“Stop here! Stop here!” my daughter yelled as we were passing by Wildcat Bluff while taking the scenic route through Illinois. We stopped, hiked down the trail and stood overlooking the bluff. When we returned to the car, the kids started yelling, “Ticks! Ticks! We’re covered in ticks!” After a mass exodus from the car while I yelled, “Don’t get ticks in my car!” I swore Wildcat Bluff was off limits for any future visits. But when Bryan and I found ourselves searching for a place to hike last fall, all of the employees at the Indiana State Welcome Center insisted we would love Cache River National Wildlife Refuge.
We weren’t sure if we were lost at first because the signs pointing the way were scarce, but we finally found it located in the middle of nowhere, which makes sense, as it is a wildlife preserve. The area was deserted when we arrived (and the entire time we were hiking), but the paths were well maintained. We began our hike and I received a major shock as we wandered through wetlands, reminiscent of the bayous I had explored outside of New Orleans. “Are those cypress trees?” I asked. “In Illinois?” Yes. Yes, they were. Thankfully, there was no run in with an alligator at this preserve!
The preserve, which encompasses over 14000 acres, offers bike trails, canoeing, fishing and opportunities for frequent wildlife sightings. We didn’t see anything but a few spiders and one squirrel, but we did hear rustling in the woods as we wandered along the trails. As we hiked along one of the trails, I stopped to read the signs and discovered we were on a trail leading us to Wildcat Bluff. “Oh no, no, no!” I told Bryan. “We’re going to find a new, tick free trail!” We had no trouble finding another trail and survived our hike, tick free.
If you go: Cache River Wildlife Preserve is located in Belknap, Illinois. Of the 18 miles of available hiking trials, only two of the trails are moderately difficult. Most are an easy stroll. There is also a Wetlands Center which is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. -4 p.m.
Do you have a favorite hiking spot?
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Wow! I had no idea that Indiana had anything like that. It looks like something straight out of Louisiana.
I would definitely be worried about having a run-in with an alligator there. Sounds like you had a great time!
I live in a walking city in a fifth floor walk up apartment, I get in all the walking I need on a daily basis, so I will take a pass on hiking. For me a vacation means beach, surf, sand and umbrella drinks under the sun! 🙂
I don’t hike and am not a real fan of doing it but my husband does!
We travel quite a bit and IL/IN are not far from us in Wisconsin. I will check this out – looks like a great location for us to visit for a long weekend
I really love the outdoors. I would probably freak out a little if I saw a gator!
Oh wow this looks and sounds like a very lovely place to visit! We might travel there this summer!
I haven’t gone hiking in awhile. This looks beautiful. Great pictures!
Your images are beautiful. I am eager to go hiking as soon as it warms up a bit.
I love hiking and visiting the various wildlife parks and reserves across the country. How great you and the family got to see so much!
My Family and I love hiking. We often hike in Tennessee while on vacation. This looks like a perfect place to change up the scenery.
This landscaping looks amazing! What a great place to hike. I love the pictures of the trees!
It looks peaceful there. I live in Indiana. Maybe we’ll head over for a hike some day!
Simply gorgeous. I’d love to visit here one day.
How beautiful I would love to visit this place!! Looks like a nice trail too!
I think it’s so peaceful and nice to go to places like this one. I’m with you on the tick-free hike though…that’s def. not a friend you want to bring home.
The Little black Slough looks so awesome and gorgeous. What a great place to visit!
I just love your pictures. Everything looks serene and untouched
This looks like it would be a great place to visit. We love the outdoors!
Nothing like the great outdoors. I love to read about places I’ve never been but want to see.
I would love to go on the hiking trails and the bike trails. The Midwest has such great places to hike and bike and I miss that where I live. Beautiful pictures.
Even though there are many places in Nevada to go hiking, I personally enjoy walking. However there is a park here about 1/4 of a mile away that I like to walk to and around. It has lakes and trees and a nice feel.
Little Black Slough is so interesting… I really would like to visit it sometime!
Looks like a beautiful place to hike. I can’t say I really have a favorite spot near me. Lots of great trails I just haven’t take the time to really explore them thoroughly.
What a beautiful place. I never would have expected to see cypress trees in Illinois. How fun!
Glad you didn’t see any gators!
What a nice post and photos – we are major hikers and would just love this – thank you for your story
It looks like a beautiful quiet place. I love to go hiking and don’t get to do it often enough.
I would love to visit a state park
We don’t have anything like that near us. We have a big city Park, but it’s not the same.
Facinating place. I would love to see that.
Wow what an absolutely amazing place – I can imagine it is a wonderful place to explore. x
It sounds like you had a beautiful hike after the tick debacle. Cache River Wildlife Preserve looks like a great place to get out into nature.
I haven’t gone hiking in ages. That looks so beautiful!
The Little Black Sough is gorgeous! I would love to go to something like this!
What a beautiful place!!! We have a great park not far from our house that we like to hike in 🙂
At least you will always remember Wildcat Bluff. The dogs near it were cute, too.
There’s a county park not too far from our home that we often meet friends at. It has a path that runs 10 miles between 4 different towns and there are streams, little waterfalls and play areas along the way. My kids love it.
You scared me when you said ticks! We’ve not gone hiking since our kids were little. We loved going to Texarkana.
That preserve is enormous! I really like going to places like this. It’s a world of difference from my everyday life.
What a beautiful place to hike! We live near the Great Smoky Mountains and I’ve loved every hike we’ve done there. My favorites are when at the end of the hike is a waterfall. 🙂
This looks so beautiful! What a wonderful place to hike, glad you had a great time!
I love the slough area. Glad you didn’t encounter any alligators because it can be a nervous situation
OMG, imagine running into a gator? Thankfully we don’t have to worry about that up here in Boston!
we do have plenty in Florida. They are majestic to admire but as long as you don’t tumble on them!
We have quite a few state parks in my area. Some are well marked and some are not, but we always enjoy checking them out.