Guide to Natural Areas in Northern Illinois
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3 Guide to Natural areas Rules & Reminders
I Please don’t litter in these beautiful locations. Kindly place all trash in receptacles or carry it out, if no receptacles are provided.
I Since these are protected areas, please don’t remove anything from the sites. This includes rocks, fossils, plants, and parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers and seeds.
I Please do not bring your pets unless you have confirmed with the landowner in advance that it is acceptable.
I Please obey all posted signs.
I Please visit often. These lands are spectacular and deserve to be admired.
I Some of the sites in this booklet are owned by the Natural Land Institute. These sites have guided tours available for Natural Land Institute members and their guests. Burr Oak Valley Preserve,
e Pecatonica Ridge Prairie and Nieman Marsh can be visited only with t permission due to location and access agreements with neighbors. u t
i I Some of the sites are owned by park or forest preserve districts.
t Most of these properties are routinely open to the public. s Please contact the individual districts to determine specific rules n
I for these areas.
d I Some of the properties are owned by the Illinois Department of
n Natural Resources (IDNR). These locations are typically open to a the public, but please contact IDNR or the site supervisor for days, L
times, and rules. l a I The owner of the property is listed with each entry. Contact r
u information for each of the owners is listed in the contact section. t a N
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i n Beach Cemetery Prairie
4 acres
2¼ miles east of Meridian Road on Big Mound Road Southwest of Davis Junction
very season is a good time to visit Beach Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve, because this tiny prairie is ablaze in color much of the Eyear. In early spring, the pasque flower plant sends up a flower stalk in advance of leaves, so what you see are delicate lavender-purple blooms nestled in the muted tan tangle of last year’s prairie grass. Springtime is also when you’ll see a display of shooting stars. These small flowers get their name from their petals, which shoot sharply backwards, and from the nodding characteristic of their blooms. They put on their show from r
April through May. a t s s
g a n
Yellow blossoms of puccoon i t e appear in late spring and early o o r h
summer, followed in July by the S a
purple hues of leadplant. Don’t neglect the autumn and winter, l a
however, for this is when you’ll see r
the reddish-brown of little bluestem u as it stands above the prairie. t a
The overlapping blooming N n seasons of the various wildflowers o o c o and grasses will ensure a stunning c u t p
view whenever you choose to visit. y r a e o H d i u G
7 Winnebago County
2 e t u t i t
s Burr Oak Valley Preserve was purchased by the Natural Land Institute
n in 1986 with a donation from McCleary Industries of South Beloit. I
d Owner: Natural Land Institute Access is limited. n
a For permission to visit, call or email:
L 815.964.6666 or [email protected]
l a r u t a N
8 Burr Oak Valley
63 acres
East of Roscoe ½ mile north of Burr Oak Road. Turn north on Kristi Hills Drive and follow to Tina Lynn Court.
urr Oak Valley Preserve is home to several natural communities: mesic upland forest, dolomite prairie, dolomite cliff and Bintermittent stream. It is one of only a few woodlands in the area that remains untouched by development. Come in the spring for a superb woodland wildflower display. Three small dolomite hill prairies provide you with a lovely view of little bluestem, side oats grama and purple prairie clover. Purple prairie e clover blooms in early summer. It is a i r i a slender, erect plant, typically about r p
l l
two feet tall. The flowers are in dense i s h
e
cylindrical spikes at the tops of the a t i e stems and branches. The bright m o l r purple-magenta flowers at the bottom o D a
of each spike are the first to bloom, forming a brilliant wreath that climbs l the spike as flowering progresses. a r
As you walk through the plants u that brush your ankles and knees, t r a e
don’t forget to also look around at the v o N l c trees. Enjoy the beauty of red oak, e i r i black walnut, shagbark hickory o a r t p
and hackberry.
e l p e r u P d i u G
9 Carroll County
3 e t u t i t
s Camp Merrill Benson was protected in 2005 when it was registered as a Land and Water Reserve with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. n
I The Natural Land Institute secured funding for the project and assisted
with the preservation agreement and registration. The camp is allowed to d continue traditional land uses, such as recreational and education n
a opportunities for children. Other uses are restricted to protect the more
L sensitive natural features from overuse.
