McCully Heritage Project Hike

Hike through forested hills, around numerous ponds, and to an overlook with Illinois River valley views at McCully Heritage Project.

Located about an hour and a half north of St. Louis near Kampsville, Ill., in Hardin County, which is on a peninsula between the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

*Sign near the entrance to McCully Heritage Project*

At the Start

We parked in the gravel lot near the original farmhouse off Crawford Creek Road. In a nearby picnic shelter, we had lunch. We did this as a family day out in nature.

Behind the shelter is a number of farm equipment used in the early 20th to late 19th Century.

I told my son that if my father was here, he would recognize some of this equipment.

Next, we walked along the cement path in the back of the farmhouse. Along here are signs describing animals and plants that you might see on a hike.

Look for this map by the visitor's center to help you find your way among the many interconnecting trails. — **Look for this map by the visitor’s center to help you find your way among the many interconnecting trails.**

Then we walked to the restrooms and visitor center where you can find information about the project and trail maps along with water available for purchase.

In the distance is a red barn topped with a barn quilt pattern.

Beginning the Hike

The natural surface of the North Trail follows along a clear brook.

Campsites are across the brook and reached from the Fitness Trail to the west, which eventually circles back to the North Trail.

Up on the right is a log cabin with a red tin roof.

If you walk back behind it, you will find a gravestone for the founders of the McCully Heritage Project.

We come to a pond surrounded by trees and fronted by an earthen dam. (Main blog photo)

Along the walk, my son Andrew came across a white mushroom. Then we looked down and found the whole area full of them.

On the left along here is the start of the North Trail Loop, we decided to instead do the Big Timber Trail.

Further on we came to another pond fronted by a bald cypress tree.

Then stopping for a moment at a wooden gazebo overlooking the pond.

Big Timber Trail

Then we headed along the Big Timber Trail at the back of the second pond.

Then we came along a small creek. Across the creek I found a group of large ferns growing.

I spotted a light blue trail marker and told my son to keep an eye out for them as we walked.

Next, we came to a wooden bridge crossing a small gorge.

It had rained recently so the ground was muddy. Looking down I spotted deer tracks. We would see these a lot as we walked.

The trail became narrower and then went down a gorge then straight up.

Finally, we came up to the North Trail loop.

North Trail

We made a right onto the North Trail heading towards the wooden lookout.

After climbing the stairs of the lookout, we were able to see out over the Illinois River valley and far-off hills.

Yellow Spur Trail

Instead of staying on the North Trail, Andrew wanted to take the Yellow Spur Trail. We went to the right. This trail does have a hill designation on the map, but we were heading downhill.

Along it, we saw two wooden green structures, possibly used for nature group talks.

At the bottom of the hill, we came to the North trail once more.

Woodland Walk

I spotted the narrow Woodland Walk trail that went down into a valley to the left. Andrew was game to check it out.

A sign described lichen on a log. Look down below to see a long tree trunk with lichen on it.

This went up and around an arm of the second pond before crossing over the earthen dam. (main photo) It is a scenic walk with lake views on the right and forest views on the left.

End Walk

After crossing the dam, we were back on the North Trail and heading to the left to the parking lot.

Final Thoughts

We ended up walking 1.9 miles with 253 feet of elevation gain, even though we didn’t do the main North Trail loop, we covered about the same distance. I am glad we did the offshoots which allowed us to explore deeper in the woods and along the ponds.

McCully Wetland Across From the Homestead

This .5-mile Wetland Trail is an out-and-back hike with little elevation gain across the road from the homestead. We walked to the right out of the parking lot and then looked for the sign for the wetland on the left side of the paved road. You can take a trail to the right that will lead to the campground area.

It was muddy in places, but a wide path.

The trail ends at a boardwalk. If you keep going you will come to a gate that leads to the many miles of horse trails on the south side of the property.

You can do a lot more hiking along them if you want.

Instead, we went to the left and walked out on the wooden boardwalk with a railing.

I pointed out a beaver dam.

“If you look closely Andrew you can see the tooth marks on what is left of this tree,” I said to Andrew.

I think there is a beaver den that you can view out in the water.

Signs along the boardwalk describe the wildlife and aquatic plants in this environment.

The boardwalk ends in the middle of the pond.

Other Side of the Pond

We headed back up the road and I saw a mowed path that led to other views of the pond. You can do this if you want to do a little more hiking. This path ends at a sunken boardwalk.

*My son enjoyed the playground near where we had our lunch.*

Final Thoughts

Checking out the boardwalk added another area of biodiversity to see and was worth the short-level walk.

About the McCully Project

This 940-acre park in the hills and hollows of Calhoun County provides programs for environmental education for youth and adults to appreciate the cultural, historical, and natural resources of the lower Illinois River valley.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 270 to Missouri Highway 367 north which becomes U.S. Highway 67. After crossing the Clark Bridge make a left onto Illinois Highway 100 and stay on this road making a right in Hardin, Ill. Then make a left onto Crawford Creek Road. The McCully Project will be on the right and parking will be to the right of a farmhouse.

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Address: Crawford Creek Rd, Kampsville, IL 62053