Spitler Woods (Illinois)

🏆🏆🏆🏆 Virgin Timber — 219-acre old-growth forest — one of the last virgin timber stands in central Illinois

Spitler Woods State Natural Area protects 219 acres of old-growth upland forest in Macon County — one of the last stands of virgin timber in central Illinois. These ancient oaks and hickories have never been logged, giving us a glimpse of the dense hardwood forest that once covered the river bluffs and uplands between the prairies. Central Illinois lost virtually all its original forest to settlement — making Spitler Woods an irreplaceable ecological treasure and a living benchmark for forest restoration across the region.

Visitor Information

About Spitler Woods

Spitler Woods State Natural Area in Macon County preserves a rare tract of old-growth upland forest in central Illinois — one of the finest remaining examples of the pre-settlement forest that once covered portions of the Grand Prairie. The ancient oaks and hickories in this 200-acre preserve are some of the oldest trees in central Illinois.

Things to Do

Hiking through old-growth forest on the interpretive trail, birdwatching for forest interior species, wildflower viewing in spring, and nature photography. The ancient trees provide a window into pre-settlement Illinois.

Insider Tips

Old-growth survivor: Spitler Woods protects 200+ year-old white oaks and sugar maples in central Illinois — a fragment of the ancient forest that covered the region before settlement. Pro tip: The 200-year-old oaks have trunks 4+ feet in diameter — these trees germinated around the time of the American Revolution. Spring ephemeral: The spring wildflower display is exceptional — bloodroot, hepatica, and trout lily carpet the forest floor.

Best Time to Visit

April: Peak spring ephemeral wildflower bloom. Fall: Mature hardwood foliage. Summer: Cool forest shade. Winter: Massive tree architecture visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are spring ephemerals?

Wildflowers that bloom on the forest floor for a few weeks in early spring — before the tree canopy leafs out and blocks the sunlight. They complete their entire life cycle (sprouting, flowering, setting seed, dying back) in 6-8 weeks. Old-growth forests like Spitler Woods support the richest ephemeral displays because the soil ecosystem has been undisturbed for centuries.

Wildlife & Nature

Spitler Woods State Natural Area protects 219 acres of mature upland forest in Macon County — one of the finest examples of old-growth-quality oak-hickory forest remaining in central Illinois. The forest’s structural complexity — multiple canopy layers, standing dead snags, and fallen logs — supports species that require mature forest habitat. Pileated woodpeckers — the largest surviving North American woodpecker (16.5 inches) — excavate large rectangular feeding holes in dead trees. Barred owls nest in natural tree cavities. The spring wildflower display includes trillium, bloodroot, mayapple, and wild ginger. The forest’s understory supports spicebush — a native shrub whose aromatic berries are eaten by migrating birds and whose leaves are the sole food plant of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.

Nearby Attractions

Decatur — the “Soybean Capital of the World” — is nearby. Millikin University and Richland Community College offer cultural events. Scovill Zoo provides family recreation. Rock Springs Conservation Area has hiking and nature education. Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial marks the Lincoln family’s first Illinois home. Lake Decatur provides boating and fishing. Sangamon River offers canoeing. Friends Creek Conservation Area provides birding.