Your Forest Preserves

Raven Glen

Raven Glen features gently rolling hills and woodlands, and allows for the restoration of prairie and savanna areas. The site also contains 33-acre Timber Lake and nine high-quality wetlands. The site's largest wetlands are positioned along the northern edge of the property. Proper restoration of the wetlands will improve the overall water quality of Timber Lake and habitat for aquatic species.

The Preserve features two trail systems divided by Timber Lake. East of Timber Lake, a 2.1-mile multi-purpose trail system offers a gravel trail for hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing, and a separate grass trail for horseback riding only. Where possible, the two trails remain separate, joining only briefly near trail intersections. Raven Glen also features a 0.4-mile woodland walk open to hikers only.

West of Timber Lake and accessible by the west trailhead entrance on Route 173 just west of Savage Road, a 2.12- mile shared trail is open for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Trails east and west of Timber Lake do not connect.

In addition to these multi-use trails, Raven Glen also offers picnic tables, a water pump, two wheelchair-accessible fishing piers with benches, an overlook, a toilet and a horse trailer parking area.

Fishing is allowed at Timber Lake, but not at White Slough.

Raven Glen Forest Preserve is located in north-central Lake County between the villages of Antioch and Old Mill Creek.

The main entrance and parking area is located on Route 45 south of Route 173 and north of Miller Road. A second entrance with parking and trail access is located on Route 173 just west of Route 45. Note: the this trail section does not connect to the main Preserve.

The northern portion of the site was formerly a campground and contains Timber Lake, two smaller connected ponds, wetlands, and an oak / hickory grove. There are also several woodland areas near Timber Lake and interspersed throughout the wetland areas along the parcel’s northern border.

The southern portion of the site was a dairy farm consisting mostly of rolling cropland, a farmstead and a stream. Prior to 1998, Raven Glen Farm was used for dairy operations and houses several buildings that were once considered state-of-the-art for dairy production during the 1950s and 1960s.

The Preserve was acquired in various stages with funds from voter-approved referenda. A $400,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was received for the development of the trails, parking area and fishing piers.

The most prominent natural features of Raven Glen are Timber Lake, which is a glacial lake, Hastings Creek, scattered wetlands and rolling terrain with oak and hickory groves.

With a sandy base, Timber Lake supports the a population of rare Iowa darter fish. While the Forest Preserve owns 95 percent of Timber Lake, the northern portion of the lake is privately owned and not accessible for public use.

Planned restoration of Raven Glen's savanna, prairie, wetlands and streams will enhance the water quality of Timber Lake. It will also improve habitat for wildlife, including grassland bird species like the eastern meadowlark and bobolink, and wetland birds such as great blue herons, egrets and other waterfowl.