Winnebago County has several nice forest preserves that are great places to kick back, relax, or enjoy a family picnic, or some scenic hiking trails. Some of the forest preserves have camping facilities with electric hook ups and dump stations. We've enjoyed camping at Sugar River and Honnenegah Forest Preserve, both just a few miles from our home when we lived in this area. There are three more forest preserves within just a couple of miles of our campground (Blackhawk Valley Campground). We have been driving by these three forest preserves almost daily for the last four weeks, and each time we would look at each other and say, "We just gotta stop and check out these forest preserves."
Well, today we finally did just that. Kitty, Kallie, and I made the short drive down Blackhawk Road to Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve. It was established in 1927 and has a paved trail that connects to Blackhawk Springs and Espenschied Memorial Forest Preserve
This is a shelter house call Fort Vincennes.
I could not find any history on the internet regarding this shelter. But, the stone work certainly looks like a structure that may have been built by the CCC 's back in the 1930's. Since the park was established in 1927, it's possible the CCC built this shelter.
This is a view of the Kishwaukee River that flows a short distance from the shelter.
Our next stop was Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve. This park was established in 1978, and has a paved walking path that conncects to Espenschied and Kishwaukee Forest Preserves. We choose to take the path leading back to Kishwaukee Forest Preserve because it was shorter than the other route, and it ran along the Kishwaukee River.
As we walked along the path, we came to this bridge with a small creek running under it that empties into the Kishwaukee River.
Peeking through the foliage, I snapped this picture of the Kishwaukee River.
The path was an easy walk and mostly shaded which provide a bit of cooling relief from the hot July sun. But, despite a coating of bug spray, we almost got carried away by the giant mosquitoes. One of them landed in front of Kallie and stood there looking at her eye to eye! Ha!Our last stop today was at Espenshied Memorial Forest Preserve established in 1979. Since our blood supply was depleted from the previous walk, we just stopped here long enough to take a couple of photos and headed back to our campground.
Kallie wants to go for a swim!
lovely little post. I visited today for the first time Fort Vincennes. I was intrigued by the building so I googled it and found your blog. You should see the beautiful fall colors between the fort and the river.
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