It was a pleasant February morning when we headed to the Cache River State Natural Area, which is located “in southernmost Illinois within a floodplain carved long ago by glacial floodwater of the Ohio River.”¹
This astonishing natural wetland area is host to vast millennia-old cypress trees with flared bases—called buttresses. We hiked the Heron Pond Trail which features a floating boardwalk that “winds its way into the secluded depths of this forested swamp, providing visitors a chance to step back in time and observe wetland and aquatic ecosystems that have remained relatively undisturbed for thousands of years.”² Slightly off this trail we encountered the State Champion Cherrybark Oak tree, which towers over 100 feet tall and has a circumference of over 22 feet. We also walked on the Section 8 Woods Nature Preserve Boardwalk to see the State Champion Water Tupelo. These wetlands are undoubtedly a must see in Southern Illinois.
¹ Cache River Wetlands brochure.
² Ibid.
Amazing pictures. Made my isolating at home day great!
I’m glad! 😁
Hey! This place looks really cool. I think this is the place you were referring to in your little letter you sent. Looks great! Huge tree. You can only really tell how enormous it really is when you are next to it.
A truly magical place!