Big River State Forest

Big River State Forest is a remnant of a vast prairie woodland border area that once covered much of Illinois. Among its vegetation are two endangered plants – penstemon, commonly known as bearded tongue, and Patterson’s bindweed, which N.H. Patterson documented in the forest in 1873 for the first time anywhere. A prominent landmark in the forest is its fire tower, located at the headquarters area where fire fighting crews and equipment also stand ready to protect the forest during peak fire periods.

Location