Hit Monee Reservoir for day of family fun

Editor’s note: We want you to Be a Trailblazer this year, so we will be hiking at various preserves throughout the year and documenting it for you. Journey along with us as we blaze a trail through the preserves and hopefully encourage you to do the same.

An aerial view of Monee Reservoir. (Photo by Chad Merda)

Monee Reservoir is among the most popular Will County preserves. It’s a great place to spend some time fishing or out on the water in a boat. As popular as it may be, it doesn’t get much attention as a hiking destination.

Most people don’t think about hitting the trail when they visit Monee Reservoir, but the trail here is a good one. The 1.66-mile out-and-back trail cuts through grasslands and stands of trees and over and around wetland areas, making it a good place to see wildlife through the seasons.

It’s much quieter along the trail than it is along the shoreline of the reservoir. You may even find you have the whole place to yourself as you stroll along the wide grassy trail.

Pro tip: Try to stay in the middle of the trail here to avoid brushing up against the tall vegetation where ticks tend to lurk.

All the quiet makes it a good place to hear nature all around you. We hiked here on a summer morning, and the soundtrack included plenty of birds chirping and insects buzzing but also a few bullfrogs bellowing and even the rustling sounds of critters in the vegetation.

An abundance of wildlife

Plenty of rabbits were scurrying about on the trail, and we saw a few deer as well, including one wading into the water for a drink.

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Hiking Monee Reservoir

Route: We hiked the preserve’s Nature Trail, which can be accessed from the parking lot.

Distance: 2.21 miles

Time: 48 minutes

Weather conditions: A warm and sunny summer morning. Temperatures were in the mid-70s when we started and had hit 80 by the time we finished.

Difficulty level: This is a kid-friendly flat trail with no steep elevation changes.

Trail notes: Because it’s a grassy trail lined by vegetation, it’s a good idea to check yourself for ticks before leaving the preserve.

Don’t forget: Bug spray! The bugs were out on our hike. And as usual, sunscreen is a must. You may also want to bring water along, especially if it’s a hot day.

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The birds we heard and saw included many of the usual suspects at a place where the lake is the main attraction. We saw mallards and Canada geese, plus us a few great blue herons wading through the smaller wetland areas near the trail. Aside from the aquatic birds, we heard and saw cardinals, robins, sparrows, finches and some particularly feisty red-winged blackbirds that weren’t afraid to let us know we were getting a little too close to their territory. We also saw some flashes of yellow from warblers and a bright blue indigo bunting.

On the insect front, the many dragonflies, butterflies and moths flitting about were welcome sights, but there was another less desirable insect just about everywhere we went — deer flies.

These biting insects can be a nuisance in the summer, and they were out in full force on our walk. The best line of defense against deer flies and other biting flies is wearing long sleeves and pants. Insect repellents are not always effective against biting flies, but those containing DEET or picardin are best. As an added bonus, insect repellent will also protect against mosquitoes. Mosquitoes weren’t biting much on our walk, but they certainly can be a nuisance here (and everywhere) from time to time in the summer.

Summer in bloom

As we walked, we were surprised at the number of prairie wildflowers in bloom all along the trail. Prairie isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Monee Reservoir, so all the shades of white, yellow, pink and purple were among the highlights of our visit.

False sunflower blooms. (Photo by Anthony Schalk)

Among the wildflowers we saw were purple coneflower, pale purple coneflower, different kinds of coreopsis, common milkweed, black-eyed Susan and oxeye daisy. We stopped a few times along the way to get a closer look at the blooms, and at each stop we were surprised by the sheer number of insects crawling up and down the stems, leaves and blooms. It made us appreciate the vast amount of insects living side by side with us and also the vital role they play in the ecosystem.

The trail here cuts along some stands of trees, and those provided some nice morning shade. We visited in the morning of what ended up being a hot summer day, so those bits of shade combined with a few cool breezes were welcome along the way.

As you walk the trail, there are a few benches at scenic spots where you can sit and rest for awhile. The sunny benches weren’t that inviting on a hot day, but they would be a nice place to enjoy the peace and quiet in the evening or in the spring and fall.

Pro tip: If you hike in the morning, consider bringing a change of socks and shoes if you don’t like having wet feet. The trail here was still dewy as we walked, and our shoes and socks were uncomfortably wet by the time we were done. We were happy to have dry socks and shoes to change into in the car. Sunscreen is also a must for a walk here on a sunny day because you will be in the sun far more often than not.

Fun by the water

Either before or after your hike, make sure to stop by the shoreline near the Visitor Center. This is where most of the action usually is at Monee Reservoir. It’s one of the Forest Preserve’s fishing hotspots, and many families have been spending time here for generations.

You can rent canoes and other boats at Monee Reservoir. (Photo by Anthony Schalk)

You don’t have to be an expert anglers to cast a line here. Newbies can borrow fishing poles from the Visitor Center, and those 16 and older can buy an Illinois fishing license. (One-day and yearly licenses are available.) Bait is also available at the Visitor Center.

Among the most popular attractions for families are the pedal boats that can be rented, along with canoes, kayaks and rowboats. Rowboats can be rented from April 1 to Oct. 31, and pedal boats, canoes and kayaks can be rented from May 1 to Sept. 30. 

Visitors can also launch their own canoes and kayaks here. Personal small fishing boats are also allowed on the lake, but only boats that can be transported in or on top of a vehicle and carried or rolled by hand cart to the lake are permitted. There is no boat trailer parking or boat launch at the preserve.