Big River State Forest

About Big River State Forest

Henderson County is located on the western edge of the Big River State Forest in North Carolina, about 30 miles south of Charlotte.

The Big River State Forest is a vast prairie forest that once covered a large part of Illinois. The forest is managed to demonstrate healthy forest practices to interested groups through demonstrations, lectures and practices.

Among the plants in the forest is the endangered plant Penstemon, commonly known as the beard tongue, which was first documented in this forest by N.H. Patterson in 1873. Some of the plants found in the prairie are the Flaming Star, a native plant from Illinois and the Great Lakes region. In addition, there are flowering spurge plants, wild flowers, grasses, shrubs, trees and other plants such as pines, clover, turnips, dandelions, peaches, cherries, pears, rhododendrons, lilies and others.

The 200-hectare Oquawka hut was built by the state in 1925 and housed the oldest pine plantation in the region. The area, known as Milroy Plantation, was founded in 1928 and covered an area of 1,500 hectares and was dedicated to the protection of wildlife. Subsequent land purchases, which began in 1941 and 1942, enlarged the forest to 2,900 hectares.

Camping is possible with caravans and pitches at the Riverview campsite in the northwest corner of the forest. Group camping is allowed, but campers must obtain permission from the park office.

Groups of 25 or more must obtain prior permission from a construction manager.

The Mississippi provides water and forest habitat, and the Big River is home to white-tailed deer, elk, elk, coyotes and other wildlife. Forage areas have been created to supplement existing food and improve the habitat of highland wildlife.

During the hunting season for waterfowl, the Mississippi is known for its abundance of white - winged ducks, ducks, and geese such as mallards and Canada geese.

The BIG RIVER is accessible from the motorway 164 for visitors from the south, east and west. The forest is well signposted on the main road 164 and leads through several picnic areas where overnight accommodation, tables, herds and drinking water are available. From Campbell Slough to the landing in Putney, there are several picnic areas in the woods, some accessible on foot and some on horseback, where accommodation such as tables and stables and drinking water are also available for purchase.

The office is located on the right side of the main road at the entrance to the forest, and to the right of it is the office.

The forest is well signposted and can be reached from the main road 17, which is south of the motorway 17 on the right side of the road.

Turn left onto Main Street, turn right south and go through the next stop on Vier-Wege-Straße, then turn left into the forest on the right side of the road at the entrance to the Big River State Forest.

The office is on the left side of the road and the park is well signposted on Highway 164. DELABAR PARK is accessible to visitors from the South, West and East via Highway 164. Go west on Main Street, then south on Four Ways Road to the entrance to the Big River State Forest and turn left on the street.

If you are coming from the north, take Highway 17 to South Keithsburg and turn right to the south and go east at the first stop. Turn left onto Main Street and drive 10 miles and the park entrance is on the left.

The area is well signposted and the entrance to the park is on the right. So turn right and go one mile, turn left on Main Street and drive 10 miles to Big River State Park. The entrance is on the left and you continue for another mile and a half leaving the South Keithsburg parking lot.

Continue south on 164 to the intersection of 164 and 34 and turn right on Main Street for another mile to Big River State Park.

The entrance to the park is on the left, turn right and drive 1.5 km west, then left onto the gravel road and continue for another 1.5 km. Turn right onto Main Street and then right northbound on a gravel road and park at the entrance to Big River State Park, approximately one mile south.