Forked Creek Preserve

Experience the peacefulness of nature

|  Story by Meghan McMahon |

8/19/24

The southern section of Will County isn’t as populous as other parts of the county, but its protected open spaces still serve many important purposes, including providing the public with convenient access to the peace and tranquility of nature.

One place you can experience this tranquility is at Forked Creek Preserve. The 951-acre preserve is part of the larger Forked Creek preservation system, which conserves more than 2,400 acres in southern Will County. The preserve has grown larger through the years, with the first parcel acquired in 1974 and reaching its current acreage in 2007.

Forked Creek Preserve has three access points. The Ballou Road Access is on Ballou Road, east of Route 102, in Wesley Township. It serves as an access point to the Wauponsee Glacial Trail. Butcher Lane Access is on Butcher Lane south of Kahler Road in Florence Township. Forsythe Woods is on Kahler Road west of Barr Road in Florence Township. Butcher Lane and Forsythe Woods are less than a half-mile apart, and the Ballou Road access point is about a 10-mile drive south.

Forked Creek itself meanders through and along all three of the preserve’s access points, adding to the scenery throughout the year and providing habitat for various plants and animals that further enhance the landscape.

The quiet of nature is one of the hallmarks at the preserve. Each of the access points is removed from busy roads, so you won’t hear the sounds of nearby traffic like you may at other preserves. This allows visitors to better connect to the natural world and take notice of the details. You’ll hear birds chirping and singing, insects buzzing and humming and wind rustling through the leaves up high and down low.

As you let your senses guide you, you’ll notice more and more as you walk, ride or even sit — a woodland wildflower at the trail’s edge, a leaf marred by insect gall, fall color just starting to peek through of the leaves above.

Wildlife and habitats

A dickcissel perched on a branch with its mouth open.

Photo via Adobe Stock.

Forked Creek Preserve protects a variety of habitat types, including forest, wetland and prairie, in turn creating healthy habitats for multitudes of plant and animal species. These scenic views are on display throughout the year, changing with the seasons.

The stretch of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail at Ballou Road Access is mostly tree-lined, so it’s a good place to observe the seasonal changes that occur in Will County. Likewise, the grass trail at Forsythe Woods is mainly forested with a few clearings scattered about. Just a few steps down this trail and you’ll feel like you are in the woods, with dappled sunlight filtering down to the ground provided the season is right.

In these wooded areas you’ll see many of the critters you’ve come to expect in these habitats — squirrels scurrying up and down and birds flitting about. Birds found at the preserve include both the familiar, like robins, cardinals, grackles, chickadees and blue jays, to the less familiar, like dickcissels, ovenbirds, spotted sandpipers and yellow-billed cuckoos.

Butcher Road Access does not include trail access, but it’s a perfect place to sit and observe wide expanses of prairie from the elevated parking area. It is a sight to see all year as the seasons change, but the prairie really pops in late summer, when yellow dominates the landscape and you can spot other blooms shining through as well.

Recreation opportunities

At more than 900 acres, Forked Creek is rife with recreation opportunities, including a few you won’t find in too many other preserves. It is one of only two preserves with a sled hill, a 30-foot natural hill drawing kids and kids at heart to the Butcher Lane Access when there’s a good layer of snow on the ground.

Two dogs sitting in the grass at a dog park.

And it’s one of six Will County preserves with a dog park. The Forked Creek dog park is at the Ballou Road Access. The 9-acre park has enclosures for both big dogs and small dogs. A dog park permit is required.

An illuminated tent glows warmly under the night sky, its light casting a soft silhouette of a nearby tree. Above, the sky is a vast expanse dotted with countless stars.

Forked Creek is also one of a handful of preserves with a campground. The campground at the Ballou Road Access has two spots that can accommodate up to six people each. One of the spots is ADA accessible. Permits are required for camping and must be obtained at least two business days prior to the reservation.

Photo via Adobe Stock.

For daytime visitors, Forked Creek has a few short trails that can be explored: a 0.67-mile crushed limestone trail at the Ballou Road Access and a 0.55-mile natural surface trail at Forsythe Woods. For longer explorations, the Ballou Road Access also offers access to the Wauponsee Glacial Trail, a 22-mile trail that travels from Joliet on the north end to the Kankakee River at its southern terminus.

Two people riding horseback on a limestone trail surrounded by forest.

Horseback riding is allowed on the Wauponsee Glacial Trail, and trailer parking is available at Ballou Road Access.

Fishing is permitted along the shore of Forked Creek at the Forsythe Woods Access. In addition, geocaching is also allowed with a permit at Forsythe Woods.

The preserve also has two picnic shelters that can be rented. The Ballou Road Access Shelter can accommodate groups of up to 90 people, and the Forked Creek Shelter is large enough for groups of 100.

Forked Creek Preserve occasionally hosts public programs during the year. You can find the Forest Preserve’s complete schedule of upcoming programs on the Event Calendar.

Photo credits: Glenn P. Knoblock and Anthony Schalk