l
a Owner: Sterling-Rock Falls Family YMCA r Access is limited. u
t For information:
a YMCA at 815.535.9622 or the camp at 815.244.8722 N
10 Camp Merrill Benson
73 acres
16355 Scenic Palisades Road Mt. Carroll, Illinois 61053
aukarusa Creek has carved a deep canyon through this land west of Mt. Carroll, creating geologic, botanic and zoologic Wfeatures that are unusual in northern Illinois. Walls of the canyon rise up to 100 feet from the creek. Since the early 1900s, botanists have known that rare plants such as dwarf scouring rush, cliff goldenrod, scented oak fern and Sullivantia are here and should be protected. This is the only known location for the scented oak fern in Illinois. Plants that typically grow in the northern Great Lakes region like white pine and Canada yew are also found here. s
At least four species of bats use a the caves within the dolomite cliffs. e r
One state endangered animal, an a isopod (Caecidotea spatulata) is l
found within Smith Park Cave. a r u t a N
o t
e d i u G
11 Ogle County
4 e t u t i
t Based on George Fell’s initial acquisitions and favorable reports of s additional available acreage, the Illinois Department of Conservation hired n
I him to act as a land acquisition agent for the state, promising to establish a
new state park if a minimum of 1,000 acres could be acquired. By the time d Castle Rock was dedicated as a state park in 1978, George had acquired 15 n tracts through the Natural Land Institute, which were sold to the state at cost. a
L He negotiated the sale terms of another 15 tracts on behalf of the Department of Conservation to acquire outright. More than once, George and his wife, l
a Barbara , contributed personal funds to acquire options or pay significant
r portions of the full purchase price in advance of the state’s ability to secure
u funding. The total acreage they acquired was 1,040 acres. t a Owner: Illinois Department of Natural Resources N For information: Castle Rock State Park at 815.732.7329 12 Castle Rock
2,000 acres (includes the 709-acre George B. Fell Nature Preserve)
1365 W. Castle Road Oregon, Illinois 61061
n the 1960s, George B. Fell, founder of the Natural Land Institute, acquired several key parcels of land in an area located outside of IOregon on the Rock River and named for its prominent sandstone feature — Castle Rock. Jens Jensen’s Friends of Our Native Landscape first had recommended the area as a state park in 1921. Castle Rock State Park was a place well known to George Fell’s father, Dr. Egbert W. Fell , who collected 27 different species of ferns and recorded the presence of relict boreal plants including native white pine, bunchberry, hairy woodrush, s round-leaved shinleaf and a
wild sarsaparilla. e r
In addition to the wide variety of a plants you will find at Castle Rock l State Park, you’ll see a remarkable a
diversity of birds, some that are rare r
in Illinois. Depending on the time u of year, you may see migrating t waterfowl or catch a glimpse of a bald a N
eagle or an osprey. Cooper’s hawks, wild turkeys and barred owls
breed in the preserve, and in the spring a variety of thrushes and at o least 15 types of warblers are found there. t
e d i u G
13 Ogle & Winnebago Counties
5 e t u t i t
s Dorothy C. Wallace donated the 93-acre Howard D. Colman Dells
n Preserve to the Natural Land Institute in 1997. Her contribution was a I
tribute to her father, the late Rockford industrialist Howard D. Colman.
d In 1998, the 55-acre portion of the preserve located in Winnebago County
n was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve. a L
Owner: Natural Land Institute
l For information: [email protected]
a or 815.964.6666 r u t a N
14 Colman Dells Preserve
93 acres
6 miles southwest of Rockford, along Hall Creek. South on Meridian Road, west on McGregor Road, north on Weldon Road
he Howard D. Colman Dells Preserve offers a piece of natural history unique to Winnebago and Ogle counties. It is a prime Texample of a high-quality northern Illinois forest. An array of unusual plants fill the area, including Canada yew, chinquapin oak and the only remaining native white pines in Winnebago County. A clear and shallow stream, Hall Creek, meanders through the shadows of vertical dolomite dells. g n i
The preserve is rich in cultural r o t history as well. Aldo Leopold , famed i n Wisconsin naturalist and author of o m
“A Sand County Almanac,” worked n o i s t
for Howard D. Colman on a deer- a t a s e e forest management project in 1936. r o f r This was Leopold’s first work in the e R a
Midwest on deer-forest management and the implications of overgrazing on the health of the natural l community. In the 1950s, Egbert Fell , the father of the Natural Land a Institute’s founder George B. Fell , documented plant species from the r area in his publication “Flora of Winnebago County.” u t
Restoration of a nine-acre field at the preserve began in 1999 with a N
the planting of native hardwood seedlings, including oak, hickory,
walnut and butternut. In 2002, volunteers again planted seeds, nuts and o
acorns to close the opening in the forest canopy. Volunteers are also t
helping with stewardship at the preserve by assisting with the control of e invasive honeysuckle. d i u G
15 Winnebago County
6 e t u t i t
s Lee Johnson , founder of the Sand Bluff Bird Observatory, sold the
n land to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District. The Natural Land I
Institute helped dedicate part of the area as an Illinois Nature Preserve and
d provided record keeping and financial services for the Sand Bluff Bird
n Observatory (then named the Sand Bluff Bird Banding Station) from
a 1973 through 1998. L
l Owners: Winnebago County Forest Preserve District
a Contact information: 815.877.6100;
r Sand Bluff Bird Observatory 815.629.2671 u t a N
16 Colored Sands
304 acres
10602 Haas Road Shirland, Illinois 61079
olored Sands Forest Preserve is named for the St. Peters sandstone found on the southern end of the preserve. The iron oxide in the Cstone darkens when it is exposed to the weather, creating magnificent colors. In midspring to midsummer, in the sandy open woodlands, you have the opportunity to see a spectacular display of wild lupine with beautiful, elongated blue flower clusters at the tops of the stems. Birds find an array of habitats in the prairies, low marshy areas, steep sand bluff and bottomland forest. Nearly every migrating or nesting warbler, wren, vireo, sparrow, thrush, blackbird and hawk recorded in e s n Winnebago County has been found in i a p u l e the fields and woods of the extensive d l i property. The Sand Bluff Bird r W Observatory established in 1967 is the a
largest banding station in the Mississippi Flyway and one of the few l banding stations open to the public. It monitors bird populations through a bird banding on facilities furnished and maintained by the Winnebago r County Forest Preserve District. u t
Within the forest preserve is the 55-acre Colored Sands Bluff Nature a N
Preserve. This area features bluffs on the Sugar River, dry sand savanna,
dry dolomite prairie, and dry sand prairie. The nature preserve is home o
to unusual reptiles and amphibians, including fox snake, milk snake, t western hognose snake, Blanding’s turtle and the uncommon e blue-spotted salamander. d i u G
17 Jo Daviess County
7 e t u t i t
s The Illinois Department of Natural Resources purchased Falling Down
n Prairie in 2001 with the help of the Natural Land Institute and a grant I
from the McKnight Foundation. Natural Land Institute staff assists
d landowners to explore options to permanently protect their properties in
n the Mississippi blufflands. a L
Owners: Illinois Department
l of Natural Resources a For information: 217.782.6302 r u t a N
18 Falling Down Prairie
109 acres
3½ miles south of Hanover, just off Route 84; access from a gravel parking lot located off South Airhart Road along the southern border of the property.
alling Down Prairie is located between Hanover Bluff Nature Preserve and Mississippi Palisades State Park. You might want to Fvisit in the fall to enjoy the colors, but a trip here at any time of the year is a great experience. Falling Down Prairie is called a “goat prairie,” a name often given to hill prairies located on steep, thin soils where you imagine only goats could r e walk. These prairies are found mainly k c e along the bluffs of the Mississippi River p d but can occur elsewhere. o o w
d s
The prairie is small and e d a a
surrounded by woodland. Plants e e h -
common to hill prairies include little d r e bluestem, Indian grass, big bluestem, R a goat’s rue, and Scribner’s panic grass. Hiking is difficult due to the steep topography. Hunting is allowed. l a
Areas near the Mississippi River provide critical habitat for many r migrating birds. Species you are likely to see at Falling Down Prairie include u t
woodpeckers, red-eyed vireos, Eastern wood peewees and wood thrush. a N
Mixed forests are rapidly colonizing open grasslands along the
Mississippi River. Human suppression of natural fire has greatly reduced the o number of goat prairies. However, the low moisture content of the slopes, t
the winter freeze-thaw cycle and the thin layer of soil help to keep these e
areas free of trees. d i u G
19 Lee County
8 e t u t i t
s George B. Fell , founder of the Natural Land Institute, secured the first
n parcel of land in the area. Winifred Knox later donated more than one
I hundred acres in honor of her pioneer ancestors. Through the 1970s, the
Natural Land Institute acquired additional tracts for the Department of d Natural Resources. n a
L Owner: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
l For information: 815.456.2878 a r u t a N
20 Franklin Creek
189 acres
1872 Twist Road Franklin Grove, Illinois 61031
ranklin Creek Nature Preserve is located within the 664-acre Franklin Creek State Park. The park has 4½ miles of easy hiking Ftrails so you can enjoy the beautiful creek, several natural springs, hardwood forests and geological outcroppings. Mill Spring, which once served as a source of water for a mill, is located just northeast of the preserve. Nineteen species of fish have been identified from Franklin Creek, with the smallmouth bass, channel catfish and rock bass being of the most interest to anglers. The nature preserve is the most outstanding part of the park. The t i
gorge area is highly scenic and rich p l u
in both natural and historic features. p - s e
The north facing slope overlooking h t a - n i Franklin Creek is dotted with a mesic e - k c r
forest of sugar maple and basswood. a J a
Forest interior birds, such as pileated woodpecker, use this critical l a
habitat for breeding. The seeps and r
springs support unusual plant life u such as skunk cabbage, wild black t current and swamp rose. Sheltered a N
cliffs provide habitat for Canada yew,
bulblet fern, smooth cliffbrake and o
downy arrowwood. Outcroppings t m
u i
along Franklin Creek are the oldest l e l i r exposed geologic formation in T d the state. i u G
21 Stephenson County
9 e t u t i t
s The Natural Land Institute’s executive director, Jerry Paulson ,
n recognized the value of the prairie in the summer of 1974 when I
he worked for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. The prairie was
d owned by Frank and Alice Larson of Loves Park, who also owned the adjoining Freeport Raceway Park. Paulson, the Larsons and the Jane n
a Addamsland Park Foundation worked together to transfer ownership of
L the prairie to Jane Addamsland in 1976. With the assistance of the
l Natural Land Institute, the prairie was dedicated as an Illinois Nature
a Preserve in 1977. r
u Owner: Jane Addamsland t Park Foundation a For information: 815.235.6114 N
22 Freeport Prairie
4.5 acres
Approximately ½ mile south of South Street on Walnut Road next to Freeport Raceway Park
reeport Prairie Nature Preserve lies on a steep, north-facing bluff on the edge of an ancient channel of Yellow Creek, a tributary of Fthe Pecatonica River. It represents the last of the original upland prairie known as Shannon Prairie, named for the town of Shannon located south of Freeport. In June, pale purple coneflowers are in bloom at Freeport Prairie, making this one of the best times to visit. Dominant plants are little bluestem, prairie dropseed and side- oats grama. Many beautiful flowers add to the diversity, including downy e
yellow painted cup, rock sandwort, k s o m
pasque flower and prairie smoke. a s
e e i r Prairie smoke is one of the i r a r P
earliest of spring-blooming flowers. a The purplish plumes of its seed-heads l
have been likened to smoke rising a
from the prairie. This member of the r
rose family grows on the thinnest soil, u r t where dolomite bedrock is right at the e w a o l
surface. Freeport Prairie is at the very f e N n southern limits of its distribution in o c
o the mid-continent. e l p t r u
p
e e l a P d i u G
23 Jo Daviess County
10 e t u t i t
s The Natural Land Institute helped the Illinois Department of Natural
n Resources acquire the first parcels of land in 1979. The Nature Conservancy
I acquired 116 acres and dedicated 30 acres as an addition to the Nature
Preserve in 2004. In 2003, the Natural Land Institute purchased the 35-acre d Hanover Forest. It also protects 250 acres of privately-owned land with n
a conservation agreements, including 125 acres owned by The Prairie Enthusiasts. L
l Owners: Natural Land Institute, The Nature Conservancy,
a The Prairie Enthusiasts and the Illinois Department
r of Natural Resources
u For information: [email protected] or 815.964.6666 t a N
24 Hanover Bluff
1,100 acres
ncreasingly rare in Illinois are expansive landscapes like Hanover Bluff Land and Water Reserve in Jo Daviess County. The Natural Land IInstitute and its partners are working to protect and restore the fabric of this precious landscape in the western part of our state, where some of the more intact wooded bluffs are still found. Hanover Bluff harbors threatened and endangered plant species. Bald eagles, barn owls and songbirds such as the Eastern wood pewee, veery and cerulean warbler depend on this uninterrupted, diverse area for nesting. Visitors are welcome to many parts of Hanover Bluff, but public use varies according to property ownership. Trails and parking are available on S. Hanover Hill Road at Hanover Bluffs State Natural Area s
owned by the Illinois Department of e l g a
Natural Resources. Fishing and a e e
d
limited hunting are allowed. You will l r a
also find hiking trails, parking and a B a
prairie display garden at Hanley Savanna on S. Whitton Road, an area owned by The Prairie Enthusiasts. l a
Public use is limited on the Hanover Bluff Nature Preserve and on r properties owned by The Prairie Enthusiasts, The Nature Conservancy u t
and the Natural Land Institute due to the remote location and limited a
access. Private property is not open to the public. N
o t
e d i u G
25 Winnebago County
11 e t u t i t
s In the early 1960s, George B. Fell , the founder of the Natural Land
n Institute, negotiated the acquisition of the first tract of this prairie and I
later several additional tracts. The Natural Land Institute managed the
d land for about 25 years. The Natural Land Institute helped expand the
n prairie in 2005 by purchasing the last remaining undeveloped four acres
a near the preserve and transferring ownership to the Illinois Department of
L Natural Resources.
l
a Owner: Illinois Department of r Natural Resources u For information: 217.785.8686 t a N
26 Harlem Hills
60 acres
Loves Park, Illinois (from Forest Hills Road, turn east on Flora Drive)
arlem Hills Nature Preserve is Illinois’ largest and finest remaining example of a gravel hill prairie and is regarded as one of the ten Hmost significant prairies east of the Mississippi River. Plant and wildlife species are diverse and include several insects that are threatened or endangered in Illinois. A remarkable feature of this preserve is the large number of prairie wildflowers. In the spring, pasque flowers are the first to bloom. In late
June and early July, come to see one r e w
of the best displays of pale purple o l f
coneflowers in our region. You will be e n o c
delighted throughout the seasons by s e l
the beauty of plants that include p r a u e cream indigo, leadplant, pink p
e l r
milkwort, downy yellow painted cup a P and prairie buttercup. a
At Harlem Hills Nature Preserve, l a
the regal frittilary feeds on milkweeds, r
thistles, and other prairie flowers. u
This butterfly is endangered in t northwestern Illinois, its range mostly a N y coincident with a band of sandy, r a l i
original, true prairie. o t t i t r f
l a e g e R d i u G
27 Ogle County
12 e t u t i t
s The Natural Land Institute helped to acquire an addition to the
n preserve in 2003 and assisted the forest preserve district to restore the I
original prairie on the parcel. d
n Owner: Byron Forest Preserve District
a For information: 815.234.8535 L
l a r u t a N
28 Jarrett Prairie
116 acres with 25 acres of buffer
7993 North River Road Byron, Illinois 61010
arrett Prairie Nature Preserve is the highest quality portion of the 450-acre Byron Forest Preserve District “Prairie Preserve.” Parking, Jtrail access and trail maps are available at the Jarrett Prairie Center. The preserve is a large complex of dry dolomite and dry-mesic dolomite prairie remnants. Much of the preserve is undergoing restoration. The best quality prairie, including those areas that are habitat for endangered and rare species, and the best of the restored prairie, make up an important core area that has been dedicated as the Jarrett Prairie l s
Nature Preserve. The nature preserve w a o
d
includes two sites where large bur e e r r r oaks with spreading branches suggest a B a savanna-like community. a
Nestled among the ridges and l a
swales are numerous wildflowers, r
including fringed and downy gentian. u
The wood betony will delight you in t mid-to-late spring, when it displays its a N n a
distinctive, pale yellow flowers amidst i t n
leaves that appear fernlike. Prairie o e g bushclover and wooly milkweed also t d
e thrive at Jarrett Prairie Nature g e n i r
Preserve. F d i u G
29 Winnebago County
13 e t u t i t
s The Natural Land Institute received funds to purchase the land from
n the will of J. Norman Jensen , who passed away in 2002. The funds were I
entrusted to the Natural Land Institute to purchase prime conservation
d land and then transfer it to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District.
n The Natural Land Institute and the district worked together to identify
a the land, and the Natural Land Institute contributed seeds for restoring L
the prairie. l
a Owner: Winnebago County r Forest Preserve District u For information: 815.877.6100 t a N
30 Jensen Forest Preserve
112 acres
1440 South Bluff Road Rockton, Illinois 61072
. Norman Jensen Forest Preserve has about a mile of frontage on the Rock River and is located north of the millrace dam across Jfrom the Village of Rockton. It includes about ten acres of dry prairie on a gravel bluff above the river where it makes a sharp bend below the dam. The prairie was identified 50 years ago by Dr. Egbert Fell , author of the “Flora of Winnebago County” and father of George B. Fell , founder of the Natural Land Institute. k
Dr. Fell documented several rare w a h
plants at the prairie, including one of d e r
the only known populations in Illinois e s d l
of the state endangered dragon u a o h e wormwood. s - d r e R
Bring your binoculars for your a visit to these forests and wetlands that harbor many species of migratory birds, duck and other waterfowl. This is a favorite roosting area for bald l a
eagles and osprey that fish along the river. Watch, too, for hawks, owls, r
great blue herons and sandhill cranes. u t
The Winnebago County Forest Preserve District is restoring native a
prairie and oak savanna at the preserve. Non-native, invasive species that N have choked out native trees and grasses in many parts of the property are being removed. o t
e d i u G
31 Ogle County
14 e t u t i t
s In 2003, the Natural Land Institute purchased this land using grants
n from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Conservation 2000 I
program) and the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Kyte River
d Bottoms was registered as a Land and Water Reserve with the Illinois
n Nature Preserves Commission in 2004. a L
Owner: Natural Land Institute
l For information: [email protected] or 815.964.6666 a r u t a N
32 Kyte River Bottoms
235 acres
Southeast of Oregon on Daysville Road
loodplain forest makes up most of the Kyte River Bottoms Land and Water Reserve, but several other types of land are also Fpresent: upland forest, sedge meadow, sand savanna and stream. When the river floods, large portions of this 235-acre preserve are covered with water. Visit at different times of the year and you will discover that where there once was no pond, now there is. These seasonal ponds are part of the nature of a floodplain forest. The forest towers high above you with its silver maple, swamp white oaks, green ash, American sycamore and American elm. You’ll be able to watch the birds and animals enjoy the
sweetish fruit of the honeylocust and s y l f a
the hackberry trees. Discover plants n o e
with whimsical names: pagoda g a r r D
dogwood, starry campion, water a crowfoot, rice cut grass and l rattlesnake fern. a
There is an abundance of wildlife r to admire at Kyte River Bottoms. u t g In the spring, the sounds of chorus a o r f
frogs and spring peepers will add N s
u delight to your visit. Be on the r o o h c lookout for the Blanding’s turtle, a t n r
state-threatened species. This unique e t s e area offers more than 90 species e W of birds, including the state- d i threatened red-shouldered hawk, red-headed woodpecker, u
veery, yellow-billed cuckoo and northern flicker. G
33 Whiteside County
15 e t u t i t
s The Natural Land Institute purchased the railroad right-of-way in 1990
n by quit claim deed and turned over management to Tim Keller of Sterling, I
who had been leasing the property since 1978 in order to protect it. Keller and
d the Whiteside County Natural Area Guardians, a committee of the Whiteside
n County Soil and Water Conservation District, manage the prairie. The
a Whiteside County Natural Area Guardians also own a ten-acre, high-quality L
wet prairie next to Lyndon Prairie. l
a Owner: Natural Land Institute r For information: [email protected] or 815.964.6666 u t a N
34 Lyndon Prairie
36 acres
5 miles southwest of Rock Falls along I-88
yndon Prairie Nature Preserve lies in a narrow, seven-mile corridor along the abandoned Burlington Northern Railroad, Lfive miles southwest of Rock Falls, and links the rural villages of Lyndon and Agnew. Local residents call the 78-acre Lyndon-Agnew Prairie a “treasure in our n r
midst.” It has some of the finest and rarest black soil prairie left in Illinois. u b
e Thirty-six acres qualified for dedication i r i a
as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1995, a r p
status granted only to very high-quality d e b i
natural lands. At this preserve, you will r c s
find more than 80 native plant species e r p
that once covered Illinois prairies. s t c u d
Visit often during the growing n o c s season to see the ever-changing r e a l succession of blooming plants such as l e e K coneflowers, milkweeds and asters. r m i T
Look for the brilliant orange blossoms of a butterfly weed in late spring and early summer, and diverse grass species that l include big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass and porcupine grass. a
Land along this area of the Rock River was originally a mixture of r prairie, marsh, and bottomland forest. It was owned in the mid-1800s by u t
various individuals and taken over by the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis a
Railroad Company in 1868 – 69. When the Burlington Northern Railroad N announced plans to abandon the right-of-way in 1978, local conservationists began efforts to secure its preservation. o t
e d i u G
35 Lee County
16 e t u t i t
s In 1986, the Natural Land Institute under the leadership of its founder,
n George B. Fell , purchased at auction the first 115-acre parcel of the area I
that would become the Nachusa Grasslands. The Natural Land Institute
d sold the land at cost to The Nature Conservancy. n
a Owner: The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter
L For information: 815.456.2340
l a r u t a N
36 Nachusa Grasslands
2,500 acres and 400 additional acres protected by conservation agreements
8772 S. Lowden Road Franklin Grove, Illinois 61031
magine visiting numerous natural communities in one place. Nachusa Grasslands offers a rolling vista of prairie, sedge meadow Iand streamside marsh, as well as bur oak savanna and sand savanna. The grasslands provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and animals that are rare or uncommon in Illinois. See gorgone checkerspot butterflies among the prairie grasses. These pretty little butterflies were reintroduced here after being rescued from smaller prairie fragments that had fallen victim to development.
