About Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is part of the USDA Forest Service and is located in Wilmington, IL right off of Rt 53. It is the first national tallgrass prairie in the country and the largest open space in the Chicago metropolitan area and northeastern Illinois. Encouraging people to get outdoors and explore the natural world around them is part of what we do here by offering 30 miles of trails, 22 of which are also open to bicycles and horseback riding. Midewin is also rich in local history providing insights into the Native American tribes who lived here long ago, the first settlers to the region, and its former life as the Joliet Arsenal during WWII through the Viet Nam Wars.