What Are Natural Areas?
Imagine yourself as an early settler in Kane County. At that time, St. Charles was surrounded by a majestic mosaic of prairie, woodlands and wetlands. The Fox River and its tributaries meandered through this rich wilderness. Over the years, cities and farms were established and expanded throughout this original landscape. What is left of the Fox Valley’s original natural heritage are our precious natural areas.
Visiting A Natural Area
The St. Charles Park District currently maintains and restores over 415 acres of natural areas. These local areas represent many different natural communities including fens, woodland, marshes, savannas, sedge meadows, streams and prairies. Visit one today!
Delnor Wood Parks – 42 acres
A native oak-hickory woodland with century-old trees plus native plantings, interpretative signage, fishing opportunities, picnic pavilions, paved pathways and a dam with a small waterfall.
Ferson Creek Fen – 46 acres
Premiere wetland with a sedge meadow, boardwalk, fen with rare plants, walking trails, floodplain woods and prairie restoration.
Hickory Knolls Natural Areas – 131 acres
A large and extremely diverse landscape environment featuring restored woodlands, wetlands, prarie and savanna with a picnic pavilion and walking trails.
Hunt Club Wetland – 3 acres
A restored wetland acting as a flood control component.
Kingswood Wetland/Woodland – 5 acres
A mature woodland dominated by maple and oak.
Majestic Oaks Wetland/Woodland – 12.5 acres
A mature woodland dominated by maple and oak.
Norris Woods – 73 acres
An outstanding red oak forest with a wide diversity of wildflowers, interpretive signage, a gravel biking trail and a model restored stream channel.
Otter Creek Bend Wetland Park – 69 acres
A model, restored wetland with interpretative signage, gravel walking trail system, creek bridge, and stone overlook.
Persimmon Woods – 30 acres
A unique upland swamp dominated by swamp white oaks, white oaks and hickories with adjacent marshy wetlands and a white oak wooded enclave.
Royal Fox Wetland/Woodland – 3.8 acres
A mature woodland dominated by maple and oak and a restored wetland acting as a flood control component.
Williams Wetland – 3 acres
A restored wetland acting as a flood control component.
Click here for a map of the St. Charles Park District parks and facilities. The purple pins mark natural areas.