Millrace Isle Forest Preserve 11-16-12

We have not been here before. I have seen it on the forest preserve district website but never thought much about it as it is listed this way:

Millrace is undeveloped and does not have an access site. It is along the north bank of the Rock River, west of the Village of Rockton, south of Rockton Road.

Not long ago, I noticed that there were FPD boundary signs and some fire breaks that had been mowed along Rockton Road so after some digging came to the conclusion that this must be Millrace Isle FP. There is no map on their web site for it. It is located right at the intersection of the canal and Rockton Road along the west side of the village. I emailed someone at the district and asked and he advised that hiking is allowed in the preserve but there is just one parking spot at present along the gravel road that forms its eastern most boundary. So, off we went to explore.

As advertised there are no facilities here other than the one parking spot. Not even a trash can. It was very slow going as we had to bushwhack most of the way. There is mowed fire break that extends about 1/2 of the way along northern edge of the preserve along Rockton Road, but the rest of it is either fields or forest. The wooded areas were mostly somewhat open at ground level so mostly easier to walk through, but lots of downed trees so lots of minor detours.

We saw one live deer, one dead deer, one dead turkey, three tires, and one hub cap. All in all, a nice walk.

GPS track.

Google Earth image.

Deer at 6:41 if you look real close.