One of my favorite places for a hike around the Chicago area is Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. My favorite time to visit is in the spring. The prairie tallgrass is just beginning to grow, so it is easier to hike cross country during this time. Since there are few trees and no hills, I knew if I came later in the day that I would be treated to a beautiful Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset
Cross country hiking through Midewin
It was one of the warmest days of the spring so far although the wind was blowing pretty strong. There were two cars in the parking lot. The first was a young couple who were taking some sort of engagement or wedding pictures. I passed them at the entrance and the other car was a group of people hanging out that got up and left soon after I arrived. This meant I had the park pretty much to myself. I am always surprised that I hardly ever see people enjoying this park even on a Saturday afternoon.
Eerie to hike through reclaimed prairie growing over bunkers built for the Joliet Arsenal
I know I can always rely on clouds and sunsets when visiting Midewin
Surreal to see the prairie take back man made structures
I started out walking on the Group 63 Trail, but quickly exited into the prairie and bushwhacked through the deserted bunkers. Midewin is reclaimed prairie from the old Joliet Arsenal. The bunkers remain although the are now covered in prairie grass. It it a surreal experience hiking through these clusters of abandoned buildings.
The beautiful colors begin to form as the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset begins
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset selfie with my Xperio UV sunglasses
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset
After some time hiking through the prairie, I climbed one of the bunkers and proceeded to wait for the sunset. I was not disappointed as soon the western horizon was aglow with fiery orange. A cloud bank on the horizon prevented optimal viewing, so I hiked back to my car and about an a hour and a half later I was back in a town of millions. I was perhaps the only one of those million who had a memory of a brilliant Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset emblazoned in my mind, and I am the richer man for it.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sunset
Adventure on!
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Considering this is accessible from Chicago, I am surprised that there are not more people, even at sunrise. What a beautiful part of the world. I love the very rare tallgrass prairie.
Leigh recently posted..The Whitefish Bike Retreat: A Mountain Biker’s Paradise
Sad that it is so rare in Illinois. It used to cover the whole state now less than 1 percent remains. It is a difficult task to restore areas back to the original ecosystem once non natural and invasives have crept in.