Home | Forest Preserve District of Kane County

Since 1925, the Forest Preserve District has worked to preserve and restore Kane County's natural areas, improve wildlife habitat, and enhance the quality of life for all Kane County residents. We invite you to visit the forest preserves and enjoy a quiet walk, embark on a camping weekend, picnic with friends and family, learn about nature, bird watch, fish, golf, ride, volunteer, or simply experience the wonder of our more than 20,000 of acres of woodlands, wetlands and prairies. No matter the time of year, there's plenty to see and do in your Kane County forest preserves.

Preserves are open every day, sunrise to sunset.

For information about the Kane Forest Preserve Foundation, or to Adopt a Turtle, see the Get Involved section of this website.

SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS/Pandemic response:

7/9/2020 Update: Throughout the pandemic, Kane County forest preserves and trails have remained open during regular hours, sunrise to sunset, every day.

As of July 1, nearly all of our facilities are back open -- but with social distancing protocols in place. Guest numbers will be subject to limits permitted by the State's Restore Illinois Plan. Under Phase 4, gatherings of more than 50 people or 50 percent of room capacity (whichever is smaller) are not permitted. You may be asked to wait to enter a facility, until adequate social-distancing may be accommodated. Through July, showings at both special-event rental facilities -- the Barbara Belding Lodge at Brewster Creek and the rental side of Creek Bend Nature Center are by appointment only. Call (630) 444-3064 to request an appointment. The Fabyan Windmill remains closed. The Fabyan Japanese Garden will reopen on a modified schedule. See Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley for information on historic sites. Thank you for your patience and cooperation, during this time.

Public Meetings: Until further notice, all public meetings of the Forest Preserve District will take place at the Kane County Government Center. Click here for more info. Beginning July 10, to view slides or hear livestream audio of District meetings, visit our YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/fpdkc or

Click Here To View/Hear Livestream

Nature Virtually Everywhere: For those who choose not to come out to the preserves at this time, we'll bring the Kane County Forest Preserves to you! See our new "Nature Virtually Everywhere" series of nature programs. More information is available here.

Social-distancing: Governor Pritzker's Executive Orders underscore the need for people to exercise and recreate in public open spaces. We ask everyone to please follow all Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines: wear a mask; follow social-distancing guidelines, avoid close contact, keep a minimum distance of six feet from those who live outside your home; stay home if you are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, and frequently clean your hands. For more information on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the Kane County Health Department or the CDC.