Trail of Tears State Forest

About Trail of Tears State Forest

A little over 5,000 hectares are located in the State Forest, on the eastern edge of the State Forest, just outside the city of Calcutta, about 30 km south - east of the city centre.

The State Forest Trail of Tears is a versatile area used for forest management, timber harvesting, wildlife management and recreation. The Illinois State Forestry System was created to provide land for timber cultivation to produce forest products, protect watershed areas and provide outdoor recreation for Illinois residents, visitors and visitors to the state. Located on the eastern edge of State Forest, just outside the city of Calcutta, about 30 km south-east of the city centre, it is one of only two state forests in the United States and the only one in Illinois.

The hills are made of weathered limestone, the soil is flat and prone to erosion, with a high concentration of grasses, shrubs, trees and bushes.

The mountain peaks are narrow, rocky and dry, and the terrain influences the diversity of plant communities. Clear streams and gravel floors are located in narrow wooded valleys surrounded by steep terrain with a high concentration of grasses, shrubs, trees and bushes.

Extremely dry sites include gnarled, open-growing trees such as oaks, pines, hickory and oaks. The dry mountain peaks in the south - overlooking the slopes - have black oaks, white oaks and hickory and shady northern slopes sheltered by bays.

In the wetter areas, there are shrubs such as Buckeye, bubble trees and hornbeams, as well as grasses such as pine, clover, cedar and oak. Wildflowers in the dry, open areas of the Trail of Tears State Forest are lush and diverse, but grow in a variety of climates, from tropical and subtropical to temperate and tropical.

A walk in spring will show you many wild flowers from southern Illinois, and there are many songbird species, including some that are limited to large wooded areas. In the state forest there is a great variety of flowering plants such as grasses, shrubs, trees, shrubs and trees as well as many bird species.

The indiscriminate killing of snakes is forbidden, and you must leave this part of the natural environment in the forest. The snakes found here pose no danger to wary visitors, but cause serious damage to plants and must be left behind as part of a natural environment in a forest, the Illinois Forest Service said.

The large mammals that inhabit the forest are deer, elk, elk, coyote, bear, wolf, fox, raccoon, squirrel, owl, bird of prey and other wildlife. The bird species, such as the flying squirrel, are widespread, as are a variety of reptiles, amphibians and birds.

The 120-acre forest covers about 1.5 million acres, most of which are covered by the state's Trail of Tears nursery, the state's largest. The nursery produces about 3 million seedlings a year, and about 10 hectares of the nursery are used annually for growing in and around it.

The forest has been divided into 27 management phases, each of which examines different aspects of the forest, such as the management of trees, plants, animals, vegetation and water. Certain trees in the plantation forest are the source of seeds for genetically superior populations. The Trail of Tears State Forest Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, maintains a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose proceeds will help support state conservation efforts and research into the impact of deforestation on wildlife and the environment.

Some areas are planted with small grains, others are mowed or burned to preserve breeding birds, and hollow trees leave caves where wild animals can nest. Some forest openings are managed to provide food and shelter for highland wildlife and small mammals, which are important food for predators. Others, such as the small corn forest, harbor small grain trees and plant areas to plant smaller grains.

The area was extensively used by prehistoric Indians, and individuals and small groups hunted game and collected nuts in the Ozarks and established settlements closer to the Mississippi and Clear Creek.

When settlers of European descent moved in in 1803, the native inhabitants were pushed south and west and Chert was mined for tools for making tools. In 1838-39, the U.S. Army forced the Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw nations to move southeast to reserves in the Oklahoma Territory. They hibernated in makeshift camps on the banks of Clear Creek, near what is now the Tears State Forest and the Arkansas River.

Bitter cold and hunger claimed hundreds of lives, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Indian Affairs.

The gruesome hike became known as the "path of tears," and the name of the forest commemorates the tragic events. In the 1930s, a Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was active in the forest, but the state acquired the 3,000 acres in 1948, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The current state forest covers 5114 hectares managed by the Land Management Office, and the Forestry Commission operates nurseries. The CCC erected a retaining wall with stone barriers to access the forest, a campground with tent access and a parking lot for vehicles. The state forests are home to numerous hiking trails, cycle paths, canoeing and kayaking trails, fishing and camping sites, a forest trail network, hiking trails, picnic areas and picnic tables.

In some places, camping is possible for groups, and in other places there are log cabins adjacent to the privilege, but no group camping is possible.

The gravel roads through the forest are closed to vehicles and access to the campgrounds is only possible on foot during Class D. For more information about the Trail of Tears State Forest, contact the Forest Service or the Oregon Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ODNR).

Two small rustic log cabins are suitable for small groups and are ideal for meetings, groups and events, as well as a small campsite for larger groups.

A picnic area has tables and barbecues, and a ball diamond with a small playing surface is also available. Nearby there is a beehive from the nearby stream, as well as a picnic table, picnic chairs and picnic tables.

There are a number of hiking trails through the forest, including for cross-country skiers. The fire path is open all year round for hiking and there is a path to a picnic area with picnic tables, picnic chairs and a ball diamond. Other paths lead to hills and valleys where you can admire lush vegetation and rich wildlife.

Horse riding is allowed on the designated trails, as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and mountain biking in winter and snowmobiling.

Driveway and trailer parking are available on the Reiterweg Kreisstraße, but best by telephone.

Horse riding on the trails is possible from 9 am to 5 pm. M. Monday to Friday, as well as 8a, 15p and 18p, Saturday and Sunday. You are not allowed to stay on any part of the horse-drawn trails, nor are you allowed to stay within 1,000 feet of any other horse or horse - ridden vehicle. The trails can be closed in the winter months due to icy snow and ice and in case of heavy snowfall.

A detailed map of the trails is available upon request and can be found on the Trail of Tears State Forest website or by calling 1-888-743-4444.

Roads and vehicles are prohibited and gravel roads are closed to vehicles in winter and early spring.

Motor vehicles and bicycles are not allowed on asphalt or gravel roads and the forest can only be reached on foot, by bike, on horseback or on foot from the hiking trail to the Tears Path.