With the white stuff and cold temperatures, Lake County offers plenty of opportunities for shushing, skating and sledding, plus other outdoor exercise..
The Lake County Forest Preserves has almost 166 miles of cross-country skiing trails for beginners and those who are more advanced. Skiers can use two solar-lighted trails daily until 9 p.m. through early March at Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville and part of the Millennium Trail near Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda.
Those who want a quiet, peaceful ski might consider Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside, said Stacy Iwanicki, a naturalist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
“It’s a state natural area, which is different from a state park, so it’s designed to be more passive,” she said. Skiing and snow shoeing are the only two winter sports allowed.
Outdoor ice-skating and sledding areas are open throughout the county, with many lit for night-time winter fun.
And don’t forget a brisk hike at any forest preserve, park or natural area, which can enliven the winter doldrums, Iwanicki said.
“Fresh air and sunshine can help ward off the winter cold,” she said.
Before layering up and heading outdoors, contact the venues to make sure conditions are suitable for skiing, sledding and skating. The Lake County Forest Preserves has a winter sports hotline to check for trail, snow and ice conditions at its sites Call 847-968-3235 or visit www.lcfpd.org/current-winter-sports-updates/. Call individual park districts and other venues or check their websites for more information on winter sports conditions.
Here’s a list of some places to go for winter sports in Lake County, including open times and what’s available. All venues are free and open to the public.
Antioch
Raven Glen Forest Preserve
41080 North U.S. Highway 45
6:30 a.m.-sunset
847-367-6640. www.lcfpd.org
Raven Glen’s main entrance has a 2.1-mile gravel trail for cross-country skiing and a half-mile woodland walk for hiking only.
Grayslake
Grayslake Park District
Jones Island Community Park
243 Harvey Ave.
Open daylight hours
847-223-7529. www.glpd.com
Ice skating is available on Grays Lake when conditions are right.
Other parks that offer skating in Grayslake include Molly’s Pond in the Haryan Farms subdivision, Chesapeake Landing in Chesapeake Farms and Cambridge Park in the College Trail subdivision.
All ice rinks are unsupervised and have no warming houses. Skating is only allowed in designated plowed areas. The ice must be at least 6 inches thick throughout the skating area. A red flag designates conditions are unsafe for skating. A green flag means safe. Hockey is only allowed at designated areas where signs are posted.
Gurnee
Gurnee Park District
Hours vary
Ice rink hotline: 847-599-3774. www.gurneeparkdistrict.com
The park district has unsupervised outdoor rinks that are open when a green flag is present. Parks with rinks include Betty Russell Park, 5300 Pinewood Road, which has space for public skating and hockey, a warming shelter and restrooms. Others are Esper Petersen Park, Grand and Old Grand Avenues; University Park, University Avenue and Este Street; and Christine Thompson Park at Woodland street and Belle avenue.
Warren Township Sled Hills
17801 W. Washington St.
8 a.m.-9 p.m.
847- 999-0405. www.warrentownship.net/departments/parks-sports/sledding-hills/
Sledding is allowed when an adequate snow base is present. There’s a lighted large hill as well as bunny hills for sleds and saucers. Snowboards and toboggans are not allowed.
Ingleside
Volo Bog State Natural Area
28478 W. Brandenburg Rd.
8 a.m.-sunset
815-344-1294; www.friendsofvolobog.org
The 2.75-mile Tamarack View Trail is open for cross-country skiing with a six-inch minimum snow base. From higher elevations along the trail, skiers can view the state-threatened tamarack trees that surround the bog. The trail begins south of the visitor center and moves counter clockwise. Skiers should not change directions. More skiing is available across the road from the nature center.
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Lake Villa
Caboose Park Sled Hill
37908 Fairfield Road
9 a.m.-10 p.m.
