Harry ”Babe” Woodyard (Illinois)

🏆🏆🏆🏆 Prairie Heritage — 1,200-acre state natural area honoring conservationist Harry “Babe” Woodyard — restored tallgrass prairie and wetlands

Harry “Babe” Woodyard State Natural Area covers 1,200 acres of restored tallgrass prairie and wetlands in Edgar County — honoring Harry “Babe” Woodyard, a beloved Illinois state legislator and conservation champion who served from 1979 until his death in 2002. Illinois once contained 22 million acres of tallgrass prairie — the largest prairie in the world. Less than 0.01% survives today, making every restored acre precious. Woodyard’s site demonstrates what the Illinois prairie looked like before European settlement.

Visitor Information

About Babe Woodyard

Harry “Babe” Woodyard State Natural Area in Vermilion County preserves over 700 acres of forest, prairie, and wetland along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River — Illinois’ only National Scenic River. The area protects some of the finest remaining prairie and forest habitat in east-central Illinois. Named for a conservationist who championed the Vermilion River’s protection.

Things to Do

Hiking through prairie and forest habitats, fishing in the Middle Fork (a National Scenic River), birdwatching, wildlife observation, and canoeing the scenic river. The prairie wildflower displays in summer are excellent.

Insider Tips

Central Illinois nature: Babe Woodyard State Natural Area protects upland forest and prairie remnants in Edgar County. Pro tip: The site is named for a state legislator who championed conservation. Prairie-forest edge: The boundary between prairie and forest is one of the most interesting ecological zones — species from both habitats overlap, creating high biodiversity in a small area.

Best Time to Visit

Spring: Woodland wildflower bloom. Summer: Prairie wildflowers and grassland birds. Fall: Hardwood foliage. Winter: Winter birding — owls are more easily detected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the prairie-forest edge ecologically important?

Edge habitats where two ecosystems meet support species from both — plus edge specialists found nowhere else. Before European settlement, the prairie-forest border shifted with fire frequency. Without fire, trees invade prairie. With frequent fire, prairie expands into forest. This dynamic boundary created Illinois’s characteristic mosaic landscape.

Wildlife & Nature

Harry “Babe” Woodyard State Natural Area in Edgar County preserves tallgrass prairie and woodland habitat in east-central Illinois — a region where less than 0.01% of the original prairie remains. The area honors Woodyard, a state legislator who championed Illinois conservation. The restored prairie features big bluestem grass growing 6+ feet tall, compass plant with its distinctive north-south aligned leaves, and purple coneflower. Prairie restorations like this serve as genetic reservoirs for native plant species. Grassland birds — increasingly threatened by habitat loss — find refuge here. Dickcissel males sing their buzzy songs from tall forbs. Bobolinks — whose populations have declined 65% since 1966 — nest in the grasslands. Eastern meadowlarks provide their flute-like songs.

Nearby Attractions

Paris — the Edgar County seat — has a replica of the Eiffel Tower. Lincoln Trail State Park preserves the route Abraham Lincoln’s family took entering Illinois. Fox Ridge State Park offers deep forested ravines along the Embarras River. Marshall on the National Road has historic character. Charleston — home of Eastern Illinois University — hosted a Lincoln-Douglas debate. Terre Haute (Indiana) is across the Wabash River. Kickapoo State Recreation Area offers scuba diving in flooded quarries.