Hike old growth woodlands, 640 acre Pilcher Park Nature Preserve 7, 6 or 3 miles

Optional post hike lunch
Metro Grill & Bar
2019 Essington Rd Joliet
https://metrojoliet.com
Separate checks ok per Kaden

Summary:
An easy hike thru an old growth forest with meandering creeks and ephemeral ponds everywhere!
Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources recognizes it as one of the best woodlands in Northeastern IL. It has rolling terrain (20-30 feet) on either side in areas.
Spring flowers grow on the forest floor including bluebells.
No bush-whacking, trails are all well maintained and no mud encountered so far. Expect combination of single track packed dirt, wide crushed gravel, and small portions asphalt.

This place definitely has its own character. From the way the trees fell to the way their hollowed out. Fallen trees seemed to have created their own art sculptures. Looking at their bottoms, viewing the odd way some snapped off or grew together. They just left them in the forest for critters to call home.
Leashed dogs allowed even though over 400 acres of it is dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve.

Its located in Joliet about a half hour south of Naperville straight down I-355.

This hike is cross posted with Trailblazers hiking group https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/307296971 and my guest rsvp will include members of that group.

Hike 1: 3 miles
Trail starts on a boardwalk amongst filtered sunlight in woodlands before becoming single track packed dirt trail (Bluff trail). Then connects to Valley trail outer loop with small portions asphalt but mostly wide crushed gravel. Many little bridges cross over curvy, meandering creeks.
Nice 20 to 30 foot hills on either side of some parts of the trail. 80 foot elevation gain according to Alltrails but not noticeable.

If you look carefully you might spot the teddy bear someone shoved between two trees.
This hike passes thru a cool stone arch built in the 1930s.

Hike 1 flora and fauna:
Wildflowers I identified using seek app

• skunk cabbage
• marsh marigolds
• Virginia Spring Beauty
• wild leek
• Mayapples
• wild daffodils
• Bluebells
• A big turtle in the pond near the nature center
• muskrat in the pond near the nature center
• Heard a barred owl call

We'll end up back at the nature center.

Hike 2: 6.25 miles cumulative
This will include Trail of the Oaks, Hummingbird Lane, Interpretive trail, and Artesian trail (packed dirt). This hike will feature many Spring flowers and beautiful pockets of bluebells. The woodlands allow filtered sunshine thru and enable growth of Spring ephemerals. Like the first hike, creeks meander here and there with cute bridges to cross. No bushwhacking and trails are flat and easy. Trails range from single track packed dirt to wide crushed limestone and small portions asphalt.

This hike features a visit to the green house where you will see a waterfall and koi pond.

Flora and Fauna:
Wildflowers I identified using seek app

• Prairie Trillium (reddish splotches on leaves, red flower comes up on top)
• Pockets of bluebells interspersed near the creek
• Skunk cabbage
• Virginia Spring beauty (tiny white/pinkish flowers with 3 petals)
• Yellow trout lily (small with 6 skinny petals, kind of a red center)
• Mayapples not flowering yet (looks like a green umbrella)
• False Rue Anemone (little white flower with clover like leaves and 5 little white petals)
• Purple vilots (very low to the ground)
• Creeping phlox (few inches above the ground and are little pink flowers with 5 petals)
• Heard woodpeckers but could not find them.

Hike 3: 7 miles cumulative
Walk down the road past the nature center along Hickory Creek.
It has an open grassy area and bordering it and people fish and launch kayaks. This part will be there and back.

Other:
There's supposed to be an Oak that dates back to 1700s here according to https://www.oldgrowthforest.net/il-pilcher-park-nature-center.
I didn't find it at least not yet!