Iroquois County State Wildlife Area

Iroquois County State Wildlife Area is a protected area covering about 2,480 acres of marshland, sand ridges, and dunes across a glacial outwash plain. The landscape includes multiple habitats connected by trails and recreational spaces.

This protected area was established in 1944 by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to shield prairie chickens from extinction. The effort ultimately proved unsuccessful as the species could not survive in the region.

The land connects to the heritage of the Great Kankakee Swamp, where French-Canadian fur traders once worked near present-day Beaverville. This trading history remains woven into how locals understand the region's past.

Visitors can use hiking trails, an archery range, dog training grounds, and snowmobile routes when the area is open to general use rather than reserved for hunting seasons. Checking ahead for seasonal closures helps plan your visit since access varies based on current activities.

The Hooper Branch Savanna section preserves around 480 acres of black oak forest, the largest continuous savanna woodland remaining in Illinois. This rare forest type attracts those interested in native ecosystems and their recovery.