Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
4
County
Adams
Location
The site is in the southwest corner of Adams County, just northeast of IL Route 57 and 0.5 miles southwest of Rt. 336. It lies 7 miles northeast of Hannibal, Missouri and 12 miles southeast of Quincy, Illinois. The reserve is within the eastern portion of the Fall Creek Gorge Scenic Overlook State Natural Area and is a satellite of Siloam Springs State Park.
Description
Fall Creek Gorge Land and Water Reserve consists of dry-mesic upland forest and mesic upland forest with scattered dry-mesic barrens on the ridgetops, cut by a perennial stream (Fall Creek) with steep limestone cliffs. There is also successional fields located within the southeast corner. The site contains a significant portion of the Fall Creek Gorge Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site (INAI #0148). Overtime, the Fall Creek has carved out a large gorge leaving the unique limestone cliff communities that is the most notable feature of the reserve. The highest quality portion is the one vertical acre of high quality (Grade B) limestone cliffs. Due to the inaccessibility of the sheer cliffs, the plant communities have remained relatively pristine and representative of the native vegetation of the Glaciated Section of the Middle Mississippi Border Natural Division. The site has been recognized by the State Geological Survey for exceptional natural exposures of Burlington Limestone.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Glaciated Section of the Middle Mississippi Border Natural Division (#8a)
Registered
May 2003
Size
52 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. The area includes a former roadside stop to the west/southwest of the reserve. There is a short trail from the parking area east into the reserve that ends at a waterfall overlook.
Topographic Quad
Marblehead
For Further Information
Visit the State Natural Area Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov