Hiking Through the Woodlands of Blue Star Memorial Woods

 

Birding, Hiking and Nature Zen Inside Blue Star Memorial Woods in Glenview, IL

A wealth of preserves hug the North Branch Chicago River and we have delighted in exploring them. A free afternoon this week afforded us a lovely chunk of time to hike the trails of Blue Star Memorial Woods along the meandering  North Branch Chicago River.

Natural trails spindle off of the main gravel trail inside Blue Star Memorial Woods.

In all honestly, we pass the Glenview forest preserve quite often and I am not sure why we have not stopped. We quickly learned that we had been missing out on quite a magnificent preserve.

North Branch Chicago River meanders gently through Blue Star Memorial Woods.

Tracing the North Branch Chicago River

We began our hike on a section of the paved North Branch Trail which is popular with bikers. Soon, we angled towards a gravel walking trail. While walking along the trail, we noted natural trails spindling off towards the river. We ambled towards a trail along the river on a natural path, dodging muddy patches. Tracing the river yielded a tranquil experience with plenty of flora and fauna to enjoy.

A trout lily emerges from the forest floor at Blue Star Memorial Woods.

Woodlands Full of Spring Wildflowers

Currently, wildflowers of many shapes and sizes dot the woodland floor. Throughout spring, the forest becomes a canvas of wildflowers ever-changing in a progression throughout the season. Every year, I seem to learn the name of another wildflower. I love to study them, to slow down and take in nature.

A deer glances through tree branches at Blue Star Memorial Woods.

We spotted a wealth of wildlife in Blue Star Memorial Woods including deer, catbirds, bluejays, thrushes, woodpeckers and more. A quiet spring afternoon really unfolded a wealth of wildlife in front of us.

The preserve has a pretty interesting history as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp as well as a WWII prisoner of war camp. The CCC camped at the location while working on nearby Skokie Lagoons. An MP  battalion was also stationed at the site during WWII.

North Branch Trail connects a number of preserves along the North Branch Chicago River.

Today, Blue Star Memorial Woods enchants with picturesque woodlands. The flat trails winding through Blue Star Memorial Woods makes the preserve very accessible. Additionally, the river views add a pleasant, tranquil element. We envision future visits to the Blue Star Memorial Woods enjoying it in all seasons.