Wander at the Wetland: Full Moon Snowshoe & Hike
Hike, snowshoe, or ski this prairie trail near Rockton, lit by hundreds of luminaries.
Natural Land Institute invites families and individuals of all ages to experience the winter landscape of prairies and wetlands from dusk through the rise of the full moon at the winter-themed Wander at the Wetland: Full Moon Snowshoe & Hike on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 at Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W. Rockton Rd., Rockton, Illinois, 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend this free open house-style event where they can come and go at their own pace throughout the event time.
The prairie trail will be lit by hundreds of luminaries sponsored by NorthPointe Health & Wellness Campus. Attendees are invited to bring their own snowshoes or skis. Snowshoes will be available to rent from Rocktown Adventures for a donation of $10 per pair to NLI.
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Two bonfires will help keep the winter revelers warm, as well as hot cocoa and coffee. Snacks will be available inside the red barn where folks are asked to check in upon arrival. Attendees are invited to have fun while hiking, snowshoeing or skiing around Nygren Wetland and listen for night sounds like the hoot of an owl, the cry of coyotes and watch for the glow of the full moon on the snow-covered prairie and ice-covered wetland.
Registration is requested by noon on Feb. 6 at www.naturalland.org or by calling 815-964-6666.
The Carl & Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve is a 721-acre wildlife sanctuary near Rockton, owned by the Natural Land Institute. The preserve features prairies, wetlands, bottomland forest, oxbow lakes and ponds. Raccoon Creek runs through the preserve with the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers forming the southeast corner of it. The Dianne Nora Nature Trail is a free 2.5 mile hiking trail that goes around the wetland and is part of the Prairie State Hike app (99¢ in the Apple or Android stores).
The Natural Land Institute (NLI), an accredited land trust, is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit conservation organization based in Rockford, Illinois and has protected more than 18,000 acres of natural land in Illinois since 1958. Their current service area covers twelve counties in northern Illinois. NLI’s mission is to create an enduring legacy of natural land in northern Illinois for people, plants and animals.
