Skokie Lagoons, Illinois, United States

4.5 (21 reviews) Spent Ranking #2 in Winnetka Bodies of Water • Biking Trails • Nature & Wildlife Areas

beautiful nature preserve

Currently there are no permanent restrooms or drinking fountains. When the new, full-service boathouse is built, it will have those amenities plus canoe and kayak rental, outdoor tables, etc. Meanwhile, enjoy in season the trails and paths, fishing, bird watching, model boat area, cross-country skiing, dog-friendly areas, canoe and kayak use, and so on. This area was a huge marsh which was part of the traditional lands of the Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi tribes. These native lands were ceded to the federal government by a series of treaties. The Cook County Forest Preserve system acquired the land in 1920. The seven lagoons were created by public works projects that began during the Depression in order to control flooding, eliminate a serious mosquito problem, and increase recreational opportunities. See my August 2017 review for more details.

Address

, Winnetka, Illinois, United States, Postal Code: 60022.

Website

http://fpdcc.com/places/locations/skokie-lagoons

Current local date and time now

Friday, May 10, 2024, 6:29

User Ratings

4.5 based on (21 reviews)

Excellent
66%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%

Reviews

  • 5fraink 5:00 PM Feb 2, 2016
    Kayaking on the lagoons
    Check the actual operating times but you can very inexpensively rent a kayak for two and go out on the lagoons and Paddle it's a great experience my son who is five absolutely loved it! One way in this metropolitan area to keep in touch with nature!
  • 4RJK_Chicago 5:00 PM Aug 17, 2018
    A great place for a quick kayaking
    This is a wonderful location, not far from Route 41, right by the exit, and always busy. It was made from damming up the Skokie River (which flows through the Botanic Gardens a bit north in Glencoe. If I want to get a quick trip on my kayak, I go here. My only complaint is that I wish they were able to clean it up. Normally, it is easy to navigate, but last time it was so filled with pond weed that it was even hard to get through. Nonetheless, it is worth it. The bird life you will see is also amazing.

See also