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Three people standing around a campfire under evergreen trees; all are silhouetted against the setting sun on the horizon of a lake.
Take a Nature Road Trip No matter your interest, TNC has a wide variety of accessible preserves around the Midwest for you to explore. © © Kim Steinberger/The Nature Conservancy
Our Stories in the Midwest

Take a Midwest Nature Road Trip

From windswept prairies to shimmering Great Lakes shorelines, this road trip invites you to slow down, explore and reconnect with nature. Let’s go!

May 28, 2026

What You'll Find Here

This page offers a snapshot view of 10 must-visit preserves in the Midwest for any road trip—whether you're staying close to home or venturing out for the long haul. To skip to a particular state, click the anchor links above or use these jump links to the other sections. 

Imagine a road trip where every stop reveals a different awe-inspiring landscape,  from windswept prairies to peaceful wetlands and rugged lake shores—all without leaving the Midwest. 

Across the Heartland, protected lands are bursting with wildlife, wildflowers, rocky cliffs and lush forests. Whether you want to hike, birdwatch, or simply unplug, TNC's nature preserves in the Midwest make an excellent excuse for a road trip any time of the year.

So, pack your bags and head out to experience some of the most breathtaking and often overlooked natural landscapes in the region—all places we're working hard to protect. 

Pick Your Adventure

There’s no single path to explore the Midwest’s natural beauty, but we've highlighted a couple of preserves in each state to inspire your journey into nature. Click on the flashing dots for a sneak peek at each preserve.

Spring Green Preserve

Known as the “Wisconsin desert,” this dry bluff prairie features sandy soils that support prickly pear cactus, a variety of wildflowers, tir beetles, pocket gophers, and more.

Jump to the preserve

Lulu Lake Preserve

Created by glaciers long ago, Lulu Lake is a kettle lake and one of Wisconsin's highest-quality natural areas. 

Jump to the preserve

Nachusa Grasslands

Consisting of 4,000 acres of restored, remnant prairie, Nachusa Grasslands Preserve is home diverse native wildlife, including a herd of bison.

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Emiquon

Emiquon’s 6,000-acre restored floodplain, wetlands and prairies are a must-visit spot for birders during the spring and fall migrations. 

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Festival de la Monarca

At the end of summer every year, the community of East Chicago and TNC host a free festival celebrating monarch butterflies.

Jump to the festival

Kankakee Sands

Go bison spotting, bird watching or just hike to immerse yourself in nature at the Efroymson Prairie at Kankakee Sands in Indiana.

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Edge of Appalachia Preserve System

If you're looking to explore habitats that include woodlands, prairies, waterfalls, streams and more, then head to The Richard and Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve System in the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio.

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Morgan Swamp Preserve

At over 2,000 acres, Morgan Swamp is one of the largest protected wetland communities in Ohio. It also offers adventures for all ages and interests, including hiking, kayaking and a playground.

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Erie Marsh Preserve

Located on North Maumee Bay, Erie Marsh Preserve is one of the largest coastal wetlands on Lake Erie and a birding hotspot for spring and fall migrations. 

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Carl A. Gerstacker Preserve

Protecting a large expanse of forest on and near the Lake Huron shoreline in Michigan, Carl A. Gerstacker Nature Preserve is a haven for migratory bird and year-round birds, osprey, beavers, wolves and other wildlife. 

Jump to the preserve

Experience Midwest Nature Firsthand RETURN
A map highlighting Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

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Explore the Wild Midwest

From rocky lakeshores to prairies bursting with colorful wildflowers, there is a place to explore and sights to see for everyone in the Midwest. Here are few photos to highlight our preserves—click each photo for more information!

Rocky outcrops with sparse trees surrounded by calm shallow water.
A bright yellow bird with rusty stripes on its chest and greyish wings perched on a branch against a blurred green background.
An adult sandhill crane (a large grey bird with a red cap of feathers on its face) nestled on the ground with a brownish chick peeking out from the adult's wing.
Grasses and wildflowers in a prairie stretching to a rise against the blue sky on the horizon.
A beaver swimming through water.
A prairie with diverse wildflowers blooming.
An adult bison and a calf standing in a green prairie with a tall thin woody plant.
A butterfly with black-striped orange wings feeding from a purple aster flower.
A flat green area winds between thick woods on either side, stretching to rising hills on the horizon.
Two brown mink standing close together among fallen branches and trunks in a pond.
Rocky outcrops with sparse trees surrounded by calm shallow water.

Carl A. Gerstacker Preserve: Featuring one of the most scenic limestone bedrock shorelines in Michigan, this preserve protects a large expanse of forest along Lake Huron. © Ron Leonetti

A bright yellow bird with rusty stripes on its chest and greyish wings perched on a branch against a blurred green background.

Yellow Warbler: Erie Marsh in Michigan is a prime stopover site for migratory warblers, waterfowl and other birds in the spring and fall. © Sheen Watkins

An adult sandhill crane (a large grey bird with a red cap of feathers on its face) nestled on the ground with a brownish chick peeking out from the adult's wing.

