A Top Chicago Area Forest Preserve for Summer Prairie Flowers: Shoe Factory Road Prairie

 

Summer brings brilliant displays of prairie flowers to the Illinois prairie. Recently, I visited Shoe Factory Road Prairie to bask in summer's joyful pink, purple, yellow, orange, and white flowers throughout the prairie. This was my first visit to this particular prairie and I was immediately enamored.

Yellow compass flowers rise above the prairie.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie represents a rare remnant prairie. A remnant prairie is one that has been relatively untouched and represents true native prairie. Thriving atop the crest and on the slopes of a kame, the prairie is a dry to dry mesic gravel prairie. Kames are hilly gravel deposits left by retreating glaciers.

Learning about Shoe Factory Road Prairie from an informational sign.

At only 9-acres, Shoe Factory Road Prairie certainly packs a punch for nature lovers. To find the trail up the kame, look near the informational signs detailing aspects of the prairie. Since you will be exploring a unique ecosystem, take care to do no harm. Shoe Factory Road Prairie has received the special designation of an Illinois Nature Preserve due to its unique natural characteristics and the presence of endangered or threatened species.

The rolling slopes of a kame at Shoe Factory Road Prairie are dotted with prairie flowers in summer.

This time of the year, vibrant prairie flowers paint such a beautiful nature tableau while attracting numerous butterflies, birds, and bees. Summer is the time to explore the prairie. The view from atop the kame is absolutely breathtaking as the landscape unfolds in front of you. If you are looking for a new hike, this is one to check out soon while the prairie flowers are still blooming.

Blazing yellow coneflowers craft a golden grassland at Carl R. Hansen Woods.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie is part of the larger Carl R. Hansen Woods Forest Preserve which in turn is part of the larger Arthur L. Janura Preserve. Trails are a blend of natural, grass, and crushed limestone. They are fairly easy to navigate. In addition to thousands of wildflowers, the preserve is full of wildlife. On this visit, we noted deer, goldfinches, sandhill cranes, and more. Overall, a fantastic and unique forest preserve to wander.