Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
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Heron Pond Nature Preserve
Directions: Go to Vienna, IL and take US 45 south for 4.5 miles an watch for Belknap Road. Turn right and travel less than 2 miles to the sign for Heron Pond. You will drive on mile on this narrow, but smooth gravel road. At the parking area, walk across the bridge and note the signage: 0.5 mile to the pond; 0.75 mile to the champion Cherry Oak; and 2.1 miles to Little Black Slough. The trails are gravel, wide, and well marked.
Along the trail you’ll see the dense Bald Cypress forest swamp on the right. A the boardwalk will take you about 200 ft into the middle of the swamp for close-up views, encompassing acres of trees standing in shallow water; Note the infinite number of Cypress knobs protruding above the surface. The boardwalk is now stationary - it used to be a floating platform. Both sides of it are enclosed with metal handrails.
Before re-tracing the route back to the parking lot, continue west for 0.4 mile to view this huge champion Cherry Oak. The sign indicates the circumference to be 22' 6", and 100 ft tall. Heron Pond is noted in the book, Fifty Nature Walks in Southern Illinois, and maps are available at the Refuge visitor center. For more information from Bob Tyson at 684-5643.
For additional information on these or other outing locations, call Bob Tyson at 684-5643, or, mailto:robkay43@webtv.net ■
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