Exploring the forest preserves of Roscoe

Depending on how you define the Roscoe area, you can find more than half a dozen Forest Preserves nearby, including some of the most popular of the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. Some are mostly forest, some are mostly prairie, several include wetlands, and some are primarily golf courses.

Stone Bridge (6119 Burr Oak Road) gets its name from the iconic Chicago & North Western Railway Stone Arch Bridge, also known as the Kinnikinnick Creek Railway Bridge, which was built with wood in 1853 and rebuilt with stone in 1882. Around here we call it the Old Stone Bridge, of course. The Forest Preserve includes 127 acres but it's undeveloped - sometime in the future, they will add parking on Burr Oak Road that connects to the bike trail. Stone Bridge Bike Trail forms the southern and western boundary from Burr Oak almost to the interstate. The historic bridge and observation deck aren't actually within the Forest Preserve boundaries. 

Hononegah (80 Hononegah Road, Rockton) is Winnebago County's oldest preserve and with so many amenities, it's one of the most popular. The 228-acre preserve includes 2.7 miles of trails, 57 campsites, three shelterhouses for picnics, a playground, a boat launch on the Rock River, a ball field, a quaint bridge, fall leaves and spring flowers. And it has forests - big white oaks, maples, and hickories. Purchased in 1924, they say it was a campsite for Stephen Mack and his wife Hononegah, perhaps in the late 1820s before they founded Macktown/Pecatonic. 

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Roland Olson (9669 Atwood Road) was formerly a polo center and is still popular for horseback riding. Bicyclists can park there to ride on the adjacent Stone Bridge Trail. Much of the 127 acre preserve is restored prairie, with 1.5 miles of trails, though it also contains upland woods and remnant pine plantation. The large Stuga shelterhouse has play equipment, restrooms, and a large grass field next to it. 

Clayton Andrews (8399 Kiowa Crossing) is an 88-acre wetland preserve, undeveloped and surrounded by residences on Legend Lakes Drive, Sleepy Hollow Drive, Dunham Drive, and Kiowa Crossing (though Kiowas do not cross there as a rule). The only public entrance is on  the south side of Kiowa Crossing across from Legend Lake, which has signs telling you not to park there. The 2.1 mile trail begins east of the dam,  and it's a delightful hike once you find it, as it crosses North Kinnikinnick Creek and other streams.

Kieselburg (5801 Swanson Road) is the first Forest Preserve we visited when we moved to Roscoe. We quickly observed that this Forest Preserve is not primarily a forest. But the flat, unobstructed terrain makes it much easier to fly radio controlled model airplanes, to play soccer, or to hike the almost three miles of trails. You'll also find one of the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County's largest prairie restoration projects here, including gravel prairie, wet prairie and an uncommon "calcareous seep" with a variety of wetland plants such as peat moss, cotton top sedge, marsh blazing star, cord grass, tussocks, Culvers root and dozens of other wetland plants. It has two shelterhouses that you can reserve for large picnic gatherings, up to 200 people in each.

Three Forest Preserves have golf courses and all three are near Roscoe: Ledges, Atwood Homestead, and Macktown. You can reserve tee times at https://www.playthepreserves.com. 

Ledges (7111 McCurry Road) was a private golf course before its purchase by the Forest Preserve District in 1978. The 18-hole course includes fairway bunkers, sand traps, and water hazards on 10 holes. The website says, "This challenging course... often requires the use of every club in your bag." The preserve includes the private Ledges Pool but no hiking trails. 

Atwood Homestead (8990 Old River Road, Rockford) has two picnic shelters, boat ramp, canoe access, and two docks on the Rock River, besides an 18 hole course and an original limestone home, remodeled for use as the clubhouse. The Atwood family settled here in 1840.

Macktown (2221 Freeport Rd, Rockton) was Winnebago County's first permanent settlement and the home site of early pioneer Stephen Mack. It includes his restored 1839 home and the 1846 Whitman Trading Post.

More News from Roscoe

• Whiskey Hotel Barbecue’s grand opening is a smokin’ success Roscoe's new barbecue business at 5522 Elevator Road is open from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday - Sunday.
• Nancy Mohns volunteered at church over the years Visitation will be Friday and Saturday, May 3, 2024, with memorial service Saturday at noon.