Located in the heart of rapidly developing Lake County, Illinois, the Reserve is an ongoing story of how people and institutions can work together to preserve precious open space for people and wildlife. Here you will find tallgrass prairie, wetlands, oak savannas, rolling farm fields, and forest within a short distance of residential communities. It is a place of beauty and a place where people are striving to live with nature. The Liberty Prairie Reserve is listed as one of America's "Last Chance Landscapes" by Scenic America.
The Reserve is a great place to explore. Trails for walking, biking and horseback riding connect Prairie Crossing to the other parts of the Reserve on 14 miles of trails. From any point in Prairie Crossing you can walk to a Metra station or hike miles of trails through areas with wildlife and beautiful landscapes.
A special place
The Reserve indeed earned its place on the "Last Chance Landscapes" list. It is home to 14 threatened and endangered species. It also contains three Illinois Nature Preserves -- areas designated for the state's highest level of protection because they hold rare elements of Illinois' natural heritage. The landscape includes remnant prairies, savannas, and wetlands. The geology of the area is wonderful, too, as the gently rolling land features moraines, outwash terraces and kettle holes. Keep an eye out and you might even see sandhill cranes.
Protected Land for Future Generations
Almost 3,200 of the Reserve's 5,800 acres are legally protected forever, making it a model of what people can do together to preserve open land. Efforts are under way to protect more land within the Reserve, enhancing its value to people and wildlife even more.
Located in the Heart of Lake County
The Liberty Prairie Reserve is located in the Libertyville and Grayslake areas. It is bounded by Route 120, Route 137, and the eastern edge of the Independence Grove Forest Preserve just east of Route 21.
Conserve Lake County,a local non-profit organization, is the leader of efforts to protect and improve the Reserve. For more information on the Liberty Prairie Reserve contact Conserve Lake County at 847-548-5989.