McCully Heritage Project
A little different, and off-the-beaten path from our usual park posts, Adam and I stumbled upon this privately-owned and maintained conservation and education project located on 940 acres in Kampsville, Ill. (southeast part of the state). The McCully Heritage Project has several lovely campsites and a rentable cabin on the property, as well as miles and miles of trails to explore.
Trail Conditions
7 - 10 miles of trails (based on my estimation…)
Their trails are available on the AllTrails app, but I could not find an online map to download. However, they have plenty of printed maps at the main parking area - grab one. The trails are named by color, and they do have numbered intersections to help guide you.
We hiked from our rented cabin, the Watkins House. We were on sections of the green, red, and yellow to check out the overlooks. The trails are a bit primitive, overgrown, (and steep) in some areas. We were also visiting after a lot of rain had hit the area. Definitely wear protective clothing, insect repellant, and hiking shoes.
The trails weaved our group through beautiful, deep forests with some intervals of prairies. The land is gorgeous, and we appreciate the untamed look. It adds to that element of adventure!
Things We Love
This is an incredibly remote area, and you will have plenty of space and privacy whether you stay overnight or just drive out for the day. It’s nice to feel like you have the world to yourself for a bit.
The abundance of thriving wildlife! We encountered countless types of birds, and this is a wonderful area (right near the Illinois River) for waterbird watching. We lost count of how many deer we spotted, and we were fortunate enough to have a few turtles spend time near our sleep site.
The folks who run and manage the place are incredibly hospitable and passionate about the land - they were very helpful and accommodating.
Things to Know
The trails are pet-friendly, but they double as hiking/horseback riding trails…so be mindful of others.
There is no fee to park and hike, but the project does accept donations. Consider making one if you have the means.
The campsite area does have a lovely restroom facility with a full shower. There are also several picnic areas, a playground, and a pond available. Camping can be booked (very easily) on HipCamp, and the cabin can be booked on AirBnB. This would be a great place to take children and camp.
You will not get cell phone/data service while hiking and visiting. Make sure to map yourself to the location, off-line, and feel confident you can navigate around. They will happily provide additional information about getting to the location if you reach out online.
This location is only about 20 minutes away from Pere Marquette State Park, if you wanted to keep yourself busy for a weekend.