Are you looking to spend more time outdoors—whether for a quiet walk, a chance to see wildlife, or simply some space to relax? The places featured below offer a range of experiences, from restored wetlands, prairies, wooded trails, and open meadows.
While many of these places are owned by Heartlands Conservancy, we’re also featuring conservation projects owned and managed by partner organizations. Some of these lands were donated, others were purchased, and all help strengthen our connection to nature at a time when that connection is more important than ever.
Each location has its own character. We invite you to explore, discover what speaks to you, and enjoy what these protected places have to offer. If you’re interested in our places not yet open to the public, visit our Wildlife Reserves page.
Explore Arlington Wetlands NOTE: The Boardwalk at Arlington Wetlands is currently closed. For questions, please contact Madison County Stormwater Coordinator, Marc Hohlt, (618) 296-4665 or mdhohlt@madisoncountyil.gov. Madison County | 83 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned...
Explore Exploration Garden Swansea, IL | 6 acres Type: Public Garden Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy lease with Village of Swansea. Our role: With a goal of increasing community access to natural lands, HeartLands Conservancy leased the 6-acre portion of Clinton...
Explore Poag Sand Prairie Edwardsville, IL | 18.5 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: With less than 1% of Illinois prairies remaining, HeartLands Conservancy acquired the rare sand prairie in 2018 (in partnership with The Nature...
Explore Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Belleville, IL | 5 acres Type: Public Garden and Park Owned by: City of Belleville, Managed by HeartLands Conservancy Our role: With a goal of increasing community access to natural lands, HeartLands Conservancy partnered with...
Explore William C. Drda Woods Edwardsville, IL | 71 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: City of Edwardsville Our role: With only three high-quality old growth forests remaining in the St. Louis Metro East region, HeartLands Conservancy provided technical assistance...
Explore Willoughby Heritage Farm And Conservation Reserve Collinsville, IL | 40 acres Type: Specialty Park and Natural Area Owned by: City of Collinsville Our role: In the early 2000s, HeartLands Conservancy provided technical assistance to the Collinsville Area...
Explore Columbia AMERICAN Legion Park Columbia, IL | 17 Acres Type: Park Owned by: City of Columbia, Illinois Our role: Given the limited amount of open space in southern Illinois communities, HeartLands Conservancy assisted the City of Columbia with grant...
Explore Belleville Heart Garden Belleville, IL | 0.4 Acres Type: Community Garden Owned by: City of Belleville, Managed by Volunteer Stewards Our role: We are friends of the garden. We occasionally help with special projects, help promote it and their volunteer...
Explore Bohm Woods Nature Preserve Edwardsville, IL | 92 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: State of Illinois - Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Nature Preserves Commission FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT HUNTING AND OTHER REGULATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT IDNR'S...
Explore Carlyle Lake Bike Trail Clinton County, IL | 65 Miles Type: Trail Owned by: City of Carlyle and US Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake Our role: HeartLands Conservancy assisted with a trails planning effort for the Carlyle Lake Trails in 2010. Hours:...
Explore Chouteau Island Madison, IL | 5,500 acres Type: Natural Area and State Park Owned by: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers, City of Madison. We own 22 acres on the Island, as well. Learn more here » Our role: Given the...
Explore East St. Louis Heritage Trail East St. Louis, IL | 0.4 Miles Type: Paved trail Owned by: N/A Hours: Open Sunrise to SunsetLocated between the MetroLink Station at 5th & Missouri Ave and the East St Louis Higher Education Campus at James R Thompson Blvd....
Explore Engelmann Farm Shiloh, IL | 143 Acres Type: Public Park and Historic Site Owned by: St. Clair County Our role: Given the importance and historic significance of the Shiloh area, HeartLands Conservancy acquired the historic farm property in 2007 to prevent it...
Explore Glazebrook Park Phase II Godfrey, IL | 120 Acres Type: Park Owned by: Village of Godfrey Our role: Given the limited amount of open space in southern Illinois communities, HeartLands Conservancy assisted the Village of Godfrey with master planning and design...
Explore Kaskaskia River Trail — Fayetteville Fayetteville, IL Type: Trail Owned by: Village of Fayetteville Our role: HeartLands Conservancy created a plan for a trails system along the Kaskaskia River, which helped the Village obtain grant funding to construct...
Explore Kidd Lake Marsh Monroe County, IL | 445 Acres Type: Natural Area and State Park Owned by: State of Illinois - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Our role: Given the ecological importance of the Mississippi River area's wetlands, HeartLands Conservancy...
Explore Middle Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge Monroe, Randolph, and Jackson Counties (IL) and Jefferson County (MO) | 1,224 acres (Rockwood Island only) Type: Natural Area Owned by: US Fish and Wildlife Service Our Role: Because the Mississippi River and lands...
Explore Mounds Heritage Trail Madison and St. Clair Counties, IL | 10 Miles Type: Regional On-Street Cultural Trail Our role: Working with numerous regional partners through the Confluence Project, HeartLands Conservancy helped to form and denote the routes for this...
Explore Shawnee National Forest - Mississippi Bluffs Jackson, Williamson, Union, Alexander, and Pulaski Counties, IL | 107,000 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: US Forest Service Our role: Given the importance of the wetlands and forests in the southernmost part...
Explore Wadlow Riparian Trail Alton, IL Type: Trail Owned by: City of Alton Our role: In partnership with the City of Alton, HeartLands Conservancy created a plan for a trail at the new location of the Multimodal Transportation Center. The trail follows a creek...
Explore White Rock Nature Preserve Monroe County, IL | 475 acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: Clifftop Our role: With less than 1% of prairies remaining in Illinois, HeartLands Conservancy and Clifftop jointly acquired 475 acres of rare hill prairies and forest in...
Explore yorktown golf course Shiloh, IL | 37 Acres Type: Public Golf Course Owned by: Village of Shiloh Our role: Given the limited amount of public open space in southern Illinois communities, HeartLands Conservancy assisted the Village of Shiloh with grant...
