Let’s Take a Hike: Horsetails at Riverbend Forest Preserve

Mahomet, Ill. – There’s much to be said for being under a tree canopy or brushing your fingertips on top of grasses that are waist high.

CCFPD’s Riverbend Forest Preserve is known for its lakes created after sand and gravel mining were complete. But surrounding the lakes, which are trails that wind through the prairie and forest that lead back to the Sangamon River.

This walk will take about 20 minutes, if you just walk through, but there are many more sites to experience if one just takes their time.

Parking at the lot on the south side of the park (the first lot after winding through a few jogs) there is a trailhead. We chose to keep the gravel trail last and entered through the prairie. You will quickly come to a “Y” in the path. Traveling to the left will take you to the forest and eventually the river. It’s a dead end, although a lovely stop.

The right side of the path will weave you in between trees until you come to the first plaque, which talks about the 9-11 Memorial Woodland, which was dedicated on 9.11.2002 as a living memorial to all those who lost their lives on that fateful day. Packed with White Oaks, Black Walnut, Black Cherry, Silver Maple and American Sycamores, the forest serves as a sign of resilience and triumph. 

There are few rules at the Champaign County Forest Preserve Parks, but one important one to remember is to always keep your furry friends on a leash. This not only protects nature, but also wildlife and your best friend. Please also remember to pick up any pet waste that is left behind.

You’ll then have a choice to make, do you stay on the gravel or enter into the forest?

I chose to enter into the forest. The path will narrow, but it is well worth it. 

The terrain isn’t difficult to travel through, just remember to wear long pants and tennis shoes because there is a bit of poison ivy here and there. 

But if you don’t enter into the forest, you may miss seeing the snail that is just hanging out before sundown. Or the green that will fill your heart with life. You will miss looking up into the canopy to see the leaves dance with each other.

The trail does not make it’s way back to the Sangamon River, although you can see it at certain points. In the fall and winter, though, the flood plain is accessible and the river is easy to get to. In the spring, the bluebells emerge creating a sight you don’t want to miss.

Coming out of the forest, you will hit a larger grass path lined yellow flowers in June. 

Winding around the river and the prairie, this is a great place to watch the dragonflies feast on mosquitos during the early evening hours. So, yes, you might want to wear bug spray. But it’s beautiful, nonetheless.

The CCFPD is also working hard to fight back against the invasive honeysuckle plants in this area and restore native