Lets hike Big Rock Forest Preserve, 6.5 miles option for 4 miles

**Optional lunch**
TBD

**Hike Summary**
Located about 20 minutes west of Naperville in the town of Big Rock.
We hiked here last year and the group liked it! I first found this place back in 2021 and found new areas to hike last year.

This hike is cross posted with Chicagoland Trailblazers Hiking Group
https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/313076223
and my rsvp includes members of the group.

The outstanding features of this hike is that it has a kame, a lake, a good sized creek with riffles, a fen, gorgeous woodland, prairie, a very cool suspension bridge, and mink sighting! Two squealing minks ran right in front of me. Although the kame is only 100 feet higher elevation, it offers a beautiful view of Siegler Lake.

**Hike 1: 4 miles**
Western side, Siegler Lake loop and partial hike toward campground includes kame and views of Big Rock Creek also has the area where I saw minks.
One section has Big Rock Creek with riffles on one side and Siegler Lake on the other side. Gorgeous!

Mostly easy hike with an intermediate section and one very steep hill to climb. How steep? I didn't bring poles and ended up having to climb up on all fours. Surprise! This time I plan to bring poles just for this part. In a small section you'll also have to duck under low lying branches.
Some call it overgrown but I call it fun!

This part of the hike can be avoided by waiting for us just up the trail.
I'll let everyone know when we come to this part and let you know where to wait for us.

Other than above, the trails will be flat, easy and wide. They are combination of packed dirt, crushed limestone, gravel, or grass.
There was very little mud during my multiple visits here. Except for that steep hill I mentioned above, it also had mud.

Sections feature a pretty woodland with some prairie views. There are also some pines in this preserve adding variety.
This hike is in the western section of Big Rock Preserve and we'll end up back at the lot after about 4 miles.

**Hike 2: 1.5 miles, 6.5 cumulative**
Eastern side, Features suspension bridge, views of Big Rock Creek, fen, woodlands, and prairie views.
As we enter the preserve Spring peeper frogs can be heard near the suspension bridge.
Easy hike, trails will be combination of narrow packed dirt single track or wide.
The terrain is gently rolling and though the trails are easy, features pretty views of landscape that varies by 20 to 30 feet here and there.

A portion of this trail is woodland on one side and prairie on the other. Other sections are in all woodland.

**Directions:**
Meet in the last parking lot about one half mile.
When the road ends you'll find us. My cell is 847 757-1230.