Sterne's Woods Park

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Sterne's Woods Park Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Sterne's Woods Park, Nature Preserve, 5617 Hillside Road, Crystal Lake, IL.

Hillside Road, East of Walkup Ave. - 185 Acres
A beautiful retreat to nature, Sterne's Woods and Fen was added to Illinois' list of Nature Preserves in 1994, which ensures a high level of protection to the natural areas.

Start a new family and friend tradition!Now booking group Wagon Rides with campfire through Sterne's Woods. Reservations...
10/03/2026

Start a new family and friend tradition!
Now booking group Wagon Rides with campfire through Sterne's Woods. Reservations available Sept 19-Nov 8. Make a reservation online or in person at the Crystal Lake Park District Admin. Office

Info and link to online reservations
https://www.crystallakeparks.org/wagon-rides

IT'S HERE!The Crystal Lake Park District fall 2026 digital guide is online and registration is open! 🍁🍂Register online d...
08/13/2026

IT'S HERE!
The Crystal Lake Park District fall 2026 digital guide is online and registration is open! 🍁🍂
Register online directly from the digital guide by clicking on the code number for the program you wish to register for and add it to your shopping cart. We recommend setting up your household profile prior to shopping if this is your first time utilizing online registration.

All households in the 60012 and 60014 zip codes will receive a print guide in the mail. Look for the activity guide in your mailbox later during the week of Aug 17-21.

Fall programs run late Aug-late Dec
View the digital guide
https://view.publitas.com/clpd/programs/page/1

The Fourth of July fireworks may be over, but nature's encore is just getting started. Northern Illinois prairies are re...
07/13/2026

The Fourth of July fireworks may be over, but nature's encore is just getting started. Northern Illinois prairies are reaching their peak summer bloom, with well-established prairies putting on a spectacular display. It's a great time to get outside and enjoy the amazing variety and abundance of colorful wildflowers.

Here are the views at Sterne's Woods Park and Wingate Prairie.

A look back at the historic land use of the Sterne's Woods and Fen property that contributed to shaping the park that we...
07/08/2026

A look back at the historic land use of the Sterne's Woods and Fen property that contributed to shaping the park that we know today.

photos shared by William “Bill” Sales, grandson of Catherine Sterne

With the high heat index expected, residents are encouraged to use extra caution if spending time on local trails. Be su...
07/01/2026

With the high heat index expected, residents are encouraged to use extra caution if spending time on local trails. Be sure to bring your phone in case of an emergency, carry plenty of water to stay hydrated, and, whenever possible, hike or walk with a partner. Take frequent rest breaks in shaded or cool areas, and pay attention to signs of heat-related illness. If you begin to feel dizzy, weak, or overheated, stop, seek a cooler location, and hydrate immediately.

May is Invasive Species Awareness Month in Illinois. In recognition CLPD is spotlighting Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronal...
05/24/2026

May is Invasive Species Awareness Month in Illinois. In recognition CLPD is spotlighting Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis), a showy plant often introduced in residential landscaping, which thrives primarily in woodland habitats but also open areas.

Dame’s rocket is native to parts of Europe and Asia. In the United States, absent natural controls such as disease and insects found in its home range, it can aggressively take over natural areas. Often displacing and outcompeting a significant amount of the native vegetation that indigenous species have adapted to depend on. Unlike the native Phlox, which has 5 petaled flowers, Dame’s Rocket has 4 petals and being in the mustard family, it develops seed pods that produce an impressive 20,000 to 30,000 seeds per plant.

For more information on Dame’s Rocket, its invasive potential and similar looking native alternatives such as Phlox that can be planted instead, see the following links:

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/DamesRocket

https://chicagolivingcorridors.org/resources/creating-native-habitat/invasive-plants/dames-rocket-hesperis-matronalis/

Summer fun has arrived!The 2026 Summer Digital Activity Guide is LIVE + registration is open!📬 Print guide mailed May 8–...
05/05/2026

Summer fun has arrived!
The 2026 Summer Digital Activity Guide is LIVE + registration is open!

📬 Print guide mailed May 8–12 (60012 & 60014)
🎉 Events, camps, sports, classes & more for all ages—plus concerts, movies, beach events & lake activities all summer long!

Browse the guide and click on the activity code to add programs & events to your shopping cart https://view.publitas.com/clpd/programs/page/1

We just posted a recap of our 2025-2026 Winter Natural Areas Restoration and Brush Clearing efforts. Information about t...
03/23/2026

We just posted a recap of our 2025-2026 Winter Natural Areas Restoration and Brush Clearing efforts. Information about these Natural Resource Management projects and other Crystal Lake Park District Environmental Initiatives can be found on our website at https://www.crystallakeparks.org/environmental-initiatives?tab=277

Questions about this project or other Natural Resource Management projects? Contact Preston Skultety, Manager of Natural Resources at [email protected]

The Crystal Lake Park District kindly reminds trail users in park natural areas to please use designated trails. Doing s...
03/04/2026

The Crystal Lake Park District kindly reminds trail users in park natural areas to please use designated trails.

Doing so helps to:
• Limit confusing offshoot spurs in the trail system
• Limit exposure to hazards such as trips/slips/ticks
• Limit impacts to the ecology of the natural area such as compaction, slope erosion, trampling/disturbance of sensitive native vegetation and introduction of invasive plants
• Lower stress for wildlife seeking seclusion
• Limit trash dispersal in more remote areas
• Ensure that First Responders can locate and gain access to those in distress
Unauthorized trail creation by breaking brush away from a corridor, creates increasing stick piles on the corridor sides, does nothing to prevent re-growth of the corridor-side shrubs and introduces more sunlight that is likely to stimulate unchecked invasive shrub seedling growth, effectively making the invasive shrub problem worse in those areas.

Posted signage instructs users to 'Please Stay on Designated Trails'

Please remember also that the Red (VA Sternes’s Woods Trail), Aqua (Oak View Trail), Yellow (Fen View Trail) and Orange (Prairie View Trail) are designated to allow biking; the White (Kettle View Trail), Green (Moraine View Trail), Blue (Pond View Trail) and Brown (Savannah View Trail) are not.

View and print maps on our website:
https://www.crystallakeparks.org/Maps

Address

5617 Hillside Road
Crystal Lake, IL
60012

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 6am - 7pm

Telephone

(815) 459-0680

Website

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