Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
1
County
Ogle
Location And Access
The site is 6 miles west of Oregon in the Freeport Section of the Rock River Hill Country Natural Division. It is part of White Pines Forest State Park which has a high rate of recreational use. Roads and trails exist throughout the preserve and are part of the park's trail system.
Description
White Pines Forest consists of dry mesic upland forest and limestone cliff of the Freeport Section of the Rock River Hill Country Natural Division. It is composed of a mix of old second-growth trees, mainly white oak and white pine. It hosts the largest naturalized stand of white pine in Illinois, which is also believed to be the southern-most stand of naturally occurring white pine in the Midwest. The herbaceous layer is rich with spring ephemerals and sedges, with summer woodland wildflowers present along edges and openings. The dry limestone cliff is characterized as Grade A by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. The cliff harbors many ferns, mosses, and a sizable number of Canada yew shrubs.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated
October 2001
Size
43.0 acres
Topographic Quad
Grand Detour
Topo Map
For Further Information
Visit the State Park Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686