Welcome to Harrison Benwell
Oak and hickory savannas and a small meandering stream make this a favorite site for hikers. The natural communities alternate between wet-mesic silt loam prairie and dry-mesic silt loam savanna. A picnic shelter at the beginning of the trailhead can be rented for large gatherings, and picnic groves are available along both sides of the creek. The 1.6 mile winding trail features both a north and south loop, and provides opportunities for cross-country skiing during the winter months.
History
Harrison Benwell is one of the District’s oldest sites, and was one of the first properties acquired and the first site to open to the public in 1973. In the fall of 1983, the Conservation District received a grant for the development of the site from the Illinois Department of Conservation, Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. A master plan for the site was approved in 2011 to guide further development and restoration efforts.
Historical plat maps dating back to the early 1800’s show numerous different owners of land parcels, which now comprise the Harrison Benwell
Conservation Area. Records show the Conservation District acquired the 74.67 acre Charles parcel on July 31, 1973 from Stanley and Yvonne B. Charles and Allen R. and Winifred B. Dimon. The Conservation District received a grant for the development of the site in September/October of 1973 from the Illinois Department of Conservation, Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.
Cache Your Way Question
How do you safely put leg bands on a Sandhill Crane?
Geocachers
Please join us in playing! Geocaching is a high-tech “treasure hunting” game played throughout the world by adventure seeker. All are welcome who observe and obey the rules.
- Please do not move or vandalize the container.
- Once you find it, log your name in the book, take a trinket and leave one of your own behind for the next person.
- Replace the cache in the same spot that you found it, and make sure it is completely covered.
- Please do not remove the informational card from the containers, this is an essential game piece for cachers completing the GeoSeries.
- The real treasure is finding the container and sharing your thoughts with everyone who finds it.
For a complete list of rules and instructions on how to earn a special district geocoin visit MCCDistrict.org/Geocache
Email geocaching@MCCDistrict.org with any questions or concerns
McHenry County Conservation District Information
Visit our website at MCCDistrict.org or call (815) 338-6223
Photo Release
5/15/2023 Photos posted here may be featured on the McHenry County Conservation District's various social media accounts including Facebook, Instagram, and twitter, as well as our website (MCCDistrict.org) and print material such as Landscapes Magazine. By posting photos to this log you agree to allow us to share your work. Photographers will be acknowledged in any shares or posts of photos, so please include your name in your post if it is different from that of your username.