Outdoors & Recreation State Parks, Preserves, & Forests

Jarrett Prairie Nature Preserve

Byron, IL - Ogle County

Address:

  • 7993 North River Road
  • Byron, IL, 61010
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Details

The Byron Forest Preserve District was founded in 1980 to protect 120 acres of rare dolomite prairie at this preserve. This preserve is made up of 420 acres of rolling hills of rare dolomite tallgrass prairie, oak savannas and woodlands.

The preserve is home to the Jarrett Prairie Center which houses the District’s administrative offices, national award winning Jarrett Prairie Center Museum and a 2,600 square foot Prairie Overlook Deck.

The preserve also has the Weiskopf Observatory which provides year-round public sky viewing programs and the LEED Platinum certified Keller Education Center which is home to the District’s preschool education program.  There are also three picnic shelters, a playground, sledding hill and miles of hiking trails. The preserve is adjacent to the District’s Prairie View Golf Club and Prairie Fire Golf & Grill,  and a Toptracer year-round driving range entertainment facility.

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