Welcome to Rush Creek
Rush Creek Conservation Area is 726 acres and contains a mixture of upland forest, oak and hickory woodlands, wetlands and sedge meadows. In addition, a one-mile section of the 12.5-mile Rush Creek transverses the site prior to entering the Kishwaukee River near the Boone County line.
A bur oak grove lies west of the lake. Within the woodlands, a variety of trees including shagbark hickory, aspen, black walnut, basswood, black cherry trees, and red, white, and bur oaks. The strong branches on these trees provide favorable nesting places for larger birds such as red-tailed hawks and great horned owls, while the hollows and holes in the trees provide habitat for smaller wildlife like woodpeckers, screech owls and flying squirrels. Coyote, deer, raccoons, groundhogs, grey squirrels and opossums also live here and their tracks can often be seen along the banks of the pond and creek.
Woodlands Characterized as having an open structure, woodlands still provide plenty of shade that support shade tolerant wildflowers, and a defined shrub layer. Numerous oak species including bur, white, black, red and scarlet dominate the western areas of woodlands in McHenry County.
Classficiation
The oak ecosystems of the Chicago region are generally classified into the following four categories based on canopy density and composition and structure of associated plant communities
Cache Your Way Question
What are the four categories?
About the Hide
SO MANY MOSQUITOS!!!!! Otherwise, the walk is easy and the hide should be fairly easy. It’s a little further from the trail then typical but its still within the 12’ rule.
Geocachers
Please join us in playing! All are welcome who observe and obey the rules. Please do not move or vandalize the container. Please do not remove the informational card from the container, this is an essential game piece for cachers completing the Cache Your Way program. For more information on the program, visit our website http://www.mccdistrict.org/rccms/geocaching/ or follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CacheYourWayAcrossMcHenryCounty/
District Geocaching Rules
For a complete list of rules, visit our website http://www.mccdistrict.org/rccms/geocaching/
McHenry County Conservation District Information
Visit our website at www.mccdistrict.org or call 815-338-6223 ext 1211 for camping/shelters, 815-479-5779 for educational programs or 815-678-4532 for the Lost Valley Visitor Center