Kankakee Sands

Visit

What to See and Do

• Wildlife

   

  Birds and Animals

  A Midwestern birding mecca, Kankakee Sands is home to some of the fastest-declining bird species in North America, including Henslow’s sparrows and bobolinks. Other rare birds found here include greater prairie chickens, American kestrels and grasshopper sparrows.  

  A variety of animals also travel through or call the preserves home, including foxes, coyotes, badgers and minks. Visible throughout the preserves are large mounds in the sandy soil, created by plains pocket gophers. These burrowing rodents mostly live underground. Their digging helps bring organic soil nutrients up to the surface, which helps plants and flowers to thrive. 

  For a chance to see bison grazing, consider also visiting nearby TNC Kankakee Sands-Indiana preserve, an 8,000-acre restored prairie that is home to a herd of bison and other wildlife. The distance between the Indiana Kankakee Sands preserve and the Illinois Kankakee Sands Preserves is about 20 minutes by car. 

  Reptiles and Amphibians

  The Kankakee Sands-Illinois Preserves are among the few places in Illinois to see the ornate box turtle, which has yellow bands on its brown shell. Other reptiles that may be spotted include tiger salamanders, slithering glass lizards and bull snakes. At dawn and dusk in spring and summer, you may also hear the songs and cries of grey tree frogs and Fowler’s toads.

  Butterflies and Other Insects

  The regal fritillary butterfly flits about Kankakee Sands, typically from May to September. In Illinois, the regal fritillary is a threatened species, primarily due to the loss of prairie habitat. The abundant sand prairies and dunes at Kankakee Sands—and the plants that grow here, such as bird-foot violets—attract the lovely pollinator.  

  Other butterflies and insects that frequent the preserves include monarch butterflies, dragonflies and native bees. 

• Trees and Plants

  The most famous resident of the preserves are the thousands of black oaks scattered around the savanna, which range in size from knee-high saplings to 80-feet tall mature trees. Black oaks, which do not like shade, flourish on the preserves’ dry sand savanna. 

  Many rare flowers and grasses also call Kankakee Sands home. You may see or smell prairie fame flowers, prickly pear, wild lupine, cinnamon fern, starry false Solomon’s seal and lance-leaved violet. 

• What to Do at Kankakee Sands-Illinois

  Walking, birding and nature photography are all welcomed at Kankakee Sands-Illinois. Our staff are available to provide guided tours to schools, clubs and other groups. For more information, contact Mihesha Gibbs (mihesha.gibbs@tnc.org).

  Kankakee Sands-Illinois is designated as an Illinois Nature Preserve by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Only Illinois lands that have rare plants and animals or unique natural features receive this important designation. 

  To protect the diverse and rich prairies and savannas at Kankakee Sands-Illinois—and maintain our nature preserve designation under state law—some activities are not allowed: 

  • All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are not allowed because they destroy the preserve’s fragile prairie and savanna landscapes. The deep ruts and soil compaction caused by these vehicles hinders the growth of critical species and plants.  

  • Biking on or off trails can harm important wildlife habitat. If you want to bike, consider Kankakee River State Park in Bourbonnais, Illinois.  

  • Horseback riding contributes to the spread of invasive plants when horses eat the plants and spread seeds through their manure. Horseback riding is allowed at Kankakee River State Park.
    

  • Hunting. To hunt, consider Iroquois County State Wildlife Area.

  Visitors are asked to stay on the trail to protect the habitat. Some parcels of land within the preserves remain in private ownership—please do not trespass. The preserves’ boundaries are marked with small, yellow signs featuring TNC's logo.

• Nearby Activities

  The local communities around Kankakee Sands-Illinois, including Hopkins Park, St. Anne, Momence and Kankakee, also have much to offer visitors of all ages, from additional outdoor adventures to museums that teach the rich history of the area. There are also numerous festivals and events, including the annual Blueberry Festival sponsored by the nonprofit Rohoboth Blueberry Farm. 

Know Before You Go

• Planning Your Visit

  As shown on the trail maps linked below, TNC’s Kankakee Sands-Illinois is made up of four savanna and prairie sites located in Hopkins Park and St. Anne, Illinois: 

  • Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve (Google Maps)

  • Mskoda Land & Water Preserve (Google Maps)

  • Carl N. Becker Savanna Nature Preserve (Google Maps)

  • Tallmadge Sand Forest Land & Water Preserve (Google Maps)

  Each site has a walking trail, ranging from 1 to 1.5 miles in length. View the full map of all four areas here.

  If you have never been to Kankakee Sands-Illinois before, we recommend you start at Pembroke Savanna to see one of the best examples of black oak savannas left in the world. The other three sites, which are home to many plants, birds and small animals, are within a 10- to 20-minute drive of Pembroke Savanna. 

• Getting Here

  Finding TNC’s Kankakee Sands-Illinois preserve can be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the Pembroke Township, Illinois area. If you are looking online or on your phone for the preserve, be sure to search specifically for “The Nature Conservancy Kankakee Sands Illinois.”

  There are three different Kankakee Sands preserves, which can cause confusion. TNC manages two of these preserves: Kankakee Sands-Illinois and Kankakee Sands-Indiana. Also, the Forest Preserve District of Will County, Illinois, has a Kankakee Sands Preserve. 

• What Else to Know Before You Visit

  Kankakee Sands-Illinois is rustic and natural. The sandy trails are not paved.

  Currently, there are no bathroom facilities, water fountains, picnic tables or garbage cans at any of the sites. Please bring water and pack out what you bring in to help keep our preserve clean for other visitors. 

  Limited roadside parking is available at each of our four preserve sites. 

  Public washrooms are available at the following locations: 

  • Rodeo Park, 3687 S. Main Street, Pembroke Township, Illinois

  • The Iroquois County State Wildlife Area, 2803 E 3300 North Rd, Pembroke Township, IL 60958

  We recommend that you wear comfortable shoes, apply sunscreen and take precautions against ticks when you visit.

• Volunteer

  TNC volunteers play a huge part at Kankakee Sands. Whether they help to transplant seedlings or spray invasive plants, the time and energy they donate toward restoring and maintaining prairies and savannas at Kankakee Sands is critical. Our volunteers have donated hundreds of hours in the restoration and management of the site. 

  For volunteer opportunities, please contact Mihesha Gibbs (mihesha.gibbs@tnc.org).