Baber Woods Nature Preserve
Baber Woods Nature Preserve stands as one of the most high quality remnant forests in the Grand Prairie region. The Baber family purchased the first portion of the preserve in 1835 and acquired the whole site by 1894. They used a mere three acres of the property to clear for a cabin, leaving the majority of the site entirely undisturbed. In 1969, the Baber family donated the property to the Nature Conservancy for its continued protection.
Because no grazing or logging occurred, the forest is remarkably pristine and was designated as a Nature Preserve by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 1974. Grand Prairie Friends was honored to take ownership of the property in 2026 and continue the legacy and care of the property.
Much of Baber Woods is composed of white oak, hickory, and sugar maple. Species such as the Eastern box turtle call this forest home. Oak and hickory trees are of high ecological value in our area and are extremely drought tolerant. However, as sugar maple trees continue to increase in number, they reduce the sunlight that reaches the forest floor and prevent oaks and hickories from growing. It is important to intervene and reduce the number of sugar maples present in a preserve in order to promote the growth of oaks and hickories.
Grand Prairie Friends utilizes tree girdling methods and prescribed fire to control sugar maple growth on our properties. The native oaks and hickories resist fire and are not harmed, but the understory can be cleared, allowing for sunlight to reach the floor and promote sapling growth.
From Kansas at jct. Hwys. 16 & 49, take blacktop road south 4.5 mi. to gravel road, then turn and go east 1.7 mi., then turn and go northeast 0.3 mi. The nature preserve is east of the road.
Directions to the Preserve
Preserve is open for public access dawn to dusk. This is an Illinois State Nature Preserve, and use is limited to walking, birding, and photography. Camping, picnicking, littering, pets, and vehicles are not allowed inside the preserve. All plants, animals, birds, and insects are protected, so do not disturb or remove any natural objects including rocks, plants, seeds, or insects.