You will see many of the 600 s a x
native plant species that Nachusa o f e
Grasslands is home to, as well as y a r r G
many of its 180 bird species. Listen to a the songs of the grasshopper sparrow and the Henslow’s sparrow as you walk through the kittentails, forked aster, downy yellow painted cup and l a
prairie bush clover. The preserve has one of the state’s largest r
populations of prairie bush clover, a federally-threatened plant. u t
The sheer size of this protected area allows for the presence of a
animals that need large amounts of space to live, such as the badger and N certain grassland birds. There is even hope that one day bison will live here again when enough land is restored. o t
e d i u G
37 Winnebago County
17
d. R h ap gr le Te e t u t i t
s The Natural Land Institute purchased the marsh and wet meadows in
n 2006 with funds from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation I
and the Anderson Family Foundations. In 2008, we restored four acres of
d prairie along the northern boundary of the property. n
a Owner: Natural Land Institute L
Access is limited.
l For permission to visit, email [email protected] or call 815.964.6666. a r u t a N
38 Nieman Marsh
39 acres
North of Telegraph Road and east of Cox Road, approximately 2 miles east of Pecatonica, Illinois 61063
ieman Marsh is spring fed with natural communities that include wet prairie, sedge meadow and deep marsh. Local bird experts Nknow the area as one of the “natural gems of our region.” The shallow and deep wetlands are critical for migrating waterfowl, and they provide habitat for birds such as sandhill crane, American bittern, least bittern and short-eared owl. The bright yellow flowers of marsh marigolds can be seen here in the spring, and blue flag iris adds color from late spring to midsummer. Native plants such as Culver’s root,
arrowhead, sedges, milkweeds d l o
and asters provide critical refuge g i s r
for amphibians, reptiles and a a m
h other wildlife. e s r a r
Nieman Marsh is adjacent to M a
other natural areas, increasing the preserve’s significance. Nearby are l a
the Pecatonica River Forest Preserve, r
the Torstenson Family Hunting u
Heritage Center and private properties t enrolled in conservation programs. a N s
Combined, these sites protect an area e n a
in excess of 1,300 acres. o r c
l t l i
h d e n a S d i u G
39 Winnebago County
18 e t u t i
t The Natural Land Institute purchased the Nygren Wetland Preserve in 2000. s Carl Nygren ’s generous gift, left to us in his will, initiated the acquisition and n
I restoration. The preserve is named for him and his wife, Myrna . Conservation partners include the Natural Resource Conservation Service,
d Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Grand Victoria Foundation, Smith
n Charitable Foundation, Atwood Foundation, Nora Family, Rockton Township, a Sinnissippi Audubon Society, US Fish and Wildlife Service and many L
generous individuals. l
a Owners: Natural Land Institute, 703 acres. Rockton Township
r owns 18 acres at the entrance to the Dianne Nora Nature Trail.
u Public access to the Dianne Nora Nature Trail (open dawn until t dusk) is from Rockton Road opposite Hansberry Road through a land owned by Rockton Township. N For information: [email protected] or 815.964.6666 40 Nygren Wetland Preserve
721 acres
2810 West Rockton Road Rockton, Illinois 61072
or thousands of years, people have been drawn to the rich land and abundant wildlife along the three streams — Rock River, Pecatonica FRiver and Raccoon Creek — that flow through the Carl and Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve. When the Natural Land Institute purchased it, very little of the original natural vegetation remained. The land had been dramatically altered in the 1970s, when farmers drained the fields and straightened the creek to plant corn and soybeans. k e e Hundreds of volunteers have r C
helped the Natural Land Institute n o o restore 100 acres of prairie, 450 acres c c a R of wetland and 150 acres of woodland t a
as close as possible to the original by s e l t r using century-old records left by s u t surveyors and by looking at the soil a d e e types. In 2007, Raccoon Creek was t n i r a
returned to its original 2.3-mile P a channel, completing one of the final stages of the restoration. Stewardship of this large wetland complex is ongoing. l a
In the summer, blossoms of wild bergamot, sunflowers and black-eyed r
Susans create a purple and yellow ocean of color, stretching from the scenic u bluff in the north to the Pecatonica River in the south. A pair of sandhill t a cranes raised a chick in 2004, the first in our restored wetlands. They are best N observed from the overlook struc ture at the head of the Dianne Nora Nature
Trail. River otters have returned to the Raccoon Creek corridor. o t
e d i u G
41 Winnebago County
19 e t u t i t
s The Natural Land Institute purchased this preserve in 2005. With the
n support of our members, we were able to respond quickly when the farm I
with the precious prairie was listed for sale at auction. Look for the
d plaque at the preserve honoring the Sass Family , owners of the land from
n 1877 to 2005. a L
Owner: Natural Land Institute
l Access is limited. a For permission to visit, email [email protected] or call 815.964.6666. r u t a N
42 Pecatonica Ridge Prairie
80 acres
Berglund Road, 2 miles east of Pecatonica, 1 mile north of U.S. Route 20 Pecatonica, Illinois 61063
his is a rare gem of original prairie nestled in the countryside east of Pecatonica. The upland prairie is one of only about 250 Tfragments scattered throughout Illinois that has survived in good condition. Pasque flowers and prairie smoke are the earliest of spring-blooming flowers. Pale purple coneflowers and leadplant are in bloom in late June to early July, making this another outstanding time to visit. Porcupine grass, prairie dropseed, little r
bluestem, rosinweed and New Jersey e w s o l
tea are a few of the native plants you f a
e e will see on the crest of the hillside. u q s r a
You might catch a glimpse of P a
sandhill cranes and great blue herons as they move to and from their nesting areas along the Pecatonica River to feed in the marshes l a
surrounding the preserve. Listen for the soft, distinctive whistles of r
field sparrows and other songbirds. The area is also home to red fox, u badgers, deer and coyotes. t a
The Natural Land Institute will complete the restoration of 32 acres N of prairie on the north of the hill facing the Pecatonica River Valley in 2009. The restoration area adjoins 35 acres of wetlands with plants such o t as Joe Pye weed, bluejoint grass, asters, sunflowers and sedges.
