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| State Park Overview: |
 | Fox Ridge State Park, just 8 miles south of Charleston in east-central Illinois is known for its steep, thickly wooded ridges, broad, lush valleys and miles of rugged, scenic hiking trails and covers 2,064 acres.
In sharp contrast to the flat prairies of most of this section of Illinois, Fox Ridge is set amidst rolling hills along the forested bluffs of the Embarras ("Ambraw") River.
At any time of year, Fox Ridge State Park is a great place to visit. In winter, the snow-softened ridges are alive with birds and animals. In the spring, a panoramic blanket of multi-hued wildflowers and blooming, budding trees celebrate the resurgence of growth. By summer the dense vegetation and new generation of wildlife are thriving in the sun, and autumn brings its brilliant display of color as nature enhances the woodlands with yellow, red, purple and orange. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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A jewel in the middle of vast farmland
Fox Ridge is a jewel in the middle of vast farmlard. A great place to get away for a day by yourself or with your family.
Written by Jim W
7-May-2008
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| Trails: |
| Due to the rich, abundant plant and animal life in the park and its dramatic hills and bluffs, the eight miles of the meandering trail system is the natural focus for most visitors. Each of the ten connected trails has a descriptive marker at the entrance to assist you. Fox Ridge is a ravine of glacial moraine and many of these trails are steep, 18 picturesque wooden bridges and numerous rest benches make them easily negotiable. Turkey, deer, fox, squirrel, raccoon, rabbit, turkey vulture, hawk, owl, quail, pheasant and the lush foliage will make your journey both exciting and restful.
Eight separate but looping trails are located within the park. The looping trails allow you to extend or cut short you walk. You can expect to walk along the Embarras River, or through the decidious forest once common in the area. A four-mile horse trail, bring your own horse, no overnight facilities for horses (Horse trail closed from November 15 - April 15).
The staircase to Eagle's Nest has just been completed requiring 144 steps to get you to the deck overlooking the river, providing a wonderful view during the fall, winter and spring.
A fitness trail has just been refurbished offering another dimension to the trail system. Two handicapped accessible trails are available one wandering along the edge of a ravine and the other tours a small fishing pond with an accessible fishing pier. |
| Picnicking: |
| For the day visitor there are many designated picnic areas scattered throughout the park, with tables and grills (ground fires are not permitted), rest rooms, drinking water, playgrounds, two baseball diamonds and sand volleyball courts. A large, brick outdoor pavilion and eight smaller shelters are available for reunions and group gatherings. Six shelters are available on a reservation basis. Please contact the park office. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing:
Ridge Lake is well-stocked with bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish. However, since it is a research facility, fishing is permitted by reservation only. Contact the Illinois Natural History Survey at (217) 345-6490 or write to the park office for dates and times.
Fishing in the Embarras River is open to the hardy angler who is willing to descend the steep slopes. Lake Charleston, about four miles from the park, also is recommended. Canoe access: There are two canoe launches, one north and one south provides a five mile trip on the Embarras.
Hunting:
In the northern area of the park there are 1,129 acres open for public hunting. Sign in at the park office before using the area. Fox Ridge has a fact sheet available showing the boundary lines and describing the area and species most abundant.
For more information contact the Fox Ridge State Park, Park Office, 18175 State Park Road, Charleston, IL, 61920, (217) 345-6416. FAX 217/348-6417. |
| History of the Area: |
| Arrowheads and artifacts uncovered in this area indicate habitation by prehistoric Native American cultures. Early historic tribes included the Piankashaw and the Illinois, both of whom were pushed out when the Kickapoo migrated into the region from Wisconsin in the late 1600s.
European settlers in the area originally were centered around the Embarras River, which provided their main source of transportation, fishing, trapping, and, of course, water. Before the development of the railroad, much of the economy of the area also depended on the river, where flat boats carried livestock and manufacturing materials downstream to the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers and on to New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico.
In the late 1930s, the State of Illinois took over management and ownership of Fox Ridge, then a small parcel of land, and residents of the Charleston area helped preserve and develop it as a state park. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed a residence/workshop complex, a Natural History Survey laboratory, 4 miles of hiking trails, a large brick pavilion and a dam and spillway which created the 12-acre Ridge Lake.
Ridge Lake, completed in 1941 and currently administered by the Illinois Natural History Survey in Urbana, is used for the study of lakes, ponds and streams to improve fishing in Illinois waters. Studies at the lake (the first at which Natural History Survey technicians were able to control the water level) have included investigations of the effects on resident fish populations of lake drawdowns, supplemental feeding of bluegill and channel catfish and introduction of supplemental predators such as the muskellunge and walleye. These constitute the most thorough and longest continuous fish studies in the United States.
To further enhance the development of the park, the Fox Ridge Foundation was founded and dedicated to the improvement and promotion of the area. Governed by local citizens interested in the park's future, the foundation sponsors several annual events, publishes a quarterly newsletter and organizes and administers fund drives for specific or general park improvements. Supported by the general public through membership dues and donations, the foundations is a tax-exempt charitable organization. For further information contact the park office or write to the Fox Ridge Foundation, P.O. Box 714, Charleston, IL, 61920. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Todd?s Fox Ridge Project - FOX RIDGE STATE PARK AND ITS GEOLOGY by Todd Danielczyk INTRODUCTION Fox Ridge State Park is located in central Illinois, eight miles south of Charleston. The Late Wisconsinan glacial ice ... | | Fox Ridge State Park: Photo Album - Fox Ridge State Park Photo Album Photos by Carol Schmudde, 1982-1996. Swallowtail Butterfly Trees in Autumn Trail in Winter ... Deer Tracks in Snow Fox Ridge State Park homepage All photos ... | | The Embarras River Basin Critical Trends Assessment: Sidebar - Profiling a Pair of the Reg - ... a Pair of the Region's State Parks (Michael Jeffords) Aerial view of Fox Ridge State Park The Embarras region's state parks have a ... Embarras River, stands Fox Ridge State Park. Located in Coles ... | | DNR - DNR ... Parks & Recreation Publications Research/Surveys State Museums Search DNR Illinois [IL Search Tips] Fox Ridge State Park East-Central Region 18175 State Park Road Charleston, IL 61920 217.345 ... | | Illinois Bureau of Tourism: Biking East Central - FOX RIDGE STATE PARK THE INN AT EAGLE CREEK RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER FOX RIDGE STATE PARK Path: Hike miles of rugged, scenic hiking trails with steep, thickly wooded ridges and broad, lush ... | | Embarras Volunteer Stewards Homepage - ... Preserve Douglas-Hart Nature Center Baber Woods Nature Preserve Rocky Branch Nature Preserve Fox Ridge State Park Walnut Point State Park Lincoln Trail State Park Wolf Creek State Park Waterworks ... | | The Osage Inn - Charleston, Illinois - BBOnline.com / Introduction - Charleston, Illinois Bed and Breakfast: The Osage Inn is an 1860's hewn log house that Diane and ... Lake Shelbyville - boating & fishing Fox Ridge State Park - south of Charleston, great trails ... |
| Directions: |
| From I-57, take Route 16 Exit east to Charleston. Stay on Rt. 16, all the way through Charleston to the Intersection of Rt. 16 and Rt. 130. Turn Right/South and go 7 miles.
From I-70, take Exit for Rt. 130 North. Go approximately 11 miles.
Brochures available at the Park
Acorn Avenue - Self Guided Nature Trail | Summer Prairie & Roadside Flowers at FRSP | Trees & Shrubs at FRSP | Spring Flowers at FRSP | Fox Ridge State Park Bird List |
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