Skip to main content
Shedd Aquarium

Things To Do

Places To Go in Illinois

Plan Your Trip

Accessibility in Illinois

Schurmeier Teaching Forest

147 E. Reusch Rd., Elizabeth, IL 61028

Bird & Eagle Watching

Two miles of beginner and intermediate hiking trails, educational signage teaches about tree and forestry practices. This forest is the perfect place to spend the day.

Jerry and Jon Schurmeier donated the original 52 acres of Schurmeier Teaching Forest to JDCF in 1994, in memory of their parents. To our knowledge, this is the only teaching forest in Illinois. A self-guided tree identification booklet is available for free at the kiosk and corresponds to signage along the trail.

This rugged, hillside property is entirely wooded. Although the site was generally logged many years ago, the deeper ravines include some awe-inspiring old-growth timber. A picnic shelter, surrounded by native prairie plants, is available for family gatherings, and is the meeting point for our spring and fall forest walks.

JDCF preserves are open daily dawn to dusk and free of charge unless otherwise posted at www.jdcf.org.

Dogs on leash are welcome.

Images

My project 224
My project 225
My project 226

How to find us?

Back to Listings

You might also be interested...

JDCF Safaris

Elizabeth

Guided explorations of rare wild birds in Native American archaeological sites.

Read more about JDCF Safaris

Share your Moments

#EnjoyIllinois

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get inspired by top travel stories, gain access to exclusive promotions and contests, and discover even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois.