Most of the Bald Hill property is covered in sand and gravel from glaciers, but this unique spot shows off the limestone bedrock. Limestone is fairly resistant to erosion, so these terraced drops took a very long time to form. There are some nice fossils underfoot, as well as examples of quartz and flint. The formation of limestone and the deposit of glacial gravel occurred approximately 450 million years apart. Watch your step, and look out for thorns!
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.