At Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights, visitors may be as active — or relaxed — as they wish.
Walk your dog, bicycle along the Cal-Sag Channel, paddle a canoe or learn how to fly fish.
Or just sit on a bench watching turtles, ducks and the occasional swan, heron, loon and egret on the 10-acre lake.
“During the summer, our natural setting is one of things that’s most attractive to people,” said Gareth Blakesley, Lake Katherine’s operations manager. “Everything is in bloom. Wildlife is active.
“And our waterfowl can be quite interesting. It’s not just geese or mallards.”
The park’s scenic entrance features a wooden bridge, waterfall and brick patio.
The one-mile loop around the lake immerses visitors in various gardens attracting a variety of butterflies and dragonflies, and arboretums with oak, elm, gingko, hickory and other trees.
The Children’s Forest has a spider maze, salamander mound and enormous handcrafted wooden chairs to climb on.
While critters can be seen throughout the nonprofit park’s woods, gardens, prairies and wetlands spanning 85 acres, the nature center also houses snakes and other creatures.
The nature center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
For visitors who are curious about what they’re seeing, the online field guide offers descriptions and photos of the animals and plants found at Lake Katherine.
“Summer also is a good time for activities with canoe and kayak rentals, and the bike trail is open,” Blakesley said.
Canoes and kayaks are available for $8 per person per hour from spring to October.
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Lake Katherine’s grounds include 2.5 miles of the western segment of the Cal-Sag Trail, a 13-mile route connecting the Illinois & Michigan Canal and Centennial trails on Route 83 in Lemont to Cicero Avenue in Alsip. The segment opened in 2015.
The entire grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.
Special events sometimes include a fee, but do not mean the grounds are closed to nonparticipants.
“Even when we do have special events,” Blakesley said, “there’s always a portion open to the public.”
Families are invited to “Stories at the Lake,” the reading of a nature-themed children’s book plus activities at 4 p.m. June 1, July 6 and Aug. 3. Story time is free and does not require registration.
Little Explorers is a class in which preschoolers may splash in the waterfall or have a teddy bear picnic. Other ongoing children’s programs, which cost $6, include Eco Explorers and Junior Explorers.
Cast away for the biggest bass, catfish, muskie or walleye during the annual Family Fishing Day. The catch-and-release fundraiser will be June 3. Sessions are from 8 to 11 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. and cost $25 for both or $15 for one.
On July 3, watch the Palos Heights fireworks from the Lake Katherine clubhouse balcony. Admission is free, with tickets available for optional drinks and snacks.
Upcoming classes for adults, which cost $6 each, include Wild Edibles at 10 a.m. June 10, Fly Fishing at 9 a.m. June 17 and Hiking for Beginners at 9 a.m. June 24.
Ongoing volunteer opportunities at Lake Katherine include ecological restoration, garden and grounds maintenance, field trip leaders and Project BudBurst.
Lake Katherine is off College Drive between Southwest Highway and Harlem Avenue.
In addition to a large parking lot, guests may park along the nearby street for closer access to the Children’s Forest and Turtle Bay section of the lake.
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
7402 W. Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights
Hours: Dawn to dusk
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Cost: Free
Information: 708-361-1873 or www.lakekatherine.org