Sandhill Cranes: These tall cranes nest around Lulu Lake, raising their young here each summer. © Robert Gloeckner/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Grasses and wildflowers in a prairie stretching to a rise against the blue sky on the horizon.

Spring Green Preserve: Known as the Wisconsin desert, Spring Green Preserve is a land of dry prairies, sand dunes, cactus and lizards. © John A. Harrington

A beaver swimming through water.

American Beaver: In Illinois, Emiquon's 6,000 acres of restored floodplain and wetlands are home to diverse wildlife, like the American beaver. © David Venable

A prairie with diverse wildflowers blooming.

Nachusa Grasslands: The restored prairie at Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois features more than 700 native plant species. © Dee Hudson/The Nature Conservancy

An adult bison and a calf standing in a green prairie with a tall thin woody plant.

Bison: In Indiana, you can visit the bison viewing area at Kankakee Sands to spot the preserve's herd of more than 100 bison. © Michael Quigley

A butterfly with black-striped orange wings feeding from a purple aster flower.

Festival de la Monarca: Each year in East Chicago, Indiana, the community celebrates monarch butterflies and their incredible 3,000 mile migration south to Mexico. © Michael R. Jeffords

A flat green area winds between thick woods on either side, stretching to rising hills on the horizon.

Edge of Appalachia: In southern Ohio, the Edge of Appalchia Preserve protects more than 21,000 acres of forest, prairie, waterfalls, rocky outcrops and streams in the Appalachian foothills. © Dana Ohman/TNC

Two brown mink standing close together among fallen branches and trunks in a pond.

American Mink: The forested wetlands of Morgan Swamp Preserve in Ohio are the ideal home for the inquistive and fierce American mink. © Banu R/iStock

A dirt path through a grassy area with sparse, small trees under a blue sky dotted with white clouds.
A Midwest Desert Spring Green Preserve in Wisconsin encompasses a dry prairie where you can see sand dunes, cactus, green prairies and more. © Emily Mills/TNC
A pale yellow flower blooming on squat green cactus.
Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus Thanks to the dry prairie ecosystem of Spring Green Preserve, Eastern prickly pear cactus grow abundantly in the preserve, blooming with waxy yellow flowers in late June. © Clay Bolt

Spring Green, WI

Spring Green Preserve

Known as the Wisconsin desert, Spring Green Preserve encompasses a unique dry prairie ecosystem, featuring both green, blooming prairies and dry, sandy dunes. Plants like prickly pear cactus bloom abundantly here, while wildlife from colorful tiger beetles to vocal Eastern meadowlarks call the area home. 

What can I do here? Hiking, birdwatching, photography, and biking. 

Visit Spring Green Preserve

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A man holding a child on his shoulders as they stand on a small hill overlooking a creek.
Lulu Lake Preserve The preserve has two trails—the Legacy and Shaddock Memorial trails—that provide two miles of hiking through rolling hills. © Zane Williams

Near Milwaukee, WI

Lulu Lake Preserve

Nestled among the headwaters of the Mukwonago River, Lulu Lake Preserve is home to wetlands, oak openings, a high-quality stream and its namesake—95-acre kettle lake, Lulu Lake. The preserve is lush with blooming native plants, diverse fish species, migratory and year-round birds and more. 

What can I do here? Hiking, birdwatching, nature photography, fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing

Visit Lulu Lake Preserve

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Yellow and purple prairie wildflowers in bloom under a partially cloudy sky.
Nachusa Grasslands In summer, the Nachusa Grasslands explode in colorful wildflowers. © TNC
A small group of adult bison and their calves grazing among blooming prairie plants with gentle hills and trees lining the horizon.
Nachusa Grasslands Bison browse among the 700 species of plants that grow at Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois. © Dee Hudson/TNC

Near Franklin Grove, IL

Nachusa Grasslands

Consisting of 4,000 acres of restored rolling prairie, wetlands and oak savannas, Nachusa Grasslands Preserve gives you a glimpse back in time to the diverse habitats that once covered Illinois. The preserve is home to bison, migratory and year-round birds, butterflies, Blanding's and ornate box turtles, and more—all among more than 700 species of native plants. 

What can I do here? Bison viewing, nature photography, birdwatching, and hiking on five unique trails

Visit Nachusa Grasslands

Back to the Map
A white egret in flight with its wings spread over a wetlands that has a grassy bar extending into it.
Emiquon Once farmland, Emiquon was restored to thriving wetlands, providing habitat for migratory birds like this egret. © Laura Stoecker

Southwest of Peoria, IL

Emiquon

At more than 6,000 acres, Emiquon is home to bustling wetlands and restored prairies, making it a hotspot for migratory birds in spring and fall. Exploring the preserve at any time of year gives you a chance to spot river otters, mink, softshell turtles, birds and native plants like American lotus and black-eyed Susan. 

