Winter Hiking and Cross-Country Skiing at Silver Creek Conservation Area Invite Explorers to Enjoy a Snowy Scene
Snowy trails enticed us to explore at Silver Creek Conservation Area in Cary, Illinois. Approximately five miles of trails traversing the preserve treat outdoor lovers to a range of experiences throughout the year. This weekend we had to explore outside a bit to enjoy our blanket of snow, so we opted to adventure to Silver Creek Conservation Area.
Silver Creek Conservation Area is 840 acres with over 5 miles of hiking trails.
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| Silver Creek Conservation Area under a blanket of snow. |
Trails at Silver Creek wind through prairie, savanna, fens and wetlands. We made our trek on a cold but not really frigid day. We were not sure how long we would be out but we did manage to hike for about an hour. While some trails do lead to the Fox River, we did not reach the river on this visit.
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| Remnants of fall add texture to the winter scene. |
We enjoyed a peaceful hike enveloped by the beautiful snow. I enjoyed peeking at the prairie and wetland grasses emerging from the winter blanket. Additionally, we heard the cheerful chirps of woodpeckers adding to the moment.
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| A frozen creek paints a beautiful winter naturescape. |
Admiring Tranquility at the Frozen Creek
We rounded a corner and soon found frozen creek within our view. Such a beautiful and peaceful moment! We paused to view the different textures of the scene including the stiff, dry grasses, puffy cattails, fanned out tree branches, smooth ice and powdery snow frame. Spectacular! I also spotted a hole in the snow on the edge of the path near the outer reaches of the wetland grasses. I wonder who lives there?
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| A puffy cattail gone to seed adds a little fluffiness to the frozen winter scene. |
A Snapshot of Silver Creek Conservation Area
Silver Creek Conservation Area is a fairly large preserve encompassing about 840 acres. We embarked on our journey from the Rawson Bridge Road entrance. The preserve also contains Prairieview Education Center which has a nest of trails nearby. The center is a redesign of the home of Otto and Hazel Rhoades initially built in 1945. Otto was the founder of the former Sun Electric Company. The Rhoades farmed the land and raised cattle and pigs. Today, Prairieview Education Center serves as a center for nature learning through a variety of programs.
Silver Creek Conservation Area offers a scenic landscape in which to enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, birding and picnicking. We savored our winter visit and look forward to returning to observe wetland wildlife in the warmer months.
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