnic areas. The park is also home to a 50-foot concrete statue of Chief Black Hawk, pictured below. Chief Black Hawk overlooks the Rock River and surrounding valley as a tribute to Native Americans. The statue can be seen from Rte. 2, and from various parts of the park. It is quite impressive up close!

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Great Lakes Region Adventures

The Great Lakes region is filled with opportunities for recreation and exploration in all seasons. Hike along Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail, paddle a kettle lake, bike one of the many rail trails or singletrack trails in Wisconsin and Michigan, or discover the hidden treasures of the Great Lakes. By far, my favorite destination in the Upper Great Lakes is the southern shore of Lake Superior. Both Marquette, Michigan and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Marquette’s neighboring city of Munising are worthy of a visit in any season.

Read more in my articles linked here: Explore Michigan’s Beautiful Upper Peninsula | Marquette, MI Adventure Guide and Experience Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore | Stunning Lake Superior Views. Additionally, learn more about other Great Lakes region destinations to explore in my recent articles linked below.

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Enjoy your visit to the expansive Nachusa Grasslands!

-Erin