Explore over three miles of walking trails!
Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve
2821 Ridge Road, northwest of Half Day Road (Rt. 22) and Highway 41.
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Explore over three miles of walking trails!
Explore over three miles of walking trails!
This park is designated a natural area.
The Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve consists of 97 acres of actively managed mixed oak woodlands and oak savannas with areas of mesic woods, mesic prairies, wetlands, pond, and pine woods.
History
In 1839 the land was described by the Public Land notes as a mosaic of prairie, savanna and wetlands with thin timber. The land was bought and used for grazing cows. Livestock and horses over grazed the area where the Nature Center sits. The pine woods area is left over from when the grounds served as a Christmas tree farm. The preserve is home to Heller Nature Center. The Environmental Science class at Highland Park High School donated and planted 106 oak and hickory saplings for Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve in April of 2002.
Elliot Rothschild, along with funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Park District of Highland Park, and the public participation, donated the funds in 2002 to build the Andrew Rothschild Program Area in memory of Elliot’s son, Andrew, who died two years before. The program area includes an open sided shelter, with hand-laid flagstones, custom benches and a fireplace.
Goodman Log Cabin
History
In 1839 the land was described by the Public Land notes as a mosaic of prairie, savanna and wetlands with thin timber. The land was bought and used for grazing cows. Livestock and horses over grazed the area where the Nature Center sits. The pine woods area is left over from when the grounds served as a Christmas tree farm. The preserve is home to Heller Nature Center. The Environmental Science class at Highland Park High School donated and planted 106 oak and hickory saplings for Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve in April of 2002.
Elliot Rothschild, along with funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Park District of Highland Park, and the public participation, donated the funds in 2002 to build the Andrew Rothschild Program Area in memory of Elliot’s son, Andrew, who died two years before. The program area includes an open sided shelter, with hand-laid flagstones, custom benches and a fireplace.
Goodman Log Cabin
Features, Amenities and Activities
- Cross-country skiing and rentals
- Home to Heller Nature Center
- Parking lot
- Picnic areas
- Trails
- Wildlife includes white-tailed deer, coyotes, hawks, owls, bluebirds, numerous songbirds, and a wide variety of insects and small mammals.