Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
6
County
Vermilion
Location
The site is 1.57 miles north and 1.5 miles east of Oakwood in the east part of Oakwood Township. It is adjacent to the Middlefork River and the south part of Middlefork Woods Nature Preserve within the Kickapoo State Recreation Area.
Description
Kickapoo Woods Land and Water Reserve is an example of a high-quality upland forest community composed of a broad ridge, steep slopes, and sandstone outcrops. The site consists of Grade C mesic upland forest, Grade C dry-mesic upland forest, Grade C dry-mesic barrens, sandstone cliff, ephemeral pools, and old field. The mesic upland forest is dominated by sugar maple and red oak, while the dry-mesic upland forest is dominated by white oak, shagbark hickory, and red elm. White oak and black oak characterize the dry-mesic barrens. The sandstone cliff is one of only a few sites in Vermilion County with exposed Pennsylvanian sandstone. The site also buffers a portion of the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, Illinois’ only National Scenic River that is recognized by the National Park Service, and hosts 157 plants and numerous notable animals, including state threatened and endangered species.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Vermilion River Section of the Wabash Border Natural Division (#10c)
Registered
September 2014
Size
64 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. Allowed recreation includes hiking and nature observation. There is an access dirt lane that is gated but can be used by hikers to access the Brain Plawer trail head to Middlefork Woods Nature Preserve.
Topographic Quad
Danville NW & Collison
For Further Information
Visit the State Recreation Area Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov