HeatherRidge Golf Course — 29 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3484, -87.9524 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, stream, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached. OSM-listed site heatherridgegolf.com served an unrelated spam page on 2026-10-16.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 1.8 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 1.4 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft. Edge of KUGN Class D at about 1.8 nm; re-check at launch point.
notesOperating status and management from search-result summaries (GolfNow, Visit Lake County), no official page reached. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:41, sunrise 07:10 at 103.5°, beams 07:24–08:24, burn-off 08:10–09:10 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.9 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.1 °C
- moisture: 1.00 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.6 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 8.6 °C → -3.0 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 1.0, ncep_nbm_conus 0.826, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.527 · spread 0.473
Pine Meadow Golf Club — 29 %, deep fog bank
where42.2901, -87.9886 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, wetland, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 5.6 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 5.0 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesMundelein/Libertyville line. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:41, sunrise 07:10 at 103.5°, beams 07:24–08:24, burn-off 09:10–10:40 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.3 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 0.95 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 7.6 °C
- moisture: 0.66 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.6 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 5.5 °C → +1.1 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.96, ncep_nbm_conus 0.831, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.641 · spread 0.334
Merit Club — 29 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3350, -87.9596 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, wetland, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 2.6 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 2.1 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesCourse hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:41, sunrise 07:10 at 103.5°, beams 07:24–08:24, burn-off 08:10–09:10 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.9 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.1 °C
- moisture: 1.00 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.6 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 8.6 °C → -3.0 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 1.0, ncep_nbm_conus 0.826, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.527 · spread 0.473
Gages Lake — 29 %, deep fog bank
where42.3535, -87.9820 · map
lookNo public-access page, boat launch or shoreline park was identified, so this is a view-from-elsewhere candidate only. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
featureslakeaccessNone
droneunknown — No rule found; no managing agency identified.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 2.5 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 2.2 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesNo public-access page, boat launch or shoreline park was identified, so this is a view-from-elsewhere candidate only. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:41, sunrise 07:10 at 103.5°, beams 07:24–08:24, burn-off 09:10–10:40 est.
riverriver water +8.1 °C warmer than the forecast dawn air (steam fog over open water needs roughly ≥5 °C and light wind; forecast wind 2 kt)
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.2 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 0.96 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 7.7 °C
- moisture: 1.00 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.1 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 7.5 °C → -1.4 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.996, ncep_nbm_conus 0.828, ecmwf_ifs025 0.64, icon_seamless 0.53 · spread 0.466
Grayslake Golf Course — 28 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3756, -88.0346 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featureswetland, pond, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached. Policies page (grayslakegolfcourse.com/policies) covers carts, minors and errant balls only. 620 ILCS 5/42.1(b-5) (per ticket C research) lets a local government adopt reasonable rules over its own recreation land; none located.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 3.9 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 3.5 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesCourse is not mapped as a golf_course polygon in OSM, so the coordinate is the road geocode. The only 'protected wetlands' claim is from a search summary of GolfAdvisor, not used. Walking-only course, 1,200 yards, address 2150 Drury Lane 60030. Same street name as Rollins Savanna's Drury Lane lot (Visit Lake County page); adjacency not verified. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.2 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.8 °C
- moisture: 0.44 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.7 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.8 °C → +1.9 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.945, ncep_nbm_conus 0.828, ecmwf_ifs025 0.695, icon_seamless 0.529 · spread 0.416
Bittersweet Golf Club — 28 %, deep fog bank
where42.3723, -87.9800 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, wetland, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached. 620 ILCS 5/42.1(b-5) (per ticket C research) lets a local government adopt reasonable rules over its own recreation land; none located.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 1.8 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 1.5 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft. CLOSEST to KUGN of the golf courses: 1.8 nm from the Class D edge at the geocoded point; the course is large, so check the actual launch point.
