Turtle Pond and Turtle Pond Trail in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the largest tallgrass prairie east of the Mississippi River.  It is also one of the largest one-space prairies in Northeastern Illinois.

Midewin has a variety of trails open to the public.  There are several picnic areas.  There are flush toilets at the Midewin Welcome Center on Rt. 53 and port-a-potties along major trails.  Check out the Midewin Trail Map Page for more info.   On our hike, we did not see any drinking fountains or other source of water, so you should make sure you bring plenty of water with you.


Willcountynews recently hiked out to Turtle Pond, parking at the Hoff Road Trailhead and walking down the Old Chicago Road to get to Turtle Pond.  Here's what we saw!

Old Chicago Road in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie


Field of winter wheat in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie




Old fire hydrant in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie on Old Chicago Road.  When the Prairie was the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, the Arsenal had its own fire department.


Looking east from Old Chicago Road in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie




Seed beds in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie on the way to Turtle Pond.




Video of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Beds near Turtle Pond:





Turtle Pond, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie



Turtle Pond, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie



Turtle Pond in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie


Turtle Pond, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie



Turtle Pond, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Video of Turtle Pond with Old Joliet Arsenal building in the distance:




Winter Wheat and trees in the distance, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie



Old electric pole and insulators off Old Chicago Road in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Popular posts from this blog

Will County Emergency Management Agency Coordinating Migrant Bus Arrivals in Will County Suburbs

Image
  After reports of buses from Texas dropping off asylum-seekers at Metro stations in Will County, the Will County Emergency Management Agency released the following press release : "The Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is working to provide information and coordinate with municipalities and state agencies as the Chicagoland region is experiencing an increase in buses transporting asylum-seekers from the State of Texas. “Our municipalities have seen an increase in buses from Texas disembarking passengers at Metra stations and other locations throughout the county,” said Will County EMA Director Allison Anderson. “We are working to coordinate information between public safety agencies, the State of Illinois, and the City of Chicago. Our priority is ensuring humane transportation of asylum-seekers to the official Chicago landing zone.” An official landing zone for asylum-seekers is being operated by the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication at
Read more

Local VFW Post Joins Work to Keep Gemini Giant in Wilmington

Image
The Wilmington VFW Post is joining the local effort to keep the Gemini Giant in Wilmington.  The statue is up for online bid at the Grafe Auction website . Wilmington's VFW Post 5422 posted to their Facebook page on March 8, 2024 that: " The Wilmington VFW Post 5422 along with Save the Gemini Giant have teamed up to make an effort to keep the Gemini Giant in Wilmington and relocate it 1 mile west on Route 66 to the VFW.  We need your help. "   Read the full post here . The Gemini Giant has greeted Route 66 travelers to Wilmington for decades:
Read more