847-356-2116. www.lakevillatownship.org/sled-hill
Toboggan and sled hills are open and lit daily if weather conditions permit
Libertyville
Independence Grove Forest Preserve
6:30 a.m.-sunset
16400 Buckley Road, 847- 968-3499. wwwlcfpd.org
The preserve, free to Lake County residents with a nominal fee for others, has an ice rink for skating, but hockey is not allowed. The rink is west of the marina on the south end of the lake.
Old School Forest Preserve
28285 St. Mary’s Road
6:30 a.m.- sunset
847-367- 6640. www.lcfpd.org
To access the designated skating and sledding areas, follow the roadway until you reach the parking area on the right with a sign for skating and sledding. Snowboards, metal runners or toboggans are not permitted. Cross-country skiing is available on designated trails.
Lindenhurst
Millennium Park, 201 Country Place Lane
John Janega Memorial Park, 205 Hickory Drive
Oak Ridge Park, 600 Independence Boulevard
8 a.m.- sunset
847-356-6011. www.lindenhurstparks.org
Ice skating is available when a green flag is present. A warming shelter and bathrooms are available at Millennium Park. A designated pond area near the gazebo is open for skating at John Janega Memorial Park.
Mundelein
Keith Mione Community Park
1461 N. Midlothian Road
Hours vary.
847-566-0650. www.mundeleinparks.org
A lighted ice rink is open at the park for skating, hockey games and broomball. Check the online schedule – hockey games are scheduled for certain groups, which means no open public skating at that time. A nearby sled hill is open from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. and lit at night.
Riverwoods
Ryerson Conservation Area
21850 Riverwoods Road
6:30 a.m.-sunset
847-367-6640. www.lcfpd.org
A 4-inch snow base is required before skiing is allowed.
Round Lake Park District
814 Hart Road
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
847-546-8558. www.rlapd.org.
The park district features lit sledding hills and outdoor ice rinks.
Harts Hill includes a small hill for beginners, and a larger one for more advanced sledders. Parents must accompany their children. The park district also maintains two outdoor skating rinks, one at Hart’s Hill and the other at Whipple O. Parrot Park. Safety conditions are reviewed daily, and a flag system is used to indicate whether the rinks are open.
Spring Grove
Chain O’Lakes State Park
8916 Wilmot Road
8 a.m.-sunset
847-587-5512 www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Activity/Pages/ChainOLakes.aspx
The park, bordering three natural lakes, is open for ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. Horse trail can be used for cross-country skiing, but is not groomed. A sledding hill is located near the park office.
Vernon Hills
Century Park
1001 Lakeview Parkway
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9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
847-996-6800. www.vhparkdistrict.org/parks/century/
Sledding is permitted when snow is deep enough and a sign is posted. The hill, at the north end of the park, is lit at night. Cross-country skiing and ice skating are also available.
Wauconda
Lakewood Forest Preserve Winter Sports Area
27277 N Forest Preserve Road
6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
847-367-6640. www.lcpfd.org
There are groomed trails for skiing and a lit sledding hill and skating rink. The sled hill is next to the skating rink. Snowboards, metal runners or toboggans are not permitted.
Waukegan
Belvidere Park Ice Rink
Hours vary.
412 S. Lewis Ave.
847-360-4700. www.waukeganparks.org/
Public skating is allowed when no program is scheduled. Bathrooms and picnic tables are available. A limited number of skates can be checked out with valid drivers license or state ID. Call or check website to find out about programs and open skating times. The rink is lit some evenings. Additional outdoor ice skating rinks are at Arbor Park and, 1151 Pleasant Hill Gate, and Victory Park, 1325 North Ave. Signs will indicate whether the rinks are open or closed.
Wadsworth
Wadsworth Sled Hill
Delany and Wadsworth Roads
Sunrise-10 p.m.
847-336-7771. www.villageofwadsworth.org.
Sled hill is open when there is a good snow fall. No sledding is permitted down the back of the hill.
Van Patten Woods
15838 West Route 173
6:30 a.m.-sunset.
847-367-6640. www.lcfpd.org
Five miles of trails are open for cross-country skiing. Parking is available at the Route 173 or Russell Road entrances east of Route 41.