Just outside the southeastern corner of Harvard, Illinois lies the Rush Creek Conservation Area. These 726 acres of forest, woodlands, wetlands, and grassland meadows feature 2 miles of various closed-loop hiking trails as well as 5.7 miles of horseback trails and a 2.2 miles snowmobile run.

Rush Creek, after which it is named, has a 1-mile stretch along the northern border and connects to a number of brooks that run through parts of the area. There is also one man-made 4-acre fishing pond that was created by the Burrows brothers, one of the original families that settled in the area, along with a number of much smaller, seasonal ponds scattered through the area.

Facilities

Toward the entrance of the park is a special horse trailer parking lot. Here, riders can easily enter the horse trails that run much of the perimeter of the Rush Creek Conservation Area, including a section that runs along and crosses over Rush Creek. Be sure to check ahead though to confirm the access status of the horse trails before going.

There are three other general parking lots, including the main parking lot across from the pond, a general picnicking lot, and the lot for the covered picnic shelter. The picnic shelter is also available for reservations.

A fourth parking lot is for the group campground area, which can also be reserved and features 6 camping sites.

History

The area that has become the Rush Creek Conservation Area began in 1942 when eight acres were preserved through cooperation between the Diggins Estate, which was one of the early families that settled the area, the Soil Conservation Service, the Illinois Department of Conservation, and the McHenry County Soil and Conservation District. This effort was one of the earliest wildlife conservation demonstration areas in Illinois.

The Conservation District purchased 155 acres from the Burrows brothers in 1974. Subsequent acquisitions up through 1981 have yielded what currently makes up the Rush Creek Conservation Area.