Lake Renwick Preserve
Location
Lake Renwick Preserve has three access points:
- Copley Nature Park is located on Route 30/Lincoln Highway, north of Renwick Road, in Plainfield.
- Heron Rookery Nature Preserve is located on Renwick Road, east of Route 30/Lincoln Highway, in Plainfield.
- Turtle Lake Access is located on Lockport Street, east of Division Street, in Plainfield.
Hours
Copley Nature Park and Turtle Lake Access are open 8 a.m.-sunset year-round.
Heron Rookery Nature Preserve is open 8 a.m.-sunset from August 16-February 28 and closed from March 1-August 15 except for public program dates/times as listed in the Event Calendar.
Trails
Heron Rookery Trail
Lake Renwick Bikeway Trail
Phone
815-727-8700
Lake Renwick Preserve in Plainfield is known for its exceptional bird habitat, where herons, egrets and other waterbirds gather in large numbers. Centered around a 200-acre lake, the 874-acre preserve offers year-round opportunities for wildlife observation and a dynamic experience that changes with the seasons.
The preserve’s visitor center, Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Visitor Center, supports seasonal bird viewing programs.
Planning your visit
Two of Lake Renwick Preserve’s three access areas are open 8 a.m. to sunset every day of the year except Christmas. One access area is closed for nesting season.
The three access areas in Plainfield are: Copley Nature Park on Route 30/Lincoln Highway, north of Renwick Road; Heron Rookery Nature Preserve on Renwick Road, east of Route 30/Lincoln Highway; and Turtle Lake Access on Lockport Street, east of Division Street.
Copley Nature Park and Turtle Lake Access are open year-round. Heron Rookery Nature Preserve is open from Aug. 16 through Feb. 28 and is closed from March 1 through Aug. 15 except during scheduled public programs and guided bird viewing opportunities listed in the Event Calendar.
Dogs and bicycles are not allowed in Heron Rookery Nature Preserve. Bicycling and fishing are limited to Turtle Lake Access.
Amenities and activities
- Fishing: Shoreline fishing is available in designated areas of Turtle and Budde lakes at Turtle Lake Access. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged.
- Trails: Heron Rookery Nature Preserve features 1.45 miles of crushed limestone trail for hiking and running. Turtle Lake Access connects to the 3.35-mile paved Lake Renwick Bikeway, suitable for biking, hiking, running, in-line skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
- Wildlife viewing: All three access areas offer excellent opportunities for birdwatching. Copley Nature Park and Heron Rookery Nature Preserve feature gazebos and mounted scopes for viewing birds.
Flora and fauna
Lake Renwick Preserve protects a 200-acre lake and surrounding wetland habitat that support a wide range of bird species and aquatic life. The preserve is especially known for nesting colonies of great blue herons, great egrets and cormorants, supported by nesting structures built on islands within the lake. It is also a popular location for observing bald eagles, American white pelicans and wintering waterfowl.
Plant species found at the preserve include large-leaved pondweed and water stargrass. Ongoing monitoring and habitat enhancement help maintain these sensitive natural communities.
Preserve history
Lake Renwick Preserve was acquired between 1989 and 2010 and is part of the Lily Cache Creek preservation system, which protects approximately 1,000 acres. A 321-acre portion of the preserve was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1992, and an additional 144 acres were registered as an Illinois Land and Water Reserve in 2003, providing permanent protection for the site’s natural resources.
Upcoming events
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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.
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.
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.
Latest headlines
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Wander at Will: A rare sight at Lake Renwick Migratory Bird Viewing
With a goal of becoming a better birder, Meghan headed to a Lake Renwick Migratory Bird Viewing on a Saturday morning in June to learn more about some of our feathered friends.
Project Update: Messenger Woods reopens with completion of new entrance road
Replacement of the deteriorating entrance road at Messenger Woods Nature Preserve has been completed, and the preserve has reopened.
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.
Frequently asked questions
While all preserves protect habitat, nature preserves are state-designated, legally protected lands that conserve rare plants, animals and ecosystems. These areas protect Illinois' most sensitive natural features, including habitat for state-threatened and endangered species. Lake Renwick Heron Rookery was designated a state nature preserve in 1992 to help protect the rare birds that live and nest here.
Over the years, nearly 250 different species of birds have been identified at Lake Renwick. Most commonly, you’ll see great blue herons, great egrets, and Canada geese soaring over the water. Wood ducks, mallards and gadwalls can often be seen on the water. On the forested trails, red-bellied woodpeckers, northern flickers and various warblers may be seen, depending on the time of year.
They are man-made nesting structures called rookeries. They are built to mimic the natural rookeries, or dense tree-filled islands, that birds such as herons and egrets would use to build their nests.
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.
Groups less than 25 people 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. Picnic permits are required for groups that are 25 people or more. Visit the picnicking 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.
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.