Places to Explore • Illinois

Lyons Prairie & Marsh

Wide prairie skies, bluebirds and small discoveries along the trails.

Cary, Illinois • McHenry County Conservation District

A mown path through summer flowers, bluebirds at a nest box and a boardwalk framed by greenery: this collection follows Brian’s visits through the prairie and adjoining woodland trails. Take a closer look at the flowers, butterflies and signs along the way.

A mown trail through summer wildflowers

A connected landscape

Prairie, marsh and oak-hickory woods

Lyons Prairie & Marsh is part of a larger complex with Hickory Grove Highlands and Hickory Grove Riverfront. The Conservation District highlights the variety of habitats and the Illinois State Nature Preserve here.

The Lyons family donated 332 acres in 1979. That gift helped protect the landscape now known as Lyons Prairie & Marsh.

Look closely as you walk

The photographs include open prairie, wooded edges and interpretive signs from the connected trail area. Those signs introduce the oak-hickory woodland, forest-floor flowers, glacial boulders and human changes to the land.

Compare the small details: a Monarch’s wing pattern, the empty shell left by a cicada, and the fine veins remaining in a skeletonized leaf. These are moments from past visits; blooms and wildlife vary with the season.

Plan your visit

Before you head out

Where to start

Lyons Prairie & Marsh: 7000 S. Hickory Nut Grove Road, Cary, Illinois. The adjoining Hickory Grove entrances serve different parts of the connected area; use the official map to choose your starting point.

Hours & closures

The district lists daily access from sunrise to sunset, subject to closures. Check current closures and alerts before traveling, particularly during managed hunting periods.

Trails

The official Lyons page lists 2.4 miles of trails. Consult its map for routes and connections, and follow posted signs at trail junctions.

Enjoy the details

Bring binoculars for birds and take time to look at the flowers from the trail. Leave plants in place, give wildlife room, and watch your footing on wet boardwalks and grassy paths.

Photographs by Brian Woolman

Explore the visits

50 selected photographs, grouped by subject. Open any photo for the slideshow or use “Load more” to reveal the rest of a gallery.

Prairie paths & woodland edges

A mown trail through summer wildflowers at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A mown trail through summer wildflowers

A green trail between shrubs and tall grasses at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A green trail between shrubs and tall grasses

Open prairie beneath wispy clouds at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Open prairie beneath wispy clouds

Wetland vegetation beneath scattered clouds at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Wetland vegetation beneath scattered clouds

A wooden boardwalk through summer greenery at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A wooden boardwalk through summer greenery

A grassy path between leafy shrubs at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A grassy path between leafy shrubs

A fallen tree along the woodland edge at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A fallen tree along the woodland edge

White flowers across the summer meadow at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — White flowers across the summer meadow

Load 2 more trail photos

A prairie path under a broad blue sky at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A prairie path under a broad blue sky

Boardwalk planks leading toward the woods at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Boardwalk planks leading toward the woods

Birds, butterflies & small discoveries

Male Eastern Bluebird on a weathered perch at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Male Eastern Bluebird on a weathered perch

Female Eastern Bluebird perched above the prairie at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Female Eastern Bluebird perched above the prairie

Eastern Bluebirds at a nest box at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Eastern Bluebirds at a nest box

Red-tailed Hawk looking back from a bare branch at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Red-tailed Hawk looking back from a bare branch

Monarch visiting yellow flowers at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Monarch visiting yellow flowers

A pair of mating Monarchs at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A pair of mating Monarchs

Northern Pearly-eye resting on a leaf at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Northern Pearly-eye resting on a leaf

Silver-spotted Skipper with open wings at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Silver-spotted Skipper with open wings

Load 3 more wildlife photos

An empty cicada shell clinging to a leaf at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — An empty cicada shell clinging to a leaf

Praying mantis egg cases attached to a stem at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Praying mantis egg cases attached to a stem

Small insects among white flower clusters at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Small insects among white flower clusters

Flowers, leaves & seeds

Wild Bergamot blooming beside the prairie at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Wild Bergamot blooming beside the prairie

Virginia Waterleaf flowers and buds at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Virginia Waterleaf flowers and buds

Solomon’s Seal flowers beneath arching leaves at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Solomon’s Seal flowers beneath arching leaves

Yellow coneflowers among green leaves at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Yellow coneflowers among green leaves

Blue dogwood fruits in a leafy cluster at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Blue dogwood fruits in a leafy cluster

Purple Dead-nettle flowers and layered leaves at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Purple Dead-nettle flowers and layered leaves

Orange wallflowers beside spring vegetation at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Orange wallflowers beside spring vegetation

Pale lavender onion flowers in a rounded cluster at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Pale lavender onion flowers in a rounded cluster

Load 15 more flower photos

Pink hedge-nettle flowers on a leafy stem at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Pink hedge-nettle flowers on a leafy stem

Tiny Jumpseed flowers along a slender spike at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Tiny Jumpseed flowers along a slender spike

Joe-Pye Weed flower clusters at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Joe-Pye Weed flower clusters

Paired honeysuckle blossoms at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Paired honeysuckle blossoms

A yellow buttercup on the woodland floor at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A yellow buttercup on the woodland floor

Yellow goat’s-beard flower in the grass at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Yellow goat’s-beard flower in the grass

Goldenrod flowers along an arching stem at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Goldenrod flowers along an arching stem

A grass flower head against blue sky at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A grass flower head against blue sky

Pale lavender Dame’s Rocket blossoms at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Pale lavender Dame’s Rocket blossoms

A small white chickweed flower at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A small white chickweed flower

Brown-eyed Susan flowers at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Brown-eyed Susan flowers

Delicate white and pink gaura blossoms at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Delicate white and pink gaura blossoms

Small white flowers in a woodland cluster at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Small white flowers in a woodland cluster

The remaining veins of a skeletonized leaf at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — The remaining veins of a skeletonized leaf

A rounded avens seed head at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — A rounded avens seed head

Learning along the trail

Woodland to Wetland interpretive sign at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Woodland to Wetland interpretive sign

The Forest Floor interpretive sign at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — The Forest Floor interpretive sign

Oak-Hickory Woodland interpretive sign at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Oak-Hickory Woodland interpretive sign

Life within the Oak-Hickory Woodland sign at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Life within the Oak-Hickory Woodland sign

Boulders of the Woodland interpretive sign at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — Boulders of the Woodland interpretive sign

The Human Impact interpretive sign at Lyons Prairie & Marsh in Cary, Illinois — The Human Impact interpretive sign

Official information & maps

Visitor details and the history above are drawn from the McHenry County Conservation District. Check the district’s current information before your visit.

Official Visitor Information Official Trail Map ← Back to Places to Explore

Lyons Prairie & Marsh

Prairie, marsh and oak-hickory woods

Look closely as you walk