Letcher Basin Land & Water Reserve (Secor)

Woodford County, Illinois

Latitude/Longitude
Jim Fenis Canoe Launch & Wyatt's Ford:
40.639396, -89.148113
Main Entrance:
40.647344, -89.162467

Main Entrance:
End of County Rd 400 N
Secor, IL 61771

Activities:
Trails (hiking)
Water (paddle; Note: walk-in access only from main entrance; drive-in access at Jim Fenis Canoe Launch & Wyatt's Ford)
Snow (snowshoe, cross-country ski)
Other (picnic area via walk-in access only, view wildlife)

Season/Hours:  dawn to dusk, except during deer management

Dog Friendly:  no

Map(s) On Site and/or Online:
Online:  https://i2.wp.com/parklandsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Letcher-Basin-Map-1.png
On Site:   at main entrance kiosk near gate

Parking: For main entrance, park along margins of trailhead near ParkLands gate (dead end of 400 County Rd N).
Jim Fenis Canoe Launch & Wyatt's Ford has limited parking on dirt/grass.

Amenities: picnic tables

Restrooms: no

Trail Info Websites/Apps:  no

Cost:  free admission

Historical and/or Scientific Significance: historical; geological; birding hotspot

Terrain/Views/Access: forest, hills, prairie, river view and access

General Description:
260-acre land and water reserve (125 acres of prairie) with 2.5 miles Mackinaw River frontage, 4.5 miles hiking trails; near
Kenyon-Baller Woods Nature Preserve.
Hayes Woods Nature Preserve, and
Ridgetop Hill Prairie Preserve
Drive-in paddle access at Jim Fenis Canoe Launch & Wyatt's Ford on Denman Road on south side of river (limited parking);
Walk-in paddle access only from main entrance on Country Road 400 N.

OPAL’s Observations & Opinions:
a beautiful expanse of prairie bordered by the Mackinaw River and forest

Main Access:

Jim Fenis Canoe Launch & Wyatt's Ford:

Trail/Park Maps & Brochures (downloadable):
Mackinaw River mileages (PDF)
Letcher Basin Trail Map (PDF)

More Information:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L5601678?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec

http://www.wjbc.com/2018/05/29/discover-history-and-river-critters-on-tour-of-letcher-basin/

http://library.isgs.illinois.edu/Pubs/pdfs/ftgb/ftgb2009A-mackinawriver.pdf

https://mcleanwater.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/03/Mackinaw_River_report.pdf

https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/flowers-fruits-and-frass/2015-05-30-coyote-discovery

Managed by:
ParkLands Foundation
Box 261
Bloomington, IL 61702
309-438-5567