Heron Pond - Cache River
Swamps in Illinois. Heron Pond located in the Cache River State Natural Area is located just south of Vienna in Belknap Illinois. These are some of the most northern wetlands in the United States. Home to Bald Cypress and Tupelo Trees, this area is home to the state champion Cherrybark Oak.
Hike to Heron Pond at Cache River Natural Area, IL 11-5-16 (Southern Cypress Swamp)
The Cache River Natural Area is a 14,960 acre tract of land located in Johnson, Massac and Pulaski Counties, southern Illinois. In the heart of this area, located in Johnson County, lies the 75 acre Heron Pond, which is home to 1,000 year old Cypress trees. And while you're in The Land of Lincoln there is a distinct southern feel to this area.
Here is an excerpt from the Map/Pamphlet of the area: When storms pushed Norseman Leif 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 in 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 Inter-national Importance, only the 15th wetland in the United States to receive this 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 results in a collage of natural communities, each with its own unique assemblage of physical attributes, plants and animals. Source: State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The hike: On this day we started at the trailhead, near the town of Belknap and hiked the short distance to the pond and back out for a total of 1.5 miles. Also, we made the short walk to the Illinois champion Cherry Bark Oak Tree, plus skirted the eastern edge of the pond for a little while. Estimated total length of hike: 2 miles. The terrain was easy and nearly all flat. We rate this trail 1 out of 5 Billygoats. Thanks for watching!
Hiking the Grassy Slough Preserve near the Cache River Wetlands Area
In today's hike, we go on more of a short walk around an area being re-established as a wetland by The Nature Conservancy. This area is near the Cache River State Natural Area as well as the Tunnel Hill State Trail. There is adequate parking, signage and educational information present. Check out Belknap and Karnack, two great small little towns around the area.
Learn more about the Grassy Slough preserve at:
Directions: Take I-57 South; Exit 30 to IL-146 East towards Vienna; From IL-146, take a RIGHT (South) onto IL-37. Continue straight onto IL-37 South (you will pass the Cache River Wetlands Center); Take a LEFT (East) on IL-169, then a LEFT (North) on E 1st St./Karnak-Belknap Rd. Grassy Slough Overlook will be on your right side.
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Shawn J. Gossman
P.O. Box 368
Hurst, IL 62949
All photos and video footage are copyright by Shawn J. Gossman.