MacArthur Woods Nature Preserve

Lake County

Location and Access:

From the intersection of Highway 60 and 21 in Vernon Hills take Highway 60 east one mile to St. Mary's Road. Turn north on St. Mary's Road. The preserve is on the west side of the road.

Description:

MacArthur Woods is a large undeveloped tract of forest that represents the forest that once covered the eastern edge of the DesPlaines River Valley in the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. Dry-mesic upland forest, mesic floodplain forest and northern flatwoods are the common communities. The upland forest is dominated by white oak, while the floodplain supports silver maple and bur oak and the flatwoods contain swamp white oak. They also provide critical breeding habitat for forest interior birds, including brown creeper, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, veery, pileated woodpecker and several rare and uncommon warblers, all of which are very sensitive to disturbance.

Ownership: Lake County Forest Preserve District and Leo and Janice Halkovich

Dedicated: July 1981

Size: 449.5 acres with buffer

Topo Map: Libertyville and Wheeling 7.5

For Further Information Contact: Lake County Forest Preserve District, 2000 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048 (708/367-6640)

03/10 R. Heidorn