Tags:
Lake County Illinois Forest Preserves ,
Waukegan Illinois Hikes ,
Waukegan Illinois Parks ,
Waukegan Illinois Trails
Welcome to the Lyons Woods Forest Preserve, a mixture of oak and pine forest located in northeastern Lake County near the villages of Waukegan and Beach Park. This preserve boasts over 2.5 miles of multi-purpose trails to be used in all seasons that connect up to the McClory trail.
Preserve History: This preserve is named for the family of Isaac Reed Lyons, who migrated to the area from Massachusetts in 1843 and opened up a local grocery store and served as an alderman and township supervisor. Another notable owner of the land was a Phillip Blanchard who migrated to the area from New York. Blanchard would eventually become a township judge and also worked in the underground railroad to help free slaves during the Civil War. It is believed that slaves may have even stayed on the property while en route to Canada. In 1868, Blanchard donated the land to be used for a local schoolhouse which would eventually become a local tavern. The land was also once owned by former Chicago mayor Alson Smith Sherman (mayor in 1844) as well as Civil War Captain Asiel Blodgett who would later be elecated mayor of Waukegan.
In 1940, a man named George Pavlik bought the land and operated it as a pine tree farm. Lake County finally got around to buying the land by purchasing several parcels over the decade from 1976 to 1986 and today the preserve offers multi-purpose trails as well as parking. Some of the preserves plants include goldenrod and black oaks and some of the animals include warblers and owls. Come on out and explore!
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve
10200 W Blanchard Road
Waukegan, Illinois
60087
United States
42.401657, -87.835693
Map:
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