U.S. Forest Service - Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

10/21/2026

Midewin NTP Welcome Center will be unable to sell interagency passes today, October 21, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience.

America the Beautiful Passes are available for purchase online at https://www.recreation.gov/pass

10/09/2026

Every year, devastating wildfires burn across the United States. While these fires will continue to happen, there are things you can do to protect your home and neighborhood as well as your family’s safety. The Firewise USA® program is here to help you get started.

Connect with your neighbors and explore becoming a Firewise USA community: https://www.nfpa.org/Education-and-Research/Wildfire/Firewise-USA. Stay prepared, stay safe!

Photo: Prevention technicians on the Boise National Forest, built and designed a 1:12 scale Firewise house to use for demonstration. The left half of the house is designed with Firewise materials, and the other half is used with materials that could potentially ignite if fire embers land.

10/09/2026

Youth Fi***rm Deer Season is almost here! Get ready for opening day on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Here’s what you need to know:

✔️Hunters must be under 18 on the first day of the hunt.

✔️ Limit of 1 combination permit (1 either-sex and 1 antlerless-only)

✔️Each youth hunter must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult that is in immediate control of the youth hunter at all times during the hunt. The adult must have a current Illinois hunting license if a non-resident or if the youth is using an apprentice or youth hunting license.

✔️Still have an unfilled, valid youth deer hunt permit? You can hunt during the first and second fi***rm deer seasons (Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 3-6), subject to restrictions outlined in Administrative Rule 17-685.

Full details: https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/youth-deer-information.html

10/07/2026

09/30/2026

On June 6, 2026, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie hosted an open house in celebration of its 30th anniversary and National Trails Day. About 60 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, and covering roughly 20,000 acres this unique landscape used to be the Joliet Arsenal and was designated as the na...

09/26/2026

Stay prepared, not panicked.

Pack a go bag with water, medication, important documents and a change of clothes so you can move quickly during a wildfire evacuation.

Build your kit today and stay safe and ready.

09/22/2026

Volunteer with us this Saturday, September 26 at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie!

Several spots remain open to join our important work doing seed harvesting and brush cutting while we celebrate National Public Lands Day.

*To Register - Email Laura Lewis at [email protected] and include which project you would like to participate in.

No prior experience is necessary.

Check-in is at 8:30am, projects run 9:00am-12:00pm.

09/14/2026

Ready to explore like a pro? Your next adventure is literally in your pocket!

The National Forests & Grasslands app gives you offline maps, trail info, safety alerts, and everything you need to roam confidently through your national forests and grasslands during American Adventures Month.

Download it now and start your journey.