notesMost water of any course in OSM (17 polygons). Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:41, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 09:11–10:41 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.2 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 0.96 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 7.7 °C
- moisture: 1.00 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.1 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 7.5 °C → -1.5 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.996, ncep_nbm_conus 0.827, ecmwf_ifs025 0.625, icon_seamless 0.527 · spread 0.469
Almond Marsh Forest Preserve — 28 %, deep fog bank
where42.3303, -87.9857 · map
lookmarsh and savanna fog from the ground at 6:30 opening; drone needs a Lake County Forest Preserves permit
featuresmarsh, sedge meadow, savanna, wetland, oak woodlandaccess"Hours: 6:30 am-sunset, daily." (LCFP page, Wayback copy 2025-07-17); Visit Lake County: "Open daily 6:30 a.m.-sunset." But Visit Lake County says: "Parking, trails and facilities are not available at this site. Parking along Almond Road can be dangerous due to poor sight lines and fast moving traffic."
dronepermit — LCFP Regulations Governing the General Use of District Property (approved Jan 14 2020, amended Jan 17 2024), Sec. III.A: "No person shall use District Property for any of the following uses, unless the person has first obtained, and has physical possession of, a Permit allowing such use"; item (v): "use of any fuel-powered, air-propulsion, electric powered, radio-controlled, or cellular-controlled unmanned aerial Vehicle (commonly referred to as a \"drone\"), model or toy car, aircraft, boat or rocket, or any similar toy or model"; item (xx): "taking any still or motion pictures ... for commercial purposes or for use in commercial advertising". LCFP's fee ordinance lists a 'Commercial Photography, Film or Video Permit'. Read from a Wayback copy (2024-02-25) because lcfpd.org returns a Cloudflare 403 to scripted fetches. No drone-specific permit procedure found; the model-aircraft page (archived 2026-02-15) offers only the Van Patten Woods field. A 2014 staff memo, seen only as a search-result excerpt, said drones may not launch or land elsewhere in the preserves. source
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 3.6 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 3.2 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesBest cold-pool terrain on the list but no parking: roadside only. Nature-preserve portion may carry extra INPC rules (not researched). Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:41, sunrise 07:10 at 103.5°, beams 07:24–08:24, burn-off 09:10–10:40 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.5 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 0.96 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 7.7 °C
- moisture: 1.00 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.2 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 6.9 °C → -0.7 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.996, ncep_nbm_conus 0.828, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.53 · spread 0.466
Village Green Country Club — 27 %, deep fog bank
where42.2984, -88.0186 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached. Official site not reached (villagegreencc.com failed to connect).
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 6.0 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 5.5 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesPublic status comes only from search-result summaries of GolfPass/OpenGolfAPI, not an official page. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.4°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 09:11–10:41 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 0.99 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.9 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 0.96 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 7.7 °C
- moisture: 0.27 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.7 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.9 °C → +2.9 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.921, ncep_nbm_conus 0.832, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.629 · spread 0.295
Ivanhoe Club — 27 %, deep fog bank
where42.2812, -88.0643 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurescreek, pond, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 8.0 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 7.6 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesPrivate members' club, Mundelein. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.4°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 09:11–10:41 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.0 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.9 °C
- moisture: 0.39 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.8 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.7 °C → +2.1 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.939, ncep_nbm_conus 0.835, ecmwf_ifs025 0.628, icon_seamless 0.579 · spread 0.36
Lakewood Forest Preserve — 27 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.2600, -88.0862 · map
lookmarsh and savanna fog from the ground at 6:30 opening; drone needs a Lake County Forest Preserves permit
featuresbog, marsh, wetland, pond, oak woodlandaccessLCFP banner (archived pages): "Most preserves open 6:30 am-sunset." Lakewood's own page seen only as a search-result excerpt: 6:30 a.m. to sunset daily; portions closed for construction (not verified).
