Sangamon River Forest Preserve, located north of Champaign, is a prairie and forest oasis offering a classic experience of the Central Illinois landscape.
I discovered this forest preserve in autumn 2020, looking for a nearby place where I could experience nature, and ever since I make sure to get back at least once a season. According to the official website, the preserve is 160 acres. They are working toward restoring the preserve to how Champaign County and the grand prairie were before being settled.
To get there from Champaign-Urbana, take Mattis Avenue north, turn left onto County Road 2550, then right onto County Road 600, and it’ll be on your left. The entrance is sort of hidden, so be on the lookout for it. There is ample parking and very basic restrooms. There is also a picnic area.
The preserve offers a few trails that give hikers plenty of options to turn around or make a hike longer.
The Wildcat Trail loop is a half mile, and the Prairie Trail is .9 miles. However, be warned, as hikers must either take the Wildcat Slough or continue on the Bottomland Trail, as it isn’t a full loop. The Bottomland Trail, .8 miles, goes through the woods by the Sangamon River and can only be reached by first walking one of the other trails. There are usually maps near the entrance to the preserve, and if you stay on the paths, you’ll eventually find your way back to the parking lot.
I usually do a loop through the woods and then walk through the prairie, taking the Wildcat Slough Trail to the Bottomland Trail and catching the Prairie Trail at the Bottomland Trail’s end for a total of 2.2 miles.
The trails are grassy and dirt paths, so proper shoes are recommended, as are insect repellent and sunscreen. The trails are pretty flat, but there is one very small hill that can be tricky if it’s muddy.
The Wildcat Slough, a tributary of the Sangamon River, also flows through the preserve. Unfortunately, it’s harder to see the water in spring and summer due to the leaves on the trees and brush. The slough is one eighth of a mile long before flowing into five eighths of a mile of the river that runs through the preserve.
The prairie landscape has a certain beauty to it and attracts plenty of wildlife. I’ve seen all kinds of birds flying about the prairie section, enjoying the tall grasses. In the autumn, I lucked out and saw two deer out for a swim in the river. My last trip there this summer, I startled either a groundhog or a beaver on the path. It moved a bit, but then watched me with curiosity. Respect the flora and fauna of the preserve as it’s their home.
Dogs are permitted on leash, but horseback riding is not allowed on the trails. Remember, leashing a dog protects not only the dog but also the wildlife in the area.
Sangamon was once the location of one of the largest ash trees in Illinois, the Lincoln Ash, but it unfortunately didn’t survive the Emerald Ash Borer of 2011. There are still a ton of great trees here, including several oak trees that make for great photo ops for the Thick Trunk Tuesday hashtag on social media. The largest trees have a circumference of over 13 feet. With all the awesome trees here, my favorite time of the year to walk here is autumn with the forest foliage, but it’s a great bet any time of the year.
Unfortunately, on July 29th, the Champaign County Forest Preserve (CCFP) announced on their Instagram that the preserve recently lost one of the legacy oaks. CCFP are doing their best to replant and also deal with invasive species so future generations can enjoy these awesome trees.
Sangamon River Forest Preserve is a perfect morning or afternoon getaway to experience the best of both forest and prairie.
A map of the trails can be found here.
Sangamon River Forest Preserve
2797 County Road 600 E
Fisher
Opens 7 a.m., daily
Closing times dependent upon season