Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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    • Autumn on the Prairie Festival 2020 Cancelled
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      • Weekly Top Picks
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      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
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    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
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      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
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Map and Directions

Nachusa Grasslands

Visitor Center
(Volunteer workday meeting site)
Open dawn to dusk 7 days a week

NO DOGS or OTHER PETS ALLOWED
2075 Lowden Road
​Franklin Grove, IL 61031


Headquarters Barn
(Authorized entry only)

8772 S Lowden Road
​Franklin Grove, IL 61031
Picture

Preserve hours of operation
The unfenced areas of Nachusa Grasslands are open for hiking every day from dawn to dusk, except during controlled burn and hunting seasons.
Nachusa Grasslands is located four miles northwest of Franklin Grove on Lowden Road, between Naylor and Stone Barn Roads.

Note: The Headquarters Barn is in Ogle County, and the Visitor Center is in Lee County. Both are on the same road, but the addresses are different. The Visitor Center is 1/2 mile south of the Headquarters Barn.
Visitor Center
Nachusa's Visitor Center is open every day from dawn to dusk. When you arrive at the Visitor Center, park in the new lot and climb the low hill to the pavilion featuring exhibits that tell the story of Nachusa.
Picture
    Pet Policy 

East

from Chicago, IL
100 miles
  • I-88 West to I-39 North (83 miles)
  • I-39 North to IL-38 (1.97 miles)
  • Turn left on IL-38 (heading west 1.7 miles) to N Caron Rd. Turn right (north).
  • North on N Caron Rd for .48 miles to Flagg Rd. Turn left.
  • West on Flagg Rd. for 15.17 miles to S Lowden Rd. Turn left.
  • South on S Lowden Rd for 1.33 miles.
  • The Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center is on the right (west), 2075 Lowden Rd.

South

from Springfield, IL
190 miles
  • I-55 N toward Chicago to I-39 N/US-51 N (66.46 miles)
  • I-39 N/US-51 N for 168 miles to IL-38, Exit 99. 
  • Turn left on IL-38 (heading west 1.7 miles) to N Caron Rd. Turn right (north).
  • North on N Caron Rd for .48 miles to Flagg Rd. Turn left.
  • West on Flagg Rd. for 15.17 miles to S Lowden Rd. Turn left.
  • South on S Lowden Rd for 1.33 miles.
  • The Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center is on the right (west), 2075 Lowden Rd.

North

​from Rockford, IL
45.2 miles
  • I-39 South to IL-38 (44 miles)
  • Turn right on IL-38 (heading west 1.7 miles) to N Caron Rd. Turn right (north).​
  • North on N Caron Rd for .48 miles to Flagg Rd. Turn left.
  • West on Flagg Rd. for 15.17 miles to S Lowden Rd. Turn left.
  • South on S Lowden Rd for 1.33 miles.
  • The Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center is on the right (west), 2075 Lowden Rd.

West

​from Iowa, IL
85 miles
  • Take I-88 East/West Tollway. (70 miles) to IL-26/S Galena Ave, Exit 54 toward Dixon
  • Take IL-26 exit to IL-2 (1.6 mile). 
  • IL-2 to Lost Nation Rd. (2.8 miles)
  • Lost Nation Rd east until joins Flagg Rd. (3.8 miles)
  • Continue on Flagg Rd. to Lowden Rd. (2.6 miles)
  • In .99 miles, the Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center is on the left (east), 2075 Lowden Rd.
  • Turn right (South) on S Lowden Rd. Drive 1.33 miles.
  • The Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center is on the right (west), 2075 Lowden Rd.
UPDATED 09/2020

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Map & Directions

2075 Lowden Road             |           Franklin Grove, IL 61031              |             Contact Us


PRIVACY POLICY
© 2021 FRIENDS OF NACHUSA GRASSLANDS
  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission and Leadership
    • Endowments
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Friends Annual Reports
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • 2020 Autumn on the Prairie – On Your Own
    • Visitor Center
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • Bison Viewing
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Autumn on the Prairie Festival 2020 Cancelled
    • Public Tours 2020 Cancelled
    • Pet Policy
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays
    • Workdays – November to February
    • Workday Email List
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Stewards and Staff
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Weekly Top Picks
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Links & Resources
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Symposium 2021 RSVP
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2020
      • Science Grants 2019
      • Science Grants 2018
      • Science Grants 2017
      • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2015
      • Science Grants 2014
      • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Science Symposium Abstracts >
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2019
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2018
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2017
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2016
    • Scientific Publications
    • Testimonials >
      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
    • Science Videos
    • Calling Frog Monitoring
    • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • 30th Anniversary Memories
    • Websites of Interest
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
      • Visitor Photos
  • Contact Us / FAQs