dronepermit — LCFP Regulations Governing the General Use of District Property (approved Jan 14 2020, amended Jan 17 2024), Sec. III.A: "No person shall use District Property for any of the following uses, unless the person has first obtained, and has physical possession of, a Permit allowing such use"; item (v): "use of any fuel-powered, air-propulsion, electric powered, radio-controlled, or cellular-controlled unmanned aerial Vehicle (commonly referred to as a \"drone\"), model or toy car, aircraft, boat or rocket, or any similar toy or model"; item (xx): "taking any still or motion pictures ... for commercial purposes or for use in commercial advertising". LCFP's fee ordinance lists a 'Commercial Photography, Film or Video Permit'. Read from a Wayback copy (2024-02-25) because lcfpd.org returns a Cloudflare 403 to scripted fetches. No drone-specific permit procedure found; the model-aircraft page (archived 2026-02-15) offers only the Van Patten Woods field. A 2014 staff memo, seen only as a search-result excerpt, said drones may not launch or land elsewhere in the preserves. source
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 9.7 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 9.3 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesAcreage conflicts in excerpts (2,835 vs 2,996). Wayback copy of the Lakewood page was not the preserve page, so hours/features rest on excerpts. Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.4°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 0.98 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.8 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.4 °C
- moisture: 0.36 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.3 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 4.0 °C → +2.3 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.932, ncep_nbm_conus 0.835, ecmwf_ifs025 0.625, icon_seamless 0.58 · spread 0.352
Grayslake (village center) — 26 %, deep fog bank
where42.3434, -88.0412 · map
featureslakes, wetland, golfaccessnot verified
droneunknown — no rule found
notesVillage center from OpenStreetMap Nominatim (42.3433518, -88.0412192), fetched 16 Oct 2026
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 09:11–10:41 est.
riverriver water +9.2 °C warmer than the forecast dawn air (steam fog over open water needs roughly ≥5 °C and light wind; forecast wind 2 kt)
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.2 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 10.3 °C
- moisture: 0.40 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.0 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.0 °C → +2.0 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.94, ncep_nbm_conus 0.83, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.529 · spread 0.411
Renwood Golf Course — 26 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3708, -88.0645 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, stream, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached. 620 ILCS 5/42.1(b-5) (per ticket C research) lets a local government adopt reasonable rules over its own recreation land; none located.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 5.3 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 4.9 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesRound Lake Beach mailing address, touches the west edge of Grayslake. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.5 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 9.3 °C
- moisture: 0.22 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.6 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 2.4 °C → +3.2 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.1 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.922, ncep_nbm_conus 0.831, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.556 · spread 0.366
Steeple Chase Golf Club — 26 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.2626, -88.0537 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, wetland, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached. 620 ILCS 5/42.1(b-5) (per ticket C research) lets a local government adopt reasonable rules over its own recreation land; none located.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 8.7 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 8.1 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesEdge of the 15-minute limit (OSRM 14.6 min). Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.4°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 0.98 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.8 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.4 °C
- moisture: 0.36 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.3 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 4.0 °C → +2.3 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.932, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.629 · spread 0.306
Stonewall Orchard Golf Club — 26 %, deep fog bank
where42.3121, -88.1274 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featureswetland, pond, rolling hills, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 9.3 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 8.9 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesOVER the 15-minute limit (OSRM 18.3 min) but kept because it has a Grayslake 60030 address. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 09:11–10:41 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.0 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 9.4 °C
- moisture: 0.41 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.2 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.2 °C → +2.0 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.942, ncep_nbm_conus 0.834, ecmwf_ifs025 0.554, icon_seamless 0.58 · spread 0.388
Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve — 26 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3732, -88.0289 · map
lookmarsh and savanna fog from the ground at 6:30 opening; drone needs a Lake County Forest Preserves permit
featureswetland, savanna, prairie, oak grove, marsh, streamaccess"Hours: 6:30 am-sunset, daily." (lcfpd.org page, Wayback copy 2025-09-14; live page Cloudflare-blocked). Banner: "Most preserves open 6:30 am-sunset."
