This is the west boundary of the Byron Forest Preserve's newest property. This cluster of bur oaks hosts a variety of animals, from insects to owls. These hills are composed of sand and gravel glacial outwash--a pile 175 feet thick at the highest point. It's a great place to rock hound for quartz, jasper, agate, and even copper from the Great Lakes region. You might also find skeletons of the previous cattle inhabitants.
Bald Hill geocaches are part one of our new Geotrail series! Once a month, the forest preserve will highlight one of our properties by placing new geocaches. Collect codes from log books for a geocoin prize. Find 15 caches and get a Byron Forest Preserve geocoin. Find 25 caches and receive both the regular and limited edition versions! May geocaches are on our new Bald Hill Prairie Preserve.
Current Geotrail caches:
Bald Hill Biggest Tree in Illinois
Bald Hill Rock Bottom
Bald Hill East View
Bald Hill South View
Bald Hill West View
Bald Hill North View
Coming when the weather cooperates: Barrick Oaks Homestead Preserve, He-Leo Two Rivers Wetland Preserve, and Jarrett Prairie Preserve. At least 25 geocaches will be available to find for the geocoin prize by September, and our Geotrail series will culminate in an event in the fall (the event will also count as a find). UPDATE: Hot weather and storms interrupted this last year. I am on track to make up for it! Sorry for the delay.
Redeem codes at the Jarrett Prairie Center, 7993 N River Road, Byron. 815-234-8535. Hours of operation: M, W, F 8 am-4:30 pm; T, Th 8 am-8 pm; Sat & Sun 9 am-4 pm. You may also send a message to the cache owner if you need other arrangements.