The wetlands will also be restored with the help of Natural Land e
Institute volunteers. d i u G
43 DeKalb County
20 e t u t i t
s A grant to the Natural Land Institute from the Illinois Clean Energy
n Community Foundation helped fund the acquisition of Potawatomi Woods I
Forest Preserve. d
n Owner: DeKalb County Forest Preserve District
a For information: www.dekalbcounty.org or 815.895.7191 L
l a r u t a N
44 Potawatomi Woods
DeKalb County, 300 acres
32199 Kirkland Road Kirkland, IL 60146
otawatomi Woods Forest Preserve consists of 300 acres of forest and wetlands along the south branch of the Kishwaukee River Pnorthwest of the village of Kirkland. Future prairie restorations will be part of this landscape. Potawatomi Woods Forest Preserve, McQueen Forest Preserve and 600 acres of the adjoining Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife area, comprise the largest single segment of protected, undeveloped land in DeKalb County. Take a walk on the paths in the floodplain forests that provide habitat for red-tailed hawks, barred owls, r e
migrating ospreys, red-headed v i R woodpeckers and kingfishers. Be sure e s e
to spend time at the observation deck k a u a
for more opportunities to see wildlife. e w h s r i K
Visit the Potawatomi Woods a sedge meadow where prairie Indian l plantain, swamp saxifrage and bottle a
gentian thrive. In midsummer to early r
fall, you can enjoy cardinal flowers u and their brilliant red blossoms — t an unusual color in wildflowers. a N r e The nectar of these flowers attracts w o o
the ruby-throated hummingbird and l f
l t swallowtail butterflies. a
n i d e r
Potawatomi Woods takes its a C name from the bands of Potawatomi d i people who lived in this area approximately 150 years ago. Ecosystems u
along the Kishwaukee River are among the most threatened in America. G
45 Winnebago County
21 e t u t i t
s Emily J. Searls donated 199 acres to the Rockford Park District in 1943
n and 1944 in honor of her husband and other family members. The I
Natural Land Institute acquired a 12.8-acre tract on the east side of the
d park as an addition to the prairie in 1974 and conveyed it to the Park
n District in 1975. The prairie was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve
a in 1984. L
l Owner: Rockford Park District
a For information: 815.987.8800 r u t a N
46 Searls Park Prairie
66 acres
Safford Road & Central Avenue Rockford, Illinois
earls Park Prairie Nature Preserve is located within the 211-acre Searls Memorial Park in northwest Rockford. Natural Scommunities are wet and wet-mesic prairie, marsh and pond. Wet prairies have surface water present some times of the year, usually in spring, and the soil is almost always saturated. As you walk through, you’ll pass by Indian grass, little bluestem and r e
big bluestem, native grasses that were t s common in this region in years past. a m
e
Splashes of color reveal summer k a n
flowers in bloom: the dainty, white s e l t
flowering spurge, the tall, yellow t a r compass plant with leaves that follow n s o
the sun, spikes of purple blazing star, h a c r e and the prickly, white rattlesnake a n o master. The nature preserve also has r M a
a variety of violets, milkweeds and
asters that will delight you. l a
The best times to visit are mid May for prairie phlox, shooting star r
and puccoon; June for rattlesnake master, white wild indigo and u
Michigan lily; August for blazing star and goldenrod; September for aster t and fringed gentian. a N Birds you are likely to see at Searls Prairie Nature Preserve include field sparrows, common yellowthroats and gray catbirds. Species o t documented at the preserve in recent years include Eastern meadowlarks, green herons, willow flycatchers and sedge wrens. e d i u G
47 Winnebago County
22 e t u t i t
s Roscoe Township and the Natural Land Institute have worked together
n since 1993 to protect and restore land along the trail. Roscoe Township I
purchased the land in 1994 and protected the prairie with a conservation
d agreement with the Natural Land Institute. The trail is registered as a Land and Water Reserve by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. n a
L Owner: Roscoe Township
l For information: 815.623.7323 or 815.964.6666 a r u t a N
48 Stone Bridge Nature Trail
133 acres
5792 Elevator Road Roscoe, IL 61073
ide your bike or take a walk along the five-mile, gravel Stone Bridge Nature Trail east of Roscoe. End points are at East Rockton RRoad and Atwood Road at the Roland Olson Forest Preserve, where it connects with the Long Prairie Trail. You will pass by dry gravel prairie and dry mesic prairie fragments. There are more than 140 native n o
species of plants lining the edges i t a
of the abandoned railroad bed. r o t s
Nestled in among the rough e r
blazingstar and bergamot are e h t
kittentails, a threatened species in r o f
Illinois. From the observation deck, s d e
you can admire both the stone e s s
bridge and Kinnikinnick Creek. g n a i t c e e l
When you reach South l r o
Kinnikinnick Creek near Burr Oak C a
Road, you’ll see the only double-arch bridge of its kind in northern Illinois. The limestone bridge constructed in 1882 is unusual in that it l a
was built without mortar, except for joint dressing and inside face sealing. r
It has an internal drainage system that is still in place and working. The u bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. t a
Volunteers, including Scouts and school groups, helped the Natural N Land Institute restore prairie and wetland plants on a 21-acre site south of Burr Oak Road in 2003. In 2007, the Natural Land Institute purchased o t
60 acres between Kinnikinnick Creek and the Stone Bridge Nature Trail.
