Park District of Highland Park : Heller Nature Center

Heller Nature Center
2821 Ridge Road
Highland Park, Illinois 60035 View Map
Phone: 847.433.6901 Fax: 847.433.8856

Oak-hickory forests, tall grass prairie, oak savanna and natural wetlands are an oasis for native plants and animals at this 97-acre preserve of the Park District of Highland Park. Heller has been under public stewardship since 1977 where careful resource management, including restoration and controlled burns, provides a taste of an authentic native landscape. Visitors can enjoy a picnic in our woodlands, visit our nature exhibit, participate in a program, or rent cross-country skis and explore our three miles of trails. At Heller, every season is suitable to enjoy the outdoors.

Office Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday, 9:00am-3:00pm
Grounds open dawn to dusk daily.

Walking Trails

Three miles of marked trails (view our trail map) offer close contact with nature and a little bit of solitude amidst the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s northern suburbs.

Help Preserve Heller Nature Center

Respect our plants and animals, leave them for all to enjoy.
Hike the trails. Leave bicycles and motorized vehicles in the parking lot.
Do not release animals into Heller's eco-system.
Keep your pets leashed, and remove any waste.
Enjoy Heller's picnic areas, but do not bring alcohol on site.

HNC Interpretive Center

Be sure to stop by the Interpretive Center during business hours to check out the Nature Exhibit! Through interactive displays, you'll learn about the three main biological communities found at Heller Nature Center (Oak-Hickory Woodlands, Northern Flatwoods and Prairie). Featured in the exhibit is a bird watching station where visitors are able to observe, identify and even draw the birds they see, and a 450-gallon aquarium that showcases native fish and aquatic plants.