Amenities:
- Family Friendly
- Open to the public
Details
You can connect with nature on your visit to Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve. Relax on a creek-side bench, explore a variety of natural habitats, or join us in restoration activities. Hike around, watch for birds, listen to frogs, take pictures, and just relax. Although relatively small, the preserve contains an impressive variety of geologic and hydrologic features and their associated plant communities.
Situated over a small series of geologic faults, the Preserve features outcroppings of St. Peter sandstone and Ordovician-age dolomite. These geological differences result in acidic and alkaline wetlands, adding greatly to the area’s biodiversity. Additional wetland features include sedge meadows, a small brook, and a portion of the preserve’s namesake, Elkhorn Creek.
The preserve contains several remnant hillside prairies, with Little Bluestem being the dominant grass. Various forbs (prairie wildflowers) are also present. The woodland component includes oak savannah areas and a bit of floodplain forest.
Butterfly Festival each year
To date, 38 species of butterflies and skippers have been documented at the preserve, among which are the Buckeye, Great Fritillary, Coral Hairstreak, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Peck’s Skipper, Red-spotted Purple, and American Snout.
Because of this amazing fact, the preserve hosts a one-day Butterfly Festival each July, presented by the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society.
History
In collaboration with the Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County, the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society purchased the land for the Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve from a local family in 1999. In 2010, the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society acquired full ownership of the preserve in a transaction that assisted the Prairie Preservation Society in purchasing a valuable prairie remnant, the Sand Ridge Prairie.
The Preserve is open to all visitors anytime during daylight hours. Permitted activities include hiking, bird watching, nature photography, frog listening, and botanizing. Horses, dogs, bikes, and off-road vehicles are not allowed.
Location
The Preserve is about three miles southwest of Forreston, Illinois, in northwestern Ogle County. It is at the intersection of West Grove and Freeport Roads on the southeast corner. The parking area is accessible from West Grove Road.