This area has a tiny remnant of original oak savanna that will be e expanded and restored. d i u G
49 Other Dedicated Nature Preserves in Northern Illinois For more information, please visit www.dnr.state.il.us/inpc/ Ayers Sand Prairie, Carroll County * Myer Woods, Bureau County Bartlett Woods, Lee County Pecatonica Bottoms, Black Hawk Forest, Winnebago County Rock Island County * Piros Prairie, Ogle County Brookville Lutheran Cemetery Plum Grove, Winnebago County Prairie, Carroll County Pine Rock, Ogle County Douglas Wade Prairie, Rockton Bog, Winnebago County Ogle County Sentinel (Mississippi Palisades), Elton J. Falks Bald Eagle Refuge, Carroll County Rock Island County Severson Dells, Flora Prairie, Boone County Winnebago County Foley Sand Prairie, Lee County Sugar River Alder, Hartley Memorial, Winnebago County Winnebago County Temperance Hill Cemetery, e * Heeren Prairie, Ogle County Lee County t Hetzler Cemetery Prairie, Thomson-Fulton Sand Prairie, u
t Bureau County Carroll and Whiteside Counties i Greenlee Cemetery Prairie, Wards Grove, Jo Daviess County t Henry County s Wilkinson-Renwick Marsh,
n Kinnikinnick Creek, Boone County DeKalb County
I Laona Heights, * Wilson Prairie,
Winnebago County Winnebago County d Miller-Anderson Woods, White Pines Forest, Ogle County n
a Bureau and Putnam Counties * Wirth Prairie,
L Mineral Marsh, Henry County Stephenson County
l Munson Township Cemetery
a Prairie, Henry County r
u * Privately-owned; open to the public only with permission.
t The Natural Land Institute makes arrangements with landowners to a lead guided walks. Under those circumstances, our members are very
N welcome to visit!
50 Contact Information
Byron Forest Preserve District Natural Land Institute 7993 North River Road 320 South Third Street Byron, IL 61010 Rockford, IL 61104 815.234.8535 815.964.6666 www.byronforestpreserve.com www.naturalland.org
DeKalb County The Nature Conservancy – Forest Preserve District Nachusa Grasslands 110 East Sycamore Street 8772 S. Lowden Rd. Sycamore, IL 60178 Franklin Grove, IL 61031 815.895.7191 815.456.2340 www.dekalbcounty.org/Forest/ www.nature.org forest_preserve.html Prairie Preservation Society Illinois Department of of Ogle County Natural Resources 9024 W. Grove Rd. One Natural Resources Way Forreston, IL 61030 Springfield, IL 62702 815.938.3204 217.782.6302 www.dnr.state.il.us Rockford Park District 401 South Main Street Illinois Department of Rockford, IL 61101 s Natural Resources 815.987.8800 www.rockfordparkdistrict.org a
Region I Office e
2317 E. Lincolnway, Suite A r Roscoe Township
Sterling, IL 61081 a
815.625.2968 5792 Elevator Road
Roscoe, IL 61073 l Illinois Nature 815.623.7323 a Preserves Commission r One Natural Resources Way Sterling-Rock Falls u Springfield, IL 62702 Family YMCA t 217.785.8686 2505 YMCA Way a dnr.state.il.us/inpc/ Sterling, IL 61081 N 815.535.9622
Jane Addamsland www.sterlingrockfallsymca.org o t
Park Foundation Winnebago County % Freeport Park District e Forest Preserve District
1122 S. Burchard Avenue d 5500 Northrock Drive Freeport, IL 61032 i Rockford, IL 61103 815.235.6114 u 815.877.6100 www.wcfpd.org G 51 March 2008 ©2008 Natural Land Institute. All rights reserved. 2M / 3-08 / MS2 i n a
p n n P l
o T a e h r h o n n t n e h t d e s
e u 8 N 3
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