Places to Explore / Illinois

Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve

Summer flowers, climbing vines, and wide wetland views near the Illinois–Wisconsin border.

Richmond · McHenry County, IllinoisWetlands · Prairie · SavannaPhotographs from Brian’s past visits
A grassy trail winding through summer vegetation beneath a blue sky at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wetland trail

A landscape shaped by water

More than a lake view

Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve is managed by the McHenry County Conservation District near Richmond. The district lists the property as Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve Varga Archeological Site.

Its habitats include fens, marshes, sedge meadow, wet prairie, savanna, and calcareous floating mats. These varied wetlands support a rich mix of plants and wildlife.

The photographs look across the vegetation surrounding the lake and then move closer to the flower heads, vines, and small discoveries along the way. An interpretation sign in the gallery explains the preserve’s floating mat habitat.

A broad wetland with flowering plants beneath wispy clouds at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wetland beneath a wide sky
White Wild Cucumber flower spikes climbing above dense green vegetation at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wild Cucumber in bloom

Summer in bloom

White vines and wetland color

Wild Cucumber climbs through the vegetation in sprays of white flowers, while Virgin’s Bower offers another delicate white blossom to look for. Pink Joe-Pye Weed, Swamp Milkweed, purple Swamp Thistle, and goldenrod bring color to the collection.

There are smaller details too: the pink blossoms of American Hog Peanut and false foxglove, white arrowhead flowers, and a garter snake moving through clear, shallow water. A Belted Kingfisher pauses on a branch nearby.

These photographs record past visits and include plants encountered around the site. Flowering and wildlife activity vary with the season.

From the photo archive

Elizabeth Lake in photographs

Click a photograph to open the slideshow. Use the arrows to browse, or swipe on a phone. Additional photographs expand into this same gallery.

A grassy trail winding through summer vegetation beneath a blue sky at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wetland trail
A broad wetland with flowering plants beneath wispy clouds at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wetland beneath a wide sky
A crested Belted Kingfisher perched on a branch against green foliage at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Belted Kingfisher
White Wild Cucumber flower spikes climbing above dense green vegetation at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wild Cucumber in bloom
A purple Swamp Thistle flower head with slender spreading florets at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Swamp Thistle
Pink Spotted Joe-Pye Weed flower clusters rising above wetland plants at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Small white Virgin’s Bower flowers and buds among green leaves at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Virgin’s Bower
A slender striped snake moving through shallow water at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Garter snake in the water
View 24 more photographs
Wild Cucumber vines and flowers beside a textured tree trunk at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wild Cucumber climbing a tree
A climbing vine with curling tendrils and pale flowers against the sky at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wild Cucumber tendrils
White Wild Cucumber flowers mingling with taller pink-flowered plants at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wild Cucumber among pink flowers
A narrow grassy path passing through tall green vegetation at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Path through summer growth
Several purple Swamp Thistle flower heads above slender stems at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Swamp Thistle flower heads
Pink Swamp Milkweed flowers against a soft green background at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Swamp Milkweed
Small pink Slender-leaved False Foxglove flowers among narrow leaves at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Slender-leaved False Foxglove
An interpretive sign describing calcareous floating mats at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Wetland interpretation sign
Pink Showy Tick Trefoil flowers along an upright stem at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Showy Tick Trefoil
Purple blazing star flower spikes beneath a blue sky at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Blazing star
Purple New England Aster flowers with orange-yellow centers at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
New England Aster
A slender pink Lady’s-thumb flower spike among green foliage at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Lady’s-thumb
Arching sprays of small yellow goldenrod flowers at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Goldenrod
An upright Giant Ragweed stalk silhouetted against a blue sky at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Giant Ragweed
Pink flowering vegetation stretching across the wetland beneath blue sky at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Elizabeth Lake wetland vista
An open expanse of grasses and wetland plants beneath streaked clouds at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Open wetland landscape
White flower clusters scattered through green meadow vegetation at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Flowers across the meadow
Yellow Cup Plant flowers overlooking the open landscape at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Cup Plant
Purple bell-shaped Creeping Bellflower blossoms hanging from a stem at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Creeping Bellflower
Clusters of round yellow Common Tansy flower heads at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Common Tansy
Yellow Black-eyed Susan flowers growing beside open grassland at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Black-eyed Susan meadow
White three-petaled Broadleaf Arrowhead flowers at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
Broadleaf Arrowhead
Small pale pink American Lopseed flowers on a slender stalk at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
American Lopseed
Pale purple American Hog Peanut flowers among green leaves at Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve, Illinois.
American Hog Peanut

Plan a visit

Exploring Elizabeth Lake

Getting there

The district lists the entrance at 11059 Lakeview Road, Richmond, Illinois. Use the official site page for directions and its trail map.

Walking the preserve

The 345-acre property has approximately 1.7 miles of trail. Stay on designated routes and enjoy the wetland habitat from the trail.

Hours and conditions

The site is generally open daily from sunrise to sunset. Check the district’s current closures and alerts before visiting.

Take a closer look

Bring binoculars or a camera, give wildlife space, and leave flowers where they grow. The interpretive signs add context to the landscape around you.

Visitor information: McHenry County Conservation District — Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve.

Photographs by Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife.

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