Beverly Lake entrance
Parking and trail access are on West Higgins Road / Route 72, west of Beverly Road. The Forest Preserves lists this entrance near Barrington.
Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
Places to Explore / Illinois
From shaded woodland paths to open meadows—a closer look at the flowers, birds, and small discoveries along the way.
From my photo archive
Beverly Lake Trails is another Illinois place I used to explore with my camera. This selection brings together the paths, meadow views, and wildlife from those visits, from a Monarch on a flower to an Osprey framed by autumn leaves.
These photographs show past visits. Visitor information and research links were checked in October 2026.
A changing landscape
Beverly Lake belongs to the larger Spring Lake system, also known as Spring Creek. The surrounding preserve connects woodlands, wetlands, and open habitats.
The Forest Preserves describes oak woods, savanna, and planted pine stands at Beverly Lake. Those pines are a legacy of earlier reforestation efforts. Land once used for agriculture has benefited from volunteer stewardship and habitat restoration.
Color along the trail
The flower photographs show a mix of pale blue asters, purple New England Asters, white Tall Boneset, and Little Bluestem. Together with the wider meadow views, they show how much there is to notice between the trees.
Look through the gallery for both the whole landscape and the smaller details—a flower cluster, a butterfly’s folded wings, or a mantis egg case attached to a stem.
Look up—and look closely
My photographs include a young Red-headed Woodpecker, a perched hawk, Mallards, and an Osprey against autumn foliage. Closer to the ground are a toad, a Common Wood-Nymph, and a Monarch.
The broader Spring Lake area is recognized as an Important Bird Area. Its grasslands support breeding birds such as Bobolinks and meadowlarks—another reason to bring binoculars alongside a camera.
The species in this gallery were photographed during earlier visits; sightings vary with season and conditions.
Through my lens
A selection of 20 photographs, from woodland paths to close-up discoveries. Select any photograph to open the larger image.
Plan your visit
Parking and trail access are on West Higgins Road / Route 72, west of Beverly Road. The Forest Preserves lists this entrance near Barrington.
Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
Trails are unpaved. The published 45.8-mile total covers the entire Spring Lake trail system, not a single Beverly Lake loop. Use the official map to choose a route that fits your visit.
A small lake in a much larger landscape: Beverly Lake itself covers 16 acres. Hiking, biking, fishing, and cross-country skiing are listed activities; check current maps, alerts, and posted rules before visiting.
Official visitor information & maps