What can I do there? Hiking, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, and, with permits, fishing and boating    

Visit Emiquon

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A monarch butterfly flying to New England aster blooms.
Kankakee Sands Sunset at Kankakee Sands in northwest Indiana © Fauna Creative
Two monarch butterflies on a tall yellow flower. The one on the right is taking off, while the one on the left is perched on the flower. The flower and butterflies are in a field of yellow followers with trees in the background. A small silhouette of a flying monarch butterfly is visible at the top of the photo in the sky.
Monarch Festival in Indiana Each year in East Chicago, Indiana, TNC joins the community at the Monarch Festival to celebrate the monarch butterflies' journey to Mexico in the fall. © Félix Armando De la Fuente/TNC Photo Contest 2022

East Chicago, IN

Festival de la Monarca

One of the world's best endurance athletes, monarch butterflies make a 3,000-mile journey from Indiana to Mexico at the end of summer. In East Chicago, TNC and its partners host a free community event, El Festival de la Monarca (or the Monarch Festival), to commemorate this journey and raise awareness of these incredible butterflies.

On Saturday, August, 29, 2026, join us for music, art, dance and educational activities to celebrate monarch butterflies. 

Visit the Monarch Festival

Back to the Map
Three adult bison with calves standing on a grassy prairie under a cloudy blue sky.
Bison at Kankakee Sands In October 2016, TNC brought 23 bison to Kankakee Sands to help manage our prairies. Today the herd is 100 bison strong! © Olivia Schouten/TNC

Morocco, IN

Kankakee Sands

With more than 8,000 acres of restored prairies, open sand dunes, oak savannas and open-water wetlands, the Efroymson Prairie at Kankakee Sands in Indiana is teeming with native wildlife, including a herd of bison. You may also spot migratory and year-round birds, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees, frogs, lizards, snakes, badgers and more. 

What can I do there? Hiking on your choice of six different trails, birdwatching, nature photography, bison viewing

Visit Kankakee Sands

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Green forested hills under a partly cloudy sky.
Fall at Edge of Appalachia Each autumn, the prairies at Edge of Appalachia Preserve come alive with color. © Terry Seidel/TNC
A rushing waterfall over a rocky outcrop.
Cedar Falls Following the Helen C. Black Trail at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve will take you past a spectrum of wildflowers, dramatic cliffs, and the 15-foot cascade of Cedar Falls. © TJ Vissing

West Union, OH

Edge of Appalachia Preserve System

Encompassing more than 21,000 acres, the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System has an extensive network of 27 miles of scenic hiking across five trails that wind through rugged woodlands, prairie openings and clear streams. Each trail offers a unique and immersive experience of the state’s abundant plants and wildlife.

What can I do there? Hiking, birdwatching, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, nature photography

Visit the Edge of Appalachia

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A wooden plank boardwalk trail through a lush green forest.
Morgan Swamp Preserve One of the largest privately protected forested wetlands in Ohio, Morgan Swamp Preserve has trails that wind through forests, wetlands and wet prairies. © Kent Mason

Near Rock Creek, OH

Morgan Swamp Preserve

Covering more than 2,000 acres, Morgan Swamp Preserve in Ohio offers visitors unique wetland, forest and wet prairie habitats to explore. Keep an eye out for migratory and year-round birds, beavers and otters as you traverse this serene preserve. There is also a playground and nature play area within the preserve. 

What can I do there? Hiking, birdwatching, kayaking/canoeing, fishing, nature photography

Visit Morgan Swamp Preserve

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A calm lake at dusk.
Carl A. Gerstacker Grassy shoreline along Big Trout Lake at TNC’s Carl A. Gerstacker Nature Preserve. © Chris Cantway/TNC
Sunbeams shine from behind a large puffy cloud in a dusky sky over still waters with large lotus leaves.
Erie Marsh Preserve TNC's Erie Marsh Preserve provides important coastal protection and habitat near North Maumee Bay. © Jason Whalen

Monroe, MI

Erie Marsh Preserve

As one of Lake Erie's largest coastal wetlands, Erie Marsh Preserve in Michigan plays a huge role as a migratory stopover and nesting site for birds. Keep an eye out for other wetland locals such as muskrats, water snakes, bullfrogs, native fish, and more. Erie Marsh also harbors some of Michigan’s few remaining colonies of American lotus and swamp rose-mallow.

What can I do there? Hiking, birdwatching, nature photography, snowshoeing

Visit Erie Marsh Preserve

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A common loon floating on still water while carrying its chick on its back.
Common Loon Listen for the eerie call of loons or watch them dive for fish while you're exploring the preserve at Dudley Bay. © Brian Lasenby/shutterstock.com

Dudley Bay, MI

Carl A. Gerstacker Preserve at Dudley Bay

Perched at the northern tip of Lake Huron, Carl A. Gerstacker Preserve at Dudley Bay features one of the most spectacular limestone bedrock shorelines in Michigan. While you explore the preserve, keep an eye and ear out for a variety of animals, including common loon, pileated woodpecker, osprey, wolf and migratory songbirds like the American redstart and magnolia warbler.

What can I do there? Hiking, audio tour, birdwatching, nature photography, swimming, kayaking/canoeing, geocaching, skiing, snowshoeing

Visit Carl A. Gerstacker Preserve

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Dive into more Midwest wonders, from serene lakeshores to tallgrass prairies, through these stories.

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