Ryerson Conservation Area

 Lake County’s first European settler, Captain Daniel Wright, owned property within the preserve. In the 1920s, a small number of families, including the Ryersons, Borlands and Fishers, purchased land here and built log cabins as weekend retreats.

In 1942, the Ryersons built a summer estate home, which became the center of activity for their Brushwood Farm, known for its Arabian horses. In 1966, the Ryerson family began to donate land to the Lake County Forest Preserves that eventually totaled 257 acres. The other families followed their lead and also donated and sold land enabling Ryerson Woods to grow to its current size.

Over 6.5 miles of scenic trails wind through woods to the Des Plaines River. Trails here are open for hiking and cross-country skiing. Trails lead past historic buildings, next to the Des Plaines River and into a woodland dense enough to block out most human-made noises.

EDWARD L. RYERSON CONSERVATION AREA in Riverwoods, IL. We are starting a double loop hike that should be about 4.5 miles. The inner loop explores the property facilities with several boardwalks while the outer loop goes to and along the Des Plaines River.

There is more to Ryerson Woods than the trails. The Brushwood Center has entertainment. https://www.brushwoodcenter.org​. As we walk, we talk about the going lightweight without any backpack.

Ryerson Conservation Area is one of the best examples of a northern flatwoods forest, a rare northern Illinois landscape. The 552-acre Preserve supports some of Illinois’ most pristine woodlands and several state-threatened and endangered species, and offers 6.5 miles of scenic trails that wind through a stately forest to the quiet Des Plaines River.

The boardwalks are nice but its very wet and there are areas when you will get muddy. The outer loop along the river is surprisingly less muddy.

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We are on the east side of the Des Plaines River while the formal Des Plaines River Trail is on the west side of the river. We stop and admire this little inlet of water while looking across to the people on the Des Plaines River Trail.

One of the neat aspects of this hike is the obvious human history that is told along the way. The Ryerson Cabin is the original ‘get away’ cabin for Mr. Ryerson. We use the benefit of the 360° camera to see inside the cabin.

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Join us as we sit on a fallen tree leaning over the Des Plaines River. We don’t talk much so as to enjoy the sounds.

Use the 360° video controls to spin around and see the Smith Cabin and then the Des Plaines River as we hike along the shore.

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Ryan talks about the ease and comfort that the Ryerson Hike provides. Its well marked and a good day hike distance.

Ryerson Woods provides a double loop experience for a 5 mile hike. The inner loop has several wooden boardwalks yet it is more muddy in the areas without the boardwalks. The outer loop goes along the Des Plaines River and visits the original Ryerson Cabin.

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