Winter Sports at the Forest Preserve

The Lake County Forest Preserves' winter sports hotline provides current winter sports conditions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 847-968-3235. A recorded message conveys current trail and ice conditions for sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing or ice skating at Lake County Forest Preserve locations. Condition reports, maps and other winter sports information are also available onthe Lake County Forest Preserves' website at www.LCFPD.org.

Sledding
Sled hills are located at Lakewood Forest Preserve (Wauconda) and Old SchoolForest Preserve (Libertyville). The Lakewood hill is part of a dedicated Winter Sports Area at that site, and is lighted, allowing for winter fun until 9 p.m., daily. The Old School hill is open until one hour after sunset, when conditions allow sledding. Snowboards, metal runners or toboggans are not permitted.

Cross-country Skiing
Cross-country skiers can enjoy more than 124 miles of trails at forest preserves throughout Lake County. Groomed trails are available at Lakewood's Winter Sports Area and at Old School, when conditions allow. Grooming is typically done two days after a large snow fall. A 4-inch snow base is required for cross-country skiing at the Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods.

Snowmobiling
Snowmobilers can use nearly 24 miles of designated trails within the preserves, manyof which connect to other area snowmobile trails. A 4-inch snow base is required for snowmobiling. These trails are groomed and patrolled by Lake County Forest Preserve staff and volunteers.

Snowmobile trail routes at Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve in Grayslake have been changed in an effort to protect wildlife and sensitive natural areas. Snowmobilers should use caution and watch for trail route signs at this location, and along all other forest preserve snowmobile trails.

Snowmobilers can ride for eight miles along the DPR trail from Russell Road to just south of Wadsworth Road. Parking and trail access is provided at Van Patten Woods just east of Route 41 at Russell Road and at the Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch.

When conditions allow, snowmobile trails are open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6:30 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The following snowmobile trailer parking lots are open extended hours for snowmobilers: Van Patten Woods parking area (on Russell Road east of Route 41 in Wadsworth), Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch parking area (on Wadsworth Road east of Route 41 in Wadsworth), and the Operations Office parking area at Lakewood (on Ivanhoe Road west of Fairfield Road in Wauconda). All other parking lots close at dusk.

Ice Skating

DOT Improves Efficiency and Goes Green with GPS Units on Snow Plows and Blending Salt with Beet Juice

Click on image to view the video.

Click on image to view video

The Lake County Division of Transportation is enhancing efficiency of snow removal, and going green through innovation and technology. Global positioning systems (GPS) on snow plows and other DOT vehicles are providing real-time tracking of these vehicles, as well as the application of salt and de-ice materials. The data is then used to better coordinate and target services, saving on salt and gas. Lake County installed 32 GPS units so far and is collecting the data that will be used as a benchmark for future years. DOT projects a savings of about 600 tons of salt and 1,600 gallons of diesel annually. The GPS units were funded using a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. Additionally, DOT is helping the environment by using less salt on the roads with new techniques, including pre-wetting the salt before application, and blending it with beet juice. The result has been a 25% reduction of salt per treatment.

Watch this 4 ½ minute video to learn more about these advancements in snow removal operations.  

Village of Lake Zurich 2011 Winter Program Park and Recreation

Clink on the link above to lean about programs the Lake Zurich Parks and Recreation Department is offering residents this winter and spring.