Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Prescribed burns will be conducted throughout Midewin NTP the Spring 2024 season. For more information, read the news release.
2024 Winter Lecture Series
Midewin Winter Lecture Series are back! Please join us for these entertaining and thought-provoking presentations at the Midewin NTP Welcome Center.
Welcome to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the largest island in the archipelago of protected areas that collectively comprise the Chicago Wilderness. It includes full array of species and natural processes typical of tallgrass prairies in the region, including the reintroduction of bison.
Turning back the clock from a landscape dominated by rusting munitions factories and abandoned ammunitions bunkers into a 20,283 acre pristine tallgrass prairie makes the Midewin a compelling vision for landscape scale restoration.
Visit the Prairie
Know Before You Go
Look for Bison
Recent News
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USDA Forest Service to conduct prescribed burning at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Release Date: Mar 8, 2024
Features
Visitor Guide: What to Know Before You Go
There is some information that is vital to know before visiting a National Forest or Grassland. Check in here first when planning your visit and receive the latest information you need to know before visiting Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) employs high school age crew members to work alongside USDA Forest Service staff to experience the wide range of essential jobs involved in land management. Applications open until March 15th, 2024.
Please contact our Youth Program Coordinator, Abbey Hays, at abbott.hays@usda.gov for an application.
Spotlights
Brushwood Center's At Ease Nature Platoon at Midewin NTP
An innovative approach to empowering the well-being of U.S. Military Veterans and their families through the great outdoors.
Seasonal Safety
Check-in here first when planning your visit.
B-Roll Videos
Downloadable 2- to 3-minute videos that show life at Midewin throughout the four seasons of the year.
Bill Kurtis Midewin NTP Silver Anniversary Video
Prairie restoration advocate and journalist Bill Kurtis talks about the importance of Illinois prairie plants in this Midewin NTP Silver Anniversary video.