Volo Bog State Natural Area - Ingleside, Illinois

Xerrøu

Have known about this spot here since I was just a little one around 5 years old or so, I'm quite familiar with it. It's changed some, yet still looks exactly the same as I remember it over a decade ago. If you don't know the history of it's geology, it's actually pretty neat.
Essentially, a prehistoric glacier used to sit where the heart of the bog is now. It created the swampy landscape it is known as today through a long period of melting down into a body of water. There's some informational plaques along the trail for you to read where you can learn more about it in detail if you wanted to check it out for yourself, but here's what I have to share in review;

If you have the time for a bit of an adventure, the main trail is actually just over 3 miles or so circling the marsh. The floating platforms that lead deep through the center of the bog branch off from the main trail, not far from the starting point. It's useful to keep in mind that you won't always be able access every walkway if the water level is higher than usual. You will sometimes have to turn back the way you came to ensure your feet stay dry, unless you're willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort and trudge on through a couple inches of water where it's submerged. If you're gonna be visiting the bog for a while, I advise you wear some decent outdoor footwear and put on a generous amount of bug repellent. You probably wouldn't want to wear sporty gym shoes in the thick of it during the humid summer months, and In my experience the bugs aren't that terrible here but you will definitely want to have some kind of protection from them nonetheless.

Overall, if you're looking for a little outdoors time the Volo bog reserve is a great little spot. It's nothing spectacular, but it does feature some serious plant life, a fair bit of scenery, and a surprisingly wide variety of critters you could possibly run into. Always an enjoyable experience so long as you come prepared for it.

Christie M.

While here I checked out 3 trails:
Deerpath Loop: Nothing to write home about. Easily skipable.
Prairie Ridge: Really pretty. Pretty open so expect a bit of sun. The bug situation was extremely annoying. Overall, worth a walk.
Bog Trail: Already cannot wait to go back! A must walk! Beautiful views, floating walkways, and the eye of the bog was just gorgeous. There was an area on the walk, about halfway through, that was so quiet. You could feel the peace. Simply fantastic.

Nena S.

A loop of a little over 4 miles. Some parts are grass, some gravel, some sun and some shade. If you hike the interpretive trail, that will be on a floating boardwalk through the marsh. It was very cool. There is a lot to see here. There is an observation deck, a "chipmunk" play area, a nature center and lots of critters. There were garbage cans and benches to relax, throughout the trail.

Maria I.

We followed a few easy trails around this beautiful nature preserve. I’d recommend wearing a hat in the summer as some parts of the trails were rather exposed. The views were lovely and the terrain was comparatively flat. Certainly worth a visit!

Dresden G.

Gorgeous park! This is a garbage can free park (pack in- pack out). Lots of natural trails to enjoy with leashed dogs.

Geart B.

Quite a fascinating little state park with a fascinating variety of habitats. The floating pathways are fun to walk on and they make you feel like you're really immersing yourself into the swamp and bog.

Jacob F.

Even when it's cold, there's still some nice wildlife in the park! Glad to see that this bit of land is preserved for future generations and not just demolished for suburbs.

Don't go expecting Yosemite though, it's still just a bog lol. Nice to visit if you're in the area.

Crystal R.

Beautiful area, nice hike, friendly and enthusiastic visitor center staff. A true gem. We walked the interactive trail through the bog. It was a bit scary and shaky at first while we got our balance and got the hang of walking on the floating platforms/pathway through the bog.
My 9 and 11 year old loved the thrill. The 9 year old kept asking to come back before we even left. Dead frogs in the bog upped the neat factor.
Visitor center had a gift shop with nature books, bandanas, stuffed animals... an interesting selection. Staff were really friendly, engaging and excited to share the information about the habitat.
The loop 2.7 mile trail had a few observation points and located as intermediate. There were slopes and some uneven paths but vistas were worth it. I felt i was in the French countryside at points in the trail. A good workout. We will be back!