Cache River - State Natural Area |
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South Region Henry N Barkhausen
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When storms pushed Norseman Lief Ericsson westward to the North American continent 1,000 years ago, many of the cypress trees of today's Cache River State Natural Area were just saplings. By the time Christopher Columbus landed in the Western Hemisphere 500 years later, they had grown into ancient trees that towered above even more ancient blackwater swamps. Cache River State Natural Area is situated in southernmost Illinois within a floodplain carved long ago by glacial floodwater of the Ohio River. When the Ohio River adopted its present course, it left the Cache River to meander across rich and vast wetlands. Among the outstanding natural features found within the area today are massive cypress trees whose flared bases, called buttresses, exceed 40 feet circumference. Many are more than 1,000 years old, including one that has earned the title of state champion bald cypress because of its huge trunk girth, towering height and heavily branched canopy. Despite intensive efforts to convert land along the Cache River to cropland, the land that today makes up the Cache River State Natural Area has managed to hold onto some of the highest quality aquatic and terrestrial natural communities remaining in Illinois. Wetlands within this area are so important to migratory waterfowl and shorebirds that in 1996 the RAMSAR Convention collectively designated them a Wetland of International Importance, only the 19th wetland in the United States to receive the distinction. It is
within southern Illinois that north meets south and east meets west. With
its diversity of soils, bedrock and landforms, the Cache River Valley
contains four distinct ecological regions. Its hodgepodge of ecological
factors has resulted in a collage of natural communities, each with its
own unique assemblage of physical attributes, plants and animals. Not surprisingly,
people have rallied to protect the Cache River watershed. The National
Park Service has designated two National Natural Landmarks within its
borders - Bottomland Swamp and Heron Pond. The Illinois Department of
Natural Resources has identified three Nature Preserves here - Section
8 Woods, Heron Pond-Wildcat Bluff and Little Black Slough - and registered
10,367 acres of the area's 14,791 acres in the Land and Water Reserve
Program. These designations assure that the site management will emphasize
restoration and preservation of the area's natural characteristics. Totaling
14,791 acres in Johnson, Massac and Pulaski counties, Cache River State
Natural Area is composed of three distinct management units - Little Black
Slough, Lower Cache River Swamps and Glass Hill. The Little
Black Slough Unit surrounds the Upper Cache River north of the West Eden
Road. Nestled deep within the shadowy bottomland forests of this unit
lies Heron Pond, a shallow wetland dominated by cypress and tupelo trees.
A boardwalk winds its way into the secluded depths of this forested swamp,
providing visitors a chance to step back in time and observe wetland and
aquatic ecosystems that have remained relatively undisturbed for thousands
of years. During the growing season, massive gray-brown cypress trunks
arise from a floating carpet of brilliant emerald duckweed. These living
pillars of wood extend high over the swamp before disappearing into a
shadow-filled canopy. Here, seldom-seen but often-heard bird-voiced tree
frogs haunt the leafy branches of tall cypress trees, their melodious
calls considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the frog voices.
Above and below the water’s surface, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians
and insects interact in a symphony of survival. Overlooking
the swamps are the low ridges of the Lesser Shawnee Hills. At the base
of these hills, bottomland hardwood forests dominated by overcup oak,
pin oak, cherrybark oak and sweetgum give way to red oak, white oak and
shagbark hickory. Barrens occur on the highest ridge tops where soils
are thin and bedrock is exposed. These sites are dominated by small post
oak and blackjack oak trees scattered about open expanses of land dominated
by grasses and forbs more commonly encountered on dry prairies. South
of the West Eden Road, the Lower Cache River Swamps spread across a broad,
flat floodplain between the towns of Karnak and Ullin. The swamps are
a mosaic of permanent, deep, open water interrupted here and there by
thick-buttressed cypress trees that were old hundreds of years ago. Younger,
even-aged stands of cypress and tupelo trees and thickets of buttonbush
occur in areas of shallow water. Visitors can experience this lost world
while paddling a canoe through 6 miles of trails that meander through
rivers, swamps and ponds in a portion of the Lower Cache River known as
Buttomland Swamp. The Glass Hill Management Unit
occurs about 3 miles north of Bottomland Swamp near the town of Cypress.
