284. Take a Winter Walk Through Cuba Marsh

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Winter Scenes from Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve

It may be crushingly cold outside, but ice and snow transform Cuba Marsh in beautiful ways this time of year.  Sometimes, when I drive past, curiosity calls and I can’t help but slow the car and turn my wheels into the forest preserve’s icy entrance.  The first thing I found during this visit reminded me of a flag, shocked into submission and buried beneath layers of wintry glass.

Winter Scenes from Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve

It looked like a lonesome surrender, but the beauty of Cuba Marsh is its diversity, combining marsh and prairie with woodland and savanna. A wide range of plants and animals make their homes here and, when I took a step back, I found that this flagsicle had a friend.

Deep Freeze at Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve

There are three miles of crushed-gravel trail to travel through the open areas of Cuba Marsh. You’ll find gently rolling hills that feature lovely views of the marsh and scattered groves of trees.

Winter Scenes from Cuba Marsh in Lake County

A 0.9-mile gravel trail winds from the southern loop of the main trail through the southwest corner of the preserve to Barrington’s Citizens Park. This trail segment includes the District’s longest boardwalk and the Keith Peterson Bridge. An anonymous donor contributed $100,000 toward the cost of the 50-foot timber bridge for the trail connection, a memorial to a former Forest Preserve Board Member. But you’ll only find a few things man-made as you meander through the marsh.

I couldn’t find the story of this old water pump when I searched online. But I did find this tidbit from the Lake County Forest Preserves website:

When settlers first came to this land, it was prairie and marsh with a grove of oaks. They drained the marsh, plowed the prairie and planted crops. In the 1950s and 60s, most of the farmers sold their land to investors who planned to develop homes. Local residents wanted the area preserved as open space. They banded together to form “Citizens for Conservation” and helped the Lake County Forest Preserves preserve the property.

The wetland supports many species and is a great spot to view waterfowl such as pied-billed grebes and American coots. It also provides flood relief to nearby homes and cleanses the water that flows into Flint Creek and eventually the Fox River.

Much work has gone into restoring this preserve, including the removal of drainage tiles and non-native invasive species, and replanting of more than 80,000 trees.

I hurried, with my camera, trying to capture a few frozen scenes from this temporary place. But one more image caught my eye before I jumped back into my car, cranked the heat and continued on my way.  The water pump looked frigid and frozen in time, but reminded me of the waters that will again flow with spring’s return.

Winter Scenes from Cuba Marsh

I think I’ll return when the seasons change to see new life in this local landscape. You’ll find the main entrance to Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve on Cuba Road, west of Ela Road and east of Route 59. Click HERE to take a look at Cuba Marsh on the map.  To read more about Cuba Marsh, visit the Lake County Forest Preserve District website at LCFPD.org.

2 Comments

  1. That is interesting! You know I have NEVER been there. Bakers Lake on Hillside was farmed at one time by installing drain tiles. Then over the years the old clay drain tiles broke and the farmers left and, who knows, maybe Citizens for Conservation stepped in there too. Did you know there was once a church on the land where the sledding hill is, by that lake? My high school class worked to put the decision to “Save the Campgrounds” up for a vote by the citizens. That’s where the plaque on the rock came from. I wish it was not overgrown though. It should be maintained as usable space for the residents. Not left alone to be like a forest preserve. “Just My Two Cents”

    • Love when you add your “two cents”, Bill! Happy New Year, Liz

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