Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve Center is located in Will County, Illinois, close to the town of Park Forest. It is part of Will County’s Forest Preserve District. Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve is located at 247 Monee Road in Park Forest, about 0.25 miles north of Stunkel Road. The preserve is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk, and the Nature Center is open from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays. Thorn Creek Nature Preserve, at 830 acres, is located at the headwaters of Thorn Creek and features bottomlands, ravines, and white-oak forests interspersed with marsh and meadows.
The actual nature center is housed within an old church off Monee Road. It has two stories and a nature library as well as nature exhibits. The trail begins behind the church and leads into the woods to the east. The terrain varies. The trail begins on high ground before descending into the Thorn Creek River Valley. It then crosses the creek and loops back up and out of the valley. The terrain is quite rugged, especially near the river and its tributaries, which have carved numerous gorges and ravines. You can also visit Bartel Grassland and Water Reserve. If you’re located in Park Forest, il; then contact Atap. Or for more information call them at 773-701-7705.