Discover Riverwoods: Forest Trails, Maple Syrup, and Culture

Riverwoods offers a range of themes to consider when planning a trip: trails through forest landscapes, an educational program about maple syrup, and public art programs. Which of these interests shapes your stay will influence how you view the available offerings. They differ in activity and timing: hiking and snow-dependent cross-country skiing, a historically described March program, and classes and events at the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods.

Forest Trails and Winter Conditions

The Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area has more than 6.5 miles of scenic trails that wind through forests to the Des Plaines River. The trails are open for hiking; cross-country skiing is possible when there is at least 4 inches of snow. This distinction matters when planning for winter: cross-country skiing explicitly depends on snow cover, while hiking is listed as a use of the trails. The river and forest give the trail system a clear scenic focus; the stated length of more than 6.5 miles helps convey its scope. If cross-country skiing is important to you, take the stated snow threshold into account when planning.

Maple Syrup Hikes in March

The Maple Syrup Hikes focus on the process of turning tree sap into syrup. A February 12, 2024, article describes them as a tradition at Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods, run by educators and volunteers from the Lake County Forest Preserves for more than four decades. The article gives March as the time of year and describes an educational program for families, school groups, and Scout groups: participants learn how sap from the preserve’s tall sugar maple trees is made into syrup. This makes the program a combination of nature and learning, rather than focusing solely on being outdoors. If you’d like to plan your trip around the hikes, check the specific event dates.

Explore Backpacks for Families

For families with children up to age 10, the nature-focused Explore Backpacks contain activities. The four themes are plants, farm, birds, and nature. They give families different starting points for exploring the preserve and help them decide which theme best suits their interests. The backpacks can be borrowed free of charge at the Welcome Center during your visit; a driver’s license is required as a deposit. Both the age range and the borrowing conditions are clearly stated. Program details may change, so it’s a good idea to check them before your visit.

Art and Culture at Brushwood Center

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods is located among the original woodlands surrounding the historic Ryerson House in Riverwoods, Illinois. The center offers public art programs featuring classes, concerts, markets, and exhibitions. These formats provide different ways to experience the cultural program: a class offers a learning opportunity, while concerts, markets, and exhibitions focus on other types of events. This lets you choose based on the kind of offering that interests you, rather than reducing culture to a single format. Individual offerings may vary. If you have a specific program in mind, check the relevant event dates and details.

Discover more destinations: Zion, Gurnee, Mundelein, Lake Bluff, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Waukegan, Tower Lakes.

For the main travel overview: Lake.