Pilcher Park Nature Center — Attraction in Joliet

A fantastic place to visit. This is really just part of a larger Park system, the are really three Parks combined together here. the parks are Pilcher Park, Highland Park and bird Haven. The Nature Center is located within the Pilcher Park section. the roads are paved very nicely, it's scenic and there's a nice area where Hickory Creek runs through this entire park. On the far East section of the park there is also a large Conservatory with many plants. On the Far Western section of this Park complex is a Frisbee Golf Course. So this is quite an adventurous area to explore. a further interest you may find, across Gouger Road that borders the Far Eastern section is yet another Forest Preserve called Higginbottom Woods. There are hiking trails lots of wooded areas a picnic area a children's play section and bike trails. Pack a lunch and spend the day! Or drive through for a short visit either way you can find plenty to do don't forget the Nature Center is almost a miniature zoo in...

I have been going to this nature center and the Horticultural center since I was a child. The nature Center is great for children of all ages. They have wheelchair accessible access and paths too. Once you get into the center there is a turtle pond, fish tanks, a hawk enclosure, bearded dragon, ferrets, and much more. I signed up my daughter for the Little Sprouts class and it was perfect for a 1 year old! She loved it. There was a nature walk where we learned about flowers, book reading, snacks, and the class was an hour which was just about the right time. It definitely had my daughter's interest. We will definitely be signing up for...

Great walking paths, with some of them paved. There is also a nature center with a few animals and some hands-on pieces of nature for kids (antlers, bones, etc.). The people working there are extremely friendly and knowledgeable (did you know all deer lose their entire antlers every year and grow them back, even the giant ones? I didn't!). If you go at certain times of the year you'll see spigots stuck in the maple trees to collect the sap. There is a "sugar shack" on site they use to make syrup. All in all a fantastic place to take a hike and learn a few things...