An outstanding example of a rare landform called a sandstone knob occurs
on this site. All around and on top of this inaccessible knob is relatively
undisturbed upland forest dominated by chinquapin oak, red oak, white
oak, shagbark hickory and pignut hickory. The wild places found in Cache River State Natural Area provides
food, cover and water for an incredible diversity of plant and animal species,
more than 100 of which have been listed as endangered or threatened by
the State of Illinois. If swamps
are the Cache River’s signature natural community, then birds are
its signature species. Observant birders can expect to see bald eagles,
red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, barred owls, great blue herons, great
egrets, little blue herons, green herons, least bitterns, wood ducks,
mallards, snow geese, sora rails, woodcock, quail, mourning doves, red-headed
woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, prothonotary warblers, black vultures
and turkey vultures. Seasonal migrations bring multitudes of waterfowl
and shorebirds to the area, as well as the occasional osprey, golden eagle
and black tern. Mammals
often encountered include white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons, beavers,
gray foxes, red foxes, opossums, skunks and mink. Lucky visitors might
catch a glimpse of river otters, bobcats or tiny Indiana bats. Bird-voiced tree frogs, southern leopard frogs, spring peepers, western chorus frogs, bullfrogs and American toads are among the more vocal of the area’s amphibian inhabitants. Other well-known residents of Cache environs are the cottonmouth, copperhead and timber rattlesnake. While the bite from these venomous species is dangerous, as long as visitors are both cautious and observant, they have little to fear from these reclusive, non-aggressive creatures. Swimming
under or on the tea-colored waters of the Cache are numerous fish, amphibians
and reptiles. Channel catfish, crappie, bass and bluegill are prized by
area fishermen. Less sought after but true swamp fish include the bowfin,
needlenose gar, grass pickerel and yellow bullhead catfish. Pygmy sunfish
and cypress minnows are two state-endangered fish found only in wetlands
dominated by forested swamps. Barkhausen-Cache
River Wetlands Center | Wetlands Center Fact
Sheet The Wetlands
Center was completed in November 2004 and is a high-quality
destination point that fosters natural resources appreciation and education,
while interpreting the unique natural and cultural history of the Cache
River Wetlands. Located south of Whitehill on Illinois Route 37, the center
is named for Henry N. Barkhausen, who served as Director for the Illinois
Department of Conservation from 1970-73, and for 18 years served as Secretary
of the Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River. He worked to encourage
government agencies, organizations and residents to protect and restore
the natural character of the Cache Wetlands. The Wetlands Center hours
and days of operation are Wednesday thru Sunday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Canoe Trail | Canoe Fact Sheet | Canoe Trail Map | Cache Canoe Trail Video The Lower Cache River
Trail offers paddlers a quality canoe experience, 3 to 6 miles in length,
through magnificent cypress-tupelo swamp. The highlight of the trail is
Illinois’ largest, and therefore state
champion, bald cypress tree. Like many trees within the Cache
River State Natural Area, it is more than 1,000 years old. Canoeists
can begin at the Lower Cache River access area or at a private boat launch
($1 fee) south of Perks. Car shuttles are not necessary. The trail is
marked with international canoe symbols and arrows and/or yellow stripes
on trees. Canoe maps and fact sheets are available at the site headquarters
or wetlands center. While canoeing the Lower Cache is enjoyable, paddlers should be aware that the Upper Cache River is difficult if not impossible to canoe. Severe bank erosion, which is responsible for trees tipping over and creating log jams, makes canoe portages very frequent. The Tunnel
Hill State bicycle trail travels through 8 miles of the Cache
River State Natural Area terminating at the Henry Barkhausen-Cache River
Wetlands/Visitor Center, 2 1/2 miles east of Karnak, Illinois near Rago
and IL Rt 37. Hiking
Trails | Hiking Fact Sheet
| Hiking Trails Map More than
18 miles of designated foot trails exists within Cache River State Natural Area.
Other than Little Black Slough Trail and Tupelo Trail which are considered
moderate in difficulty, the trails are easy to walk. A 5-mile segment
of the 45-mile-long Tunnel Hill State Trail passes through the region,
providing expanded opportunities for hikers and cyclists. Paralleling
the Karnak-Belknap Road on its northern side, the Tunnel Hill Trail links Little Black Slough, the Lower Cache unit and the Henry N. Barkhausen
Cache River Wetlands Center. Trail length is based on round trip distances. Todd Fink-Heron Pond Trail (1.5 miles) with access at the Heron Pond access area: This easy trail includes a truss bridge over the Cache River and features a floating boardwalk to the middle of Heron Pond’s cypress pond. There are 10 interpretive panels located along the trail. Little Black
Slough Trail (5.5 miles) with access via Wildlife Bluff, Marshall
Ridge and Heron Pond areas: Bald cypress and tupelo swamps, sandstone
bluffs, floodplain forests and hillside glades highlight this moderately
difficult trail that gives hikers passage to Boss Island. A rock ford
on the Cache River, difficult to cross during high water, must be negotiated
1.5 miles west of the Wildcat Bluff access. Lookout Point Trail
(1 mile) with access east of the Wildcat Bluff access area: Taking
visitors along the edge of a high-quality hillside barrens, this trail
provides an overview of the Cache River, its swamps and floodplain forest. Linkage Trail (2.4
miles) with access via Heron Pond, Wildcat Bluff and Marshall Ridge
areas: Linking Heron Pond Trail and Little Black Slough Trail, this easy
hike offers a chance to observe the state champion cherrybark oak tree. Marshall Ridge Trail (2.8 miles) with access via the Marshall Ridge area: Winding through reforested fields, this easy trail connects with the Linkage Trail and provides a gateway to Heron Pond or Little Black Slough. Tupelo Trail (2.5
miles) with access via Marshall Ridge Trail and access area: This
moderately difficult trail begins a quarter-mile north of the Marshall
Ridge access area and goes through rolling upland forest to the southern
shoreline of Little Black Slough. Excellent views of cypress,
tupelo gum trees and swamp exist. Lower
Cache River Swamp Trail (2.5 miles)
with access via the Lower Cache River area: Paralleling
Cypress Creek and Cache River on a high earthen berm, this trail takes hikers
to a cypress and tupelo swamp and is a great place to hear the rhythmic
croaking of tree frogs at dusk in the spring. With 3,000 linear feet surfaced
in aggregate, much of the trail is accessible year-round, except during
periods of flooding. A 1,000-foot accessible trail, located
west of the toilet, ends with a viewing platform overlooking the swamp.
A 20’ x 28’ picnic shelter is available with privy toilets,
water hydrant and drinking fountain. Big Cypress Tree
Trail (250 feet) with access via the Big Cypress area on the Lower
Cache River: This short floodplain forest trail takes visitors to one
of the bald cypress trees older than 1,000 years and whose base circumference
is more than 40 feet. Section 8 Woods Nature Preserve Boardwalk (475 feet) with access via Section 8 Woods area: Passing through a cypress-tupelo swamp and a floodplain forest, this accessible boardwalk ends with a view of the state champion water tupelo. Along the boardwalk, 10 tree species are identified and there is an interpretive panel on nature preserves and champion trees.
The area’s natural resources have always been important to people living in the Cache River valley. Native Americans found the region rich in wildlife and relied on their expertise in fishing, hunting and trapping for food, hides and furs. The first European settlers arrived in 1803, and, finding the soil too wet to farm, concentrated their efforts on timber harvesting. By 1870, several saw mills were processing timber for lumber, railroads ties, boxes and charcoal. Large-scale drainage and land-clearing efforts began in the early 1900s, eventually bringing thousands of acres of bottomland under cultivation. The State of Illinois acquired the first parcel of Cache River State Natural Area in 1970, following cooperation among private, governmental and commercial groups to conserve this unique natural resource. Today, a cooperative effort called the Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture Partnership is working to protect and restore a 60,000-acre wetland corridor along 50 miles of the Cache River. Partners include the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Ducks Unlimited, with support from the Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River and Friends of Cache River. The focus is to repair natural ecosystems and provide hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing and other recreational opportunities, which will promote economic development and tourism. Scientific and educational use of the area is allowed by permit, issued by the Department of Natural Resources. For information about the permit, hunting and fishing regulations or the site in general, contact Cache River State Natural Area, 930 Sunflower Lane, Belknap, IL 62908, or phone (618) 634-9678, or the Henry Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center, 8885 State Route 37 South, Cypress, IL 62923, phone (618) 657-2064. Partnership Links
To reach Cache River State Natural Area headquarters from the North, take I-57 south to I-24, go east toward Nashville, get off at exit #14 (Vienna), turn right at the stop sign onto US Rt 45, go south on Rt 45 through Vienna 7 miles. Turn right on the Belknap road for 4 miles to the stop sign in Belknap. Turn right at the stop sign on Main Street and go 2,000 feet and turn right onto Sunflower Lane (past the Belknap Methodist Church). Go north 1 mile to the park office, located in the white metal pole building. To reach the Henry Barkhausen Wetlands from Vienna, go west 5 miles on Route 146 from the intersection of Rt. 146 & US Rt. 45. Turn left (south) on Rt. 37, then proceed 9 miles to the Wetlands Center entrance and follow the signs.
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