This is a really nice place, only about 35mins from Chicago center, to spend an hour or two, or more , paddling in a lake that is a bird area (no paddling allowed during late fall and early spring) with hawks, herons and many other birds, fish, gulls and more. The lake/slough is big enough that you will sometimes have a bit of a head wind and some choppy water but nothing difficult. There is a small marsh area that you can usually paddle into and where you might see some other small wildlife. In the early summer there are some beautiful flowers on the shorelines. It is free but an Illinois water use stamp ($6) is required - if the park rangers show up. There is a path around the lake also for an easy hike, parking lot, porta-potty and easy boat launch.
