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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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...