dronepermit — LCFP Regulations Governing the General Use of District Property (approved Jan 14 2020, amended Jan 17 2024), Sec. III.A: "No person shall use District Property for any of the following uses, unless the person has first obtained, and has physical possession of, a Permit allowing such use"; item (v): "use of any fuel-powered, air-propulsion, electric powered, radio-controlled, or cellular-controlled unmanned aerial Vehicle (commonly referred to as a \"drone\"), model or toy car, aircraft, boat or rocket, or any similar toy or model"; item (xx): "taking any still or motion pictures ... for commercial purposes or for use in commercial advertising". LCFP's fee ordinance lists a 'Commercial Photography, Film or Video Permit'. Read from a Wayback copy (2024-02-25) because lcfpd.org returns a Cloudflare 403 to scripted fetches. No drone-specific permit procedure found; the model-aircraft page (archived 2026-02-15) offers only the Van Patten Woods field. A 2014 staff memo, seen only as a search-result excerpt, said drones may not launch or land elsewhere in the preserves. source
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 3.7 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 3.3 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesOpens 6:30 am, before sunrise (~7:10). Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM estimate to the centroid.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.2 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.9 °C
- moisture: 0.44 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.7 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.8 °C → +1.9 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.945, ncep_nbm_conus 0.828, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.532 · spread 0.413
Third Lake — 26 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3739, -88.0109 · map
lookNo public-access page, boat launch or shoreline park was identified, so this is a view-from-elsewhere candidate only. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
featureslakeaccessNone
droneunknown — No rule found; no managing agency identified.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 3.0 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 2.6 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesNo public-access page, boat launch or shoreline park was identified, so this is a view-from-elsewhere candidate only. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
riverriver water +8.5 °C warmer than the forecast dawn air (steam fog over open water needs roughly ≥5 °C and light wind; forecast wind 2 kt)
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.2 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.8 °C
- moisture: 0.44 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.7 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.8 °C → +1.9 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (2 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.945, ncep_nbm_conus 0.828, ecmwf_ifs025 0.628, icon_seamless 0.53 · spread 0.415
Fourth Lake — 26 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3913, -88.0334 · map
lookNo public-access page, boat launch or shoreline park was identified, so this is a view-from-elsewhere candidate only. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
featureslakeaccessNone
droneunknown — No rule found; no managing agency identified.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 3.6 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 3.3 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft.
notesNo public-access page, boat launch or shoreline park was identified, so this is a view-from-elsewhere candidate only. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
riverriver water +8.4 °C warmer than the forecast dawn air (steam fog over open water needs roughly ≥5 °C and light wind; forecast wind 2 kt)
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 0.85 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.5 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.7 °C
- moisture: 0.52 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.8 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 4.2 °C → +1.6 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (1 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.907, ncep_nbm_conus 0.828, ecmwf_ifs025 0.694, icon_seamless 0.527 · spread 0.38
Brae Loch Golf Club — 25 %, deep fog bank
where42.3491, -88.0092 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featurespond, mature trees, gentle rolling terrain, golfaccessNone
dronepermit — LCFP Regulations Governing the General Use of District Property (approved Jan 14 2020, amended Jan 17 2024), Sec. III.A: "No person shall use District Property for any of the following uses, unless the person has first obtained, and has physical possession of, a Permit allowing such use"; item (v): "use of any fuel-powered, air-propulsion, electric powered, radio-controlled, or cellular-controlled unmanned aerial Vehicle (commonly referred to as a \"drone\"), model or toy car, aircraft, boat or rocket, or any similar toy or model"; item (xx): "taking any still or motion pictures ... for commercial purposes or for use in commercial advertising". LCFP's fee ordinance lists a 'Commercial Photography, Film or Video Permit'. Read from a Wayback copy (2024-02-25) because lcfpd.org returns a Cloudflare 403 to scripted fetches. No drone-specific permit procedure found; the model-aircraft page (archived 2026-02-15) offers only the Van Patten Woods field. A 2014 staff memo, seen only as a search-result excerpt, said drones may not launch or land elsewhere in the preserves. source
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Chicago Class B shelf above, floor 3,600 ft MSL (about 2,800 ft above ground); Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 3.7 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 3.3 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft. Closest golf course to KUGN's boundary after Bittersweet/Heather Ridge/Merit.
notesOWNERSHIP CORRECTION: the ticket listed Brae Loch under Lake County Forest Preserves and the course site confirms it (header 'Lake County Forest Preserves'; FAQ says 'all three Lake County Forest Preserves courses'). That makes it District Property, so the LCFP drone-permit rule applies on top of any owner consent. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 09:11–10:41 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 1.00 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 0.0 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 0.98 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.8 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 8.8 °C
- moisture: 0.29 — crossover: forecast night minimum 6.0 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.3 °C → +2.7 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.0 km (3 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.925, ncep_nbm_conus 0.828, ecmwf_ifs025 0.626, icon_seamless 0.527 · spread 0.398
Volo Bog State Natural Area — 25 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3510, -88.1890 · map
lookDeer archery hunting at Volo Bog is held in the fall (IDNR activities page); no drones for any aspect of hunting (520 ILCS 5/2.33(i)). Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
featuresbog, marsh, prairie, woodlandaccessIDNR about page: "Site Hours: Gates open at 8:00 am 363 days a year-closed on Christmas and New Year's Days. Closing time is posted as one enters the parking lot ... plan to be back to the parking lot no later than 30 minutes before sunset." Gates open about 1 hr after sunrise.
