Red Hills Woods Nature Preserve

Lawrence County

Location and Access:

From Sumner, take Highway 250 east 0.75 mile to the entrance to Red Hills State Park. Take the park entrance road north for 0.25 mile then turn east on another park road. Take this road 0.5 mile, the preserve is on the south side of the park road.

Description:

This preserve contains high quality upland forest representative of the Mount Vernon Hill Country Section of the Southern Till Plain Division. This 32 acre site contains bitternut hickory, mockernut hickory, shagbark hickory, white oak, post oak and black oak. Black gum and tulip tree are often present in the ravines.

The preserve also provides habitat for several woodland birds and mammals. Red-headed woodpeckers, wood thrushes, tufted titmice, eastern chipmunks and eastern gray squirrels have been observed here.

Ownership: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Dedicated: June 1985

Size: 32.0 acres

Topo Map: Sumner 7.5

For Further Information Contact: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, 4295 North 1000th Street, Newton, IL 62448, (618/782/2685) or Site Superintendent, Red Hills State Park, R.R. #4, P.O. Box 132, Sumner, IL 62466 (618/936-2469)

1/2009 - R. Heidorn