Description: Fermilab is a big physics research lab between Batavia and Warrenville where they investigate fundamental properties of matter. You can visit Fermilab and learn a lot more about the science going on there, but that isn't what this review is about. The 10 square miles required to host its experiments also offers a couple great places for cross country skiing. One of the favorites is the Big Woods, a nice little forest just north of Fermilab's main high-rise building, Wilson Hall.
The loop through the woods is really just a quick 20 minute ski (not really suitable for skating-style at all). But it is a really pleasant, relaxing trail among the trees. There are two trail entrances: one near the intersection of the Pine Street entrance road and the road leading to Wilson Hall, and the other off of the prairie north of the Lederman Education Center (along the outbound lane of Pine Street). This restored-prairie area, which receives a continuous stream of schoolkids on field trips during the fall, is also a great skiing area. You can easily double or triple your skiing time from the woods trail by meandering along some of the prairie trails.
There is also a bicycle trail which runs through east-west through Fermilab and you can also ski alongside it. There are some open fields next to the bike trail where you could also ski around. Most of these more open areas of the bike trail are towards the Warrenville entrance to the lab and trail. (There would be a break in the bike trail around the parking lots of Wilson Hall if you were really trying to do the whole east-west thing.)
You aren't ever terribly far from the roads on this part of Fermilab, but there is at least one hollow in the prairie where you really can't see any cars, pavement, or buildings. There are quite a few deer and some coyotes at Fermilab, but you probably won't bump into any of them while skiing in the middle of the day. However, you will see their tracks in the snow. You have a good chance of spotting some hawks flying overhead, though. You're only likely to bump into one or two other skiers or hikers if you ski over lunch time here. All-in-all, its a really nice, calm, place to experience the outdoors in winter.
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