dronepermit — 17 Ill. Adm. Code 110.160(i): it is unlawful "Except in cases of emergency, for any person to land or attempt to land any aircraft on Department-owned, -leased or -managed property without prior authorization for each landing or attempted landing from the Department." (verified at ilga.gov 2026-10-16). No site-specific drone page found. Wording says 'aircraft', not 'drone', and does not name the superintendent; treat as authorization required until the site office says otherwise. source
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Not under the Class B shelf; Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 10.9 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 10.5 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft. Beyond the Class B shelf at this point.
notesDeer archery hunting at Volo Bog is held in the fall (IDNR activities page); no drones for any aspect of hunting (520 ILCS 5/2.33(i)). Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 0.80 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.1 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.0 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 9.9 °C
- moisture: 0.62 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.2 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 3.9 °C → +1.3 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 1.00 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 0.3 km (1 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.902, ncep_nbm_conus 0.834, ecmwf_ifs025 0.554, icon_seamless 0.635 · spread 0.348
Chain O'Lakes State Park — 18 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.4670, -88.1890 · map
lookOUTSIDE the 20-minute target (OSRM 29.6 min); kept because the ticket asked for it. Dawn access is undecided: summer hours (gate open from 6:00 am) apply until 'the last weekend in October', which falls on Oct 24-25 or Oct 31-Nov 1 depending on reading, and then the park closes entirely for hunting. Next-week dates are at risk. Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
featureslake, river, marsh, backwateraccessIDNR: "Summer hours 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Winter hours: 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Summer hours take effect April 1st and terminate the last weekend in October when hunting begins and the entire park is closed for hunting. Hunting is by registration only. Entrance gates will be locked from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am during summer hours and sunset to 8 am during winter hours."
dronepermit — 17 Ill. Adm. Code 110.160(i): it is unlawful "Except in cases of emergency, for any person to land or attempt to land any aircraft on Department-owned, -leased or -managed property without prior authorization for each landing or attempted landing from the Department." (verified at ilga.gov 2026-10-16). No site-specific drone page found. Wording says 'aircraft', not 'drone', and does not name the superintendent; treat as authorization required until the site office says otherwise. source
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Not under the Class B shelf; Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; outside the O'Hare Mode C veil; surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 10.5 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 10.3 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft. OUTSIDE the O'Hare Mode C veil here (32 nm from ORD).
notesOUTSIDE the 20-minute target (OSRM 29.6 min); kept because the ticket asked for it. Dawn access is undecided: summer hours (gate open from 6:00 am) apply until 'the last weekend in October', which falls on Oct 24-25 or Oct 31-Nov 1 depending on reading, and then the park closes entirely for hunting. Next-week dates are at risk. Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
riverriver water +8.4 °C warmer than the forecast dawn air (steam fog over open water needs roughly ≥5 °C and light wind; forecast wind 3 kt)
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 0.33 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 2.3 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 3.5 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 9.5 °C
- moisture: 0.78 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.8 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 5.1 °C → +0.7 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 0.10 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 12.4 km (0 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.64, ncep_nbm_conus 0.835, ecmwf_ifs025 0.62, icon_seamless 0.759 · spread 0.215
Hickory Knoll Golf Course — 17 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.3990, -88.1155 · map
lookfairway fog over ponds and tree lines at sunrise; drone from the course if this is the client's (owner's permission settled); Class G at the surface, no LAANC
featureshilly terrain, golfaccessNone
droneunknown — No drone rule found on the pages reached.
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Not under the Class B shelf; Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 7.1 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 7.0 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft. Beyond the Class B shelf at this point (no Class B polygon).
notesWeakest fog candidate of the courses: no water, above its ring. Course hours not found on the pages reached. Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 0.52 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.7 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 3.8 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 9.5 °C
- moisture: 0.28 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.5 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 2.7 °C → +2.8 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 0.10 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 12.2 km (0 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.649, ncep_nbm_conus 0.831, ecmwf_ifs025 0.695, icon_seamless 0.556 · spread 0.275
Grant Woods Forest Preserve — 17 %, patchy fog, deepening in low ground
where42.4115, -88.1181 · map
lookmarsh and savanna fog from the ground at 6:30 opening; drone needs a Lake County Forest Preserves permit
featuresmarsh, prairie, woodland, bog, pondaccess"Hours: 6:30 am-sunset, daily." (LCFP page, Wayback copy 2025-09-14)
dronepermit — LCFP Regulations Governing the General Use of District Property (approved Jan 14 2020, amended Jan 17 2024), Sec. III.A: "No person shall use District Property for any of the following uses, unless the person has first obtained, and has physical possession of, a Permit allowing such use"; item (v): "use of any fuel-powered, air-propulsion, electric powered, radio-controlled, or cellular-controlled unmanned aerial Vehicle (commonly referred to as a \"drone\"), model or toy car, aircraft, boat or rocket, or any similar toy or model"; item (xx): "taking any still or motion pictures ... for commercial purposes or for use in commercial advertising". LCFP's fee ordinance lists a 'Commercial Photography, Film or Video Permit'. Read from a Wayback copy (2024-02-25) because lcfpd.org returns a Cloudflare 403 to scripted fetches. No drone-specific permit procedure found; the model-aircraft page (archived 2026-02-15) offers only the Van Patten Woods field. A 2014 staff memo, seen only as a search-result excerpt, said drones may not launch or land elsewhere in the preserves. source
airspaceFAA Class_Airspace + UAS Facility Map query 2026-10-16 at the geocoded point: Not under the Class B shelf; Chicago Class E5 (floor 700 ft AGL) and Illinois Class E5; inside the O'Hare Mode C veil (surface-10,000 ft MSL); surface is Class G. Not inside KUGN Class D or its Class E2 surface area (boundary about 7.1 nm away); no UAS Facility Map grid at the point (nearest KUGN grid about 7.1 nm, ceiling 400 ft), so no LAANC needed at 400 ft AGL or below. Not in any TFR (none in IL/WI/IN on the live list) or national-security restriction (FAA 99.7 list has no Lake County IL entry). Distances are from the geocoded point, +/-0.3 nm: re-check at the real launch point in B4UFLY/Aloft. Beyond the Class B shelf at this point.
notesLCFP fall hunting or deer-management closures were not researched. Sunrise at Grayslake is about 7:08-7:15 am CDT on Oct 19-25 2026 (my NOAA-formula estimate, +/-2 min); clocks fall back Nov 1 (sunrise then ~6:24 CST). Drive time is an OSRM public-router estimate from Grayslake centre (42.3447,-88.0418), not a measurement.
suncivil dawn 06:42, sunrise 07:11 at 103.5°, beams 07:25–08:25, burn-off 08:11–09:11 est.
rain 48 h0.0 mm (Open-Meteo ICON assimilated past days (model analysis, not a gauge))
- dewpoint depression: 0.56 — min T−Td in the 3 h before sunrise = 1.6 °C (≤1 °C strongly favours fog, >3 °C rarely fogs)
- wind: 1.00 — mean 10 m wind in the 3 h before sunrise = 3.8 kt (2–5 kt ideal; calm gives only shallow fog; >8 kt mixes it out)
- sky: 1.00 — overnight mid+high levels cloud = 0 % (clear sky lets the ground radiate and cool)
- cooling: 1.00 — temperature fall 18:00 → sunrise = 9.6 °C
- moisture: 0.28 — crossover: forecast night minimum 5.5 °C vs afternoon dewpoint 2.7 °C → +2.8 °C; rain last 48 h = 0.0 mm
- model signal: 0.10 — model's own visibility minimum before sunrise = 12.2 km (0 h ≤ 1 km overnight)
per-model blend: gfs_hrrr 0.661, ncep_nbm_conus 0.83, ecmwf_ifs025 0.694, icon_seamless 0.548 · spread 0.282
