High fuel costs have made everyone pay attention to and re-examine their lifestyles. One of the resources in Champaign County in central Illinois makes it possible to not only pay attention but to do something positive. Every community should have an 800-plus acre wild space designed for family outings and personal escapes within a short driving distance.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District (CCFPD) offers several large, open-space natural areas and one of the best is within a few minutes of my home. It’s an easy bike ride, a short car trip, and it’s free—today, and hopefully this tax-supported preserve will continue to be free. Homer Lake Forest Preserve, also known as the Salt Fork River Forest Preserve, is a day-use facility that offers hiking trails, fishing, limited boating, picnicking, wildlife viewing, amphitheatre, education programs, forested areas, and more.

"The CCFPD is a local, property tax-supported government agency charged with the stewardship of five forest preserves covering 3,800 acres in Champaign County, Illinois." The CCFPD places outdoor wild spaces within one-gallon drives for all Champaign County residents.

Once farmland, this was slowly allowed to transform into a forest that frames a 100-acre lake. I often speak negatively about the landscape, the lack of topography, and what this part of Illinois offers, but there are a few outdoor areas in the Champaign County area as well as several premier parks in Vermilion County to the east. I will miss the ready access to these preserve/parks when we leave.

From my house I travel less than five miles to reach this park. Hikers seeking tranquility readily find empty trails on weekdays and weekends. Our house is on the market and every time someone comes by to look at it I need to remove myself and two dogs and every time we head over with leash, water bowls, book and poop scoop bags. We have yet to encounter another person on the trail, regardless of the day.

Trails tend to be grass covered, mowed through a hardwood forest with tulip trees, sweetgum, oak, maple, elm, dogwood, and many other native trees and shrubs. Most trails are flat with although some on the southern edges are slightly rolling. The staff is frequently cleaning the forest in an effort to remove invasive plants, but that doesn’t take away from the special natural feeling of this preserve. When hiking late in the afternoon I’ve heard owls and when participating in a late evening workshop offered through the environmental center I’ve also heard different owls.

Every neighborhood should have a place like this within a gallon’s drive of home.

Amenities

· Group Pavilion Facility rental for Homer Lakes Buildings and Shelters vary dependent upon residency status (Champaign County resident or other). Reservations are made through the Champaign County Forest Preserve District headquarters and contact information is on the website.

· Salt Fork Center is a building used for classes, gatherings, workshops and community meetings. It looks out over the lake with a large wrap-around porch, and nearby boat dock and outdoor amphitheater. This is positioned close to a network of trails.

· Environmental Education Center has bird feeding stations, wildlife displays inside, observation deck access, and also a network of interpretive trails. This is close to the entrance and a Maple Sugar Grove. Hours are limited. Their school educational programs and field trips as well as their community workshops are very popular.

· Homer Lake has 81 acres of surface water with a maximum depth of 24 feet and an average depth of 8.4 feet. The preserve also offers a small pond and 1.5 miles of the Salt Fork River, which runs through central Champaign County. Only boats with electric motors or no motors are allowed on this small lake, but every time I visit I can watch several people out on the lake fishing for bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, large or smallmouth bass, or peace of mind. The regulations require two pole and line fishing only.

· Picnic Tables are located throughout the Preserve. Large grassy areas surround many of the picnic tables with easy access to the single road that through the preserve. The road goes from the entrance over a bridge and curves around the lake but does not exit on the other end. Visitors will find many picnic tables along this road—tables in groups and singles. Picnic tables with views of the lake will surprise hikers the first time, but the second time hikers will plan to spend time at those isolated picnic tables.

· Hiking Trails include the Collins Pond Trail, .62 miles; Flicker Woods Trail, .94 miles; Oak Ridge Trail, 1.9 miles; Sand Beach Cove Trail, .68 miles; Timberdoodle Trail, 1.2 miles, and West Lake Trail, 4.6 miles. It is possible to combine trails for longer hikes. In the winter some of these convert into cross country ski trails (when there is sufficient snow). Expect to see lots of native and neo-tropical birds (depending on the season) in this preserve as well as signs of small animals, deer and coyote. West Lake Trail, where it is close to the lake, will flood during heavy and extended rains.

· Playground Children will enjoy a simple playground area near the Walnut Hill Shelter.

· Camping The preserve does not offer camping and I recommend relatively nearby sites (20-25 miles) in Vermilion County.

· Restrooms Restroom facilities at the Walnut Hill Shelter, Salt Fork Center and the Environmental Education Center are clean and accessible. Carry water, there are not a lot of drinking fountains.

Homer Lake Forest Preserve will be busy on a nice summer Saturday or Sunday. There will always be a shoreline fisher silhouetted against the lake on any weekday. Hiking the trails on a summer weekday afternoon is a tranquil experience. A sledding hill near the dam offers winter fun (this area is pretty flat and sledding hills are rare, but treasured amenities) and it will be very popular with families on weekends following rare snows. A colorful autumn Saturday afternoon will be busy, but a colorful autumn weekday afternoon will be a special opportunity for escape. The color of the red, orange, and yellow leaves reflecting on the lake, seen either from a boat or the West Lake Trail, seem picture perfect.

Watch Out
I’m extremely allergic to poison ivy. Walking my affectionate large dogs close to the lake, especially on the West Lake Trail, made me nervous! Poison Ivy/Poison Oak was everywhere and there was no way they could avoid it. Mosquitoes and flies in the summer, along with ticks, can be problems so carry a favorite insect repellent. The West Lake Trail also remains soggy long after heavy rains.

Location
Homer Lake Forest Preserve is located 14 miles southeast of the University of Illinois community of Champaign/Urbana. It is slightly northwest of the small town of Homer, which has an antique shop with an amazing collection of chilled soda pops from all over the country. (A popular destination.) The preserve’s physical address is 2573 S. Homer Lake Rd easily accessed from Interstate 74 and Route 49 from Ogden or by following Windsor Road east out of Urbana. This is tucked away in the southeast corner of Champaign County off County Road 14 and your best source for directions is to use your favorite online map site.

Trail Map: http://www.ccfpd.org/about/CCFPD_Homer_Lake_Map.pdf (Print your own, their trailhead map boxes are frequently empty or contain a soggy, insect chewed map you won’t want to touch.)

Directions:
http://www.ccfpd.org/about/directions.html

Environmental Education Center Hours: http://www.ccfpd.org/attractions/environmental_education_center_.html

Homer Lake Forest: http://www.ccfpd.org/attractions/homerlake.html

Phone numbers:
Environmental Education Center: 217 896-2455

Homer Lake Superintendent: 217 896-2733

Homer Lake Preserve is far more than just a park, it offers natural, wild spaces, fishing, picnicking, recreation, grass areas, playground, and opportunities for sanity readjustment within a one-gallon drive from home if you live in Champaign County Illinois.

Special thanks to Abraham for adding this to the database.