Getting there
21950 North Riverwoods Road
Riverwoods, IL 60015
Look for Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area when searching for directions.
Places to Explore • Illinois
Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area
Woodland paths, spring flowers, owls, and small discoveries through the seasons. This collection brings together Brian’s photographs from a place he has long known as Ryerson Woods.
The official name is Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area. This 565-acre preserve protects woodland along the Des Plaines River, including northern flatwoods and floodplain forest. More than half of the property is designated an Illinois Nature Preserve.
21950 North Riverwoods Road
Riverwoods, IL 60015
Look for Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area when searching for directions.
More than 6.5 miles of trails wind through the woods and along the river. Cross-country skiing is permitted when snow is at least four inches deep.
The preserve is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to sunset. The Welcome Center has separate hours; check its official page before planning a stop inside.
Pets are not permitted; qualified service animals are allowed. Bicycles are permitted on roads, but not on trails. Stay on designated paths and give wildlife room.
Get directionsOfficial trail mapOfficial preserve informationWelcome Center hours
The photographs below span different seasons and visits. Open a photograph for the slideshow, or choose “Load additional photos” to expand a gallery.
Boardwalks, broad woodland paths, and wet forest views show how different the same place can feel through the year.
Tree trunks, cavities, and sheltered branches provide the setting for some of the most memorable photographs in this collection.
Songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl add another layer to the woodland photographs. These are moments from Brian’s visits, not a promise of what will appear on any particular walk.
From the earliest flowers among last year’s leaves to bluebells and trilliums, this is a close look at the woodland floor as it comes back to life.
Later flowers bring red, purple, yellow, and white into the shaded woods, sunny openings, and wet places along the trails.
Leaves, seed heads, berries, and fungi reward a closer look even when flowers have faded.
Deer, a mink, salamanders, and a small snake offer a different view of life around the forest floor and water’s edge.
Butterflies, caterpillars, millipedes, and cicadas show how much there is to notice beyond the larger wildlife. The cicada photographs include several stages of emergence.
Visitor information: Lake County Forest Preserves — Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area and the Ryerson Welcome Center. Check these official sources for current hours and trail notices. Photography by Brian Woolman.