Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, IL Treats Families to Hiking Trails and Nature Learning
Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca provides two miles of hiking trails and a nature center including resident raptors treating visitor to a nature respite. On a free Sunday afternoon, we explored
Springbrook Nature Center to enjoy a little time outside at a new preserve.
![Painted turtle enjoying a swim at Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, Illinois Painted turtle enjoying a swim at Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, Illinois](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi2ZW_xcJpHbxo-ze-6KTMO9jiCB7q2OmDFk1jDWf9NS6x-ARn1ZUK7Ja95G0w0hWpNWWK_S3bWsS6z-gczdRqDDmIkVHIVWCru2bxSdf6M_7YJvROXiDPcsbPD3MiGYsgk7Es-N4d9o/s640/IMG_4375.JPG) |
Painted turtle enjoying a swim! |
Inside the red barn nature center, you will find a few nature exhibits including a nice-sized aquarium. Additionally, there are a few live animal exhibits including a snake, painted turtle and more. Further your nature learning with specimens for hands-on explorations. The nature center is not huge but has elements of interest.
![Great horned owl peering at us at Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, Illinois Great horned owl peering at us at Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, Illinois](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43SEEMTxN8wsIT7I9I63UagUEU_Bhdhj9pAvo4a2iIpwSIxLeT-58j6x34Cfp86NBaXRKzgJfPHd6d43m_qs8ZA5UCSJpiZK6pn-PLIi2WQav0MxDv6CSsFJZKCGvlBZ0DCVJ3Nf0n4o/s640/IMG_4376.JPG) |
Great horned owl peering at us. |
Outside, we visited with birds of prey! Birds of prey living at Springbrook include a great horned owl, barred owl, turkey vulture and more. I was surprised by the number of raptors we were able to visit!
![Taking a peek at Spring Brook looking for frogs in Itasca Taking a peek at Spring Brook looking for frogs in Itasca](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vq1PaT6R9nA7SaPO9vZnBR2d2wxKzh79eJUY8ul7bk3bQ4ZJeGdCz-cnZ7EsPkRh3vEN06r6kxhvzLPC4Zj0_8hbTzQ5tbubIfYnJ-QGIl377IXY8KxmJeG68hnvua1IubFewJiRpgU/s640/springbrook2.png) |
Taking a peek at Spring Brook looking for frogs. |
Hiking trails include a woodland trail, a prairie trail and a marsh trail. Portions of some of the trails are on boardwalks which can be fun. The prairie path is a paved trail and the others are blends.
![Walking along the boardwalk through the trees at Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, Illinois Walking along the boardwalk through the trees at Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, Illinois](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn_xXbaC-vhK-Mw5f8HVN_8iN1RYvU0zav32yQrZH0CSYD9LXbj3RUFLzEebjn9DsoUWFDy22N6YWCvITBYBB8cG5Qq34WPrt-Gldvref88l8UECw6mEP9Qc4bj1RAluRFtNwyN35634/s640/springbrook4.png) |
Walking along the boardwalk through the trees at Springbrook Nature Center! |
We savored the tree covered paths on a sublime summer day. The preserve does abut against Itasca's water park. So, in the summer months you may hear summer tunes and children having fun in the sun. However, I do wonder how the preserve feels in the fall as the leaves turn and the atmosphere is quieter.
![Spectacular view of calm Spring Brook in Itasca, Illinois Spectacular view of calm Spring Brook in Itasca, Illinois](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJt2HH0vQ7CxuIiaqOGP3ZkyUfV7VHsTJTRg0DwJGF9G1sAWtN_GBmfSfj93elf7OcpTkbh61sE9mUOAthdzHlE1NJ6BN0gBVCYGRFXjCvU4a-p_SVIkSUXGGQj_22QhzwQ_75y57slg/s640/springbrook3.png) |
Spectacular view of calm Spring Brook. |
Springbrook Nature Center is not far from the Itasca Caribbean Water Park, Itasca Community Library and Itasca Historical Depot Museum. Springbrook Nature Center is a nice little spot for a nature uplift and can also provide for a wonderful day for families with combining with other nearby attractions. Plus, keep your eye out for events and snowshoeing in winter!
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