Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a large protected area in Illinois dedicated to restoring and managing native prairie grasslands and diverse habitats. The reserve features open grassfields, scattered woodlands, and wetlands that provide homes for birds, deer, and other wildlife.

The site was established in the 1990s following the closure of a military ammunition storage facility and has since been restored into prairie grassland. This transformation reversed decades of industrial use and restored natural conditions to the landscape.

Visitors can explore the area on hiking trails and access roads while looking for wildlife, with early mornings and late afternoons being the best times for spotting animals. Spring and autumn offer the most active wildlife viewing opportunities, especially for birds passing through during migration.

The reserve hosts rare bird species and serves as a crucial stopover point during spring and fall bird migration periods. This successful ecological restoration demonstrates that degraded prairie landscapes can be recovered and returned to functioning natural systems.

Location: Illinois

Inception: 1996

Operator: United States Forest Service

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 04:00-22:00

Website: http://fs.usda.gov/midewin

GPS coordinates: 41.37880,-88.11130

Latest update: December 15, 2025 13:27