Sentinel Nature Preserve

Carroll County

Location and Access:

Sentinel Nature Preserve is located in Mississippi Palisades State Park in Carroll County in northwestern Illinois. This park is located on Illinois Route 84 along the Mississippi River north of Savanna. The nature preserve is located on the Sentinel trail system.

Description:

This preserve is named after a large limestone promitory known as the Sentinel. Many rare plants are present within the preserve, including Canada violet and jewel shooting star. However, much of the preserve is upland forest which consists of red, white, and black oats, plus sugar maple and basswood. A small loess hill prairie, containing side-oats grama, little bluestem and leadplant, is also present. The park itself contains other large rocks of a similar nature, causing the area to be known as the "Palisades of the Mississippi."

Ownership: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Dedicated: June 1991

Size: 48.4 acres

Topo Map: Blackhawk and Savanna 7.5

For Further Information Contact: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Lost Mound Unit, 3159 Crim Drive, Savanna, IL 61074

1/2009 - R. Heidorn