Enveloped in a Dense Green Forest at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve in Waukegan, Illinois

Wandering for Emerald Greens Greeted by Butterflies at Lyons Woods

Lyons Woods Forest Preserve quickly treated us to a magical hiking experience complete with butterflies flitting right by our heads in a dense forest. Can we say I am smitten? The Waukegan, Illinois forest preserve unfolded a multitude of natural wonders from an assemblage of habitats as we hiked through a section of the preserve.

Lush vines wind their way into an arch.

Woodlands, prairies, savannas and wetlands provide an intriguing patchwork of nature experiences in the 345-acre preserve. As we hiked the gravel trails, a wonderful world unfurled before us. Almost immediately after embarking on our afternoon adventure, a nature arch of vines greeted us like a grand nature entrance. 

Admiring the stand of pines at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve.

Soon, we found ourselves gazing and lofty evergreen in the preserve's outstanding evergreen grove. I love, love, love evergreens in their bristly, blueish green glory! Divine in all seasons! When I hike in the winter, I often look for preserves with evergreens so that I can enjoy a little green infusion! These particular evergreens are not native to the area and are actually a remnant of a nursery.

Wide gravel trails make hiking welcoming to anyone.

We did walk through a prairie section of the preserve before meandering into the forest. A wealth of wildlife greeted my husband and I on our hike no matter which habitat we ventured through.

A fritillary butterfly enjoying a coneflower at Lyons Woods.

Butterflies became the stars of our visit and danced around us. Fritillaries, red admirals, spring azures, cloudless sulphurs, monarchs and more flitted around us. One fritillary even became pretty curious about my phone and took a little peek! 

The dense forest of Lyons Woods enchants.

Lyons Woods was named after an early settler, Isaac Reed Lyons, who came from Massachusetts in 1843. A variety of landowners would own this rich piece of nature until sections were acquired as a forest preserve in 1976 and 1986. One of the previous owners, Philip Blanchard, was an abolitionist helping on the Underground Railroad. Runaway slaves possibly stayed at his Lyons Woods property as they passed through to Canada.

Delicate and beautiful skullcap at Lyons Woods.

Lyons Woods treated us with such an incredible natural paradise. We observed so many interesting plants, birds and butterflies during our visit. The diverse environment at Lyons Woods no doubt holds so many treasures to be discovered on future visits in any season!