LaBagh Woods - Get to Know the North Branch Hiking Series

5275 North Cicero Avenue,Chicago IL 60646

26 February, 2022

Description

Join Friends of the Forest Preserves for a series of hikes to get to know the preserves along the North Branch of the Chicago River Cost: FREE Hike distance: 2.5mi Spots available: 15 Meeting Location: LaBagh Woods - Picnic Grove 1 LaBagh Woods may be in the middle of urban Chicago, but it's still a majorly important spot for wildlife, especially migrating birds. LaBagh has a rich history and a thriving volunteer community that works to restore wildlife habitat on the site and also to photographically document the species that call LaBagh Woods home. Much of their focus is on planting native shrubs to support birds. On this hike we’ll explore the extensive floodplain, bluffs, and flatwoods of LaBagh Woods. We’ll talk about the importance of floodplains, how LaBagh Woods has transformed over the past 200+ years, and the cutting edge shrub restoration work volunteers are experimenting with at the preserve. Important details: Face coverings are required when social distancing isn’t possible. Parts of this hike will be on dirt paths and off-trail. Trails might be snowy or muddy, so boots and possibly ice cleats are recommended. We usually wait until one hour before the event to send out a notice of cancellation in the event of bad weather. So please watch your emails on the day of the hike. Meet near the pavilion at Picnic Grove #1. Look for yellow “volunteer” signs to mark the meeting spot. This hike is the first in a series of 15 hikes organized by Friends of the Forest Preserves to showcase the different forest preserves on the North Branch of the Chicago River. Throughout the year we will be leading a hike at another forest preserve, making our way upstream and visiting most of the forest preserves along the North Branch. On every hike, we’ll explore the flora, fauna, natural history, human history, and conservation efforts at another North Branch preserve. Our next hike will be at Forest Glen Woods on Sunday, March 20, 2022. As an added incentive, for those who want to really get to know the North Branch, we're offering prizes for people who attend 5, 7, or 10 of the hikes in this series. We unite people to protect, promote, and care for the forest preserves in Cook County. Founded in 1998 by a small group of concerned citizens, Friends is now a force of thousands of committed volunteers and members. Through political advocacy, ecological restoration, and community engagement, we ensure the forest preserves will always be a source of recreation and relaxation.