OAKtober Hike

October is “OAKtober” – Oak Awareness Month in Illinois.

Join us to celebrate OAKtober by taking a hike with staff at NLI’s Howard D. Colman Dells Nature Preserve. This is a new site for the OAKtober Hike this year. Colman Dells is not open to the public and is often featured in the spring on the Wildlfower Walkabout schedule. This is a rare opportunity to see it in it’s fall color and to see the dells along Hall Creek. Staff will point out the variety of oak trees and talk about their importance as a keystone species, and share other interesting features at this private preserve.

The hiking level is moderate to difficult at this hilly preserve. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy closed toe shoes or boots.

Location: use the parking lot for Byron Forest Preserve District’s Howard Colman Hall Creek Preserve, 12749 N. Weldon Rd., Rockford, IL 61102. NLI’s preserve is adjacent.

Please register for this event by Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Register here: https://www.naturalland.org/event/oaktober-hike-2025/ or use the tickets link.

You may also like the following events from Natural Land Institute:

• This month, 27th September, 09:00 am, Fall Prairie Harvest Day in Rockton

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Rockford.