A carpet of purples, blues, and pinks awaits exploration in the spring at Hidden Acres.
One of the simple pleasures of spring is seeing the earliest of flowers erupting from the soil. It’s as if Mother Nature herself implores the forest floor to show out, making a bold announcement of its return to glory. And it’s truly a sight to see.
While Hidden Acres — a separate parcel of land located south of Homer Lake Forest Preserve — isn’t the only place in the area to see bluebells, it’s certainly one of the most breathtaking.
Even the most reluctant of teens admitted to being impressed after we saw the depth and breadth of the bluebell beauty. The palette of pastels filled us with a sense of awe.
When we first entered the woods, we saw a bluebell here and there. Don’t be fooled — that is just a tease. To get the full effect, plan to walk about at least a third of the path (the entire loop is just about .6 miles).
At some point, the bluebells — which are there thanks to a flood plain — fully occupy both sides of the path. It’s difficult to do this vista justice in a photo, but we’ve tried.
We also took note of other spring flowers that don’t get as much press as the bluebells.
The flowers weren’t the only signs of life we witnessed in our visit. We watched frogs dash across logs. We happened upon a ginormous fish around the banks of the river.
We wish we had brought birding binoculars as the birds scurried across the blanket of bluebells, including some hummingbirds which appeared to feed on the nectar. We stopped to listen to the many bird calls we heard.
When we arrived, our Subaru was the only car in the parking lot. But by the time we left on Easter Sunday, the lot was full, proving that Hidden Acres isn’t so hidden after all.
WHO WOULD ENJOY HIDDEN ACRES?
This is a short walk, well suited for younger children and relatively easy to complete as a family. The elevation is minimal and the main path is a complete circle.
Similar to the Sangamon River Forest Preserve, there are multiple “tributary” paths that lead to views of the Salt Fork River. Some are overlooks, steep with an immediate drop down. Others allow adventurers to get close to the water. Thanks to our recent rains, the river wash was amply full but not flooded.
While we came equipped with rain boots, not knowing what to expect, the path was well manicured and not all that muddy even with many recent rains. Of course, that’s no guarantee. This could be a great place for creek stomping when it’s more wet.
Note there are no benches or other places to sit on the walk. There is one bench on the property overlooking the man-made pond at the trailhead, constructed in 2006.
BE PREPARED: There are no services at this park (bathrooms, water fountain, trash can, bike racks, etc.) although they can be found close by at Homer Lake Forest Preserve. The walk is dog friendly; please clean up after your pets.
IF YOU GO:
Hidden Acres is considered part of the Homer Lake Forest Preserve (link to area map). It has a separate entrance and is not connected to the rest of the park via trails or roads.
We pulled up to the intersection after a lovely ride through the country. It is planting season, when the Champaign County fields are being cultivated and readied for another growing season — teeming with possibility.
At first I thought Google Maps had taken us on a wild goose chase, as my mother would call it. (link to google maps.)
The road that leads into the parking lot at Hidden Acres is sandwiched between two private properties. If you blink or otherwise get distracted, you will miss it. That’s not a euphemism — it’s truth.
Here’s the sign.
Other places to find bluebells and spring wildflowers: Champaign County Forest Preserve District
The various properties that make up the Champaign County Forest Preserve District are all excellent wildflower hunting grounds. At Mahomet’s Lake of the Woods, the wonderful education staff at the Champaign County Forest Preserve District recommend a spring wildflower walk along the Rayburn-Purnell Woods Trail.
Families can stroll along the .5-mile trail and use the flower key to identify what wildflowers are currently blooming. Visit any time the preserve is open — the closest entrance to the Rayburn-Purnell Woods is off Route 47 near the Museum of the Grand Prairie and the Botanical Garden.
The newest Champaign County Forest Preserve: Heron View, Mahomet
Heron View Forest Preserve is located 5 miles north of Mahomet. Most of its 103 acres of floodplain forest was purchased in 2021 by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District. In 2022, the 1.4-mile loop Sycamore Trail was constructed. Along the trail there are beautiful views of the Sangamon River as well as open forest with a few especially large tree specimens.
The greater length of the loop trail at Heron View means that visiting will probably appeal more to grownups than to kids. Also take note — facilities are (intentionally) limited. There is no pavement, no bathrooms, no water, no trash cans. Don’t forget your water bottle, and please take your trash home with you.
Busey Woods, Urbana
Pretty much any wooded spot in the Champaign-Urbana area is going to reveal a wildflower or two. What if you want to stay in town for your wildflower hunting expedition? Try Busey Woods at the north end of Urbana’s Crystal Lake Park. In addition to its other trails, Busey Woods boasts a 1/3-mile-long boardwalk accessed from the Anita Purves Nature Center, to make your woodland stroll both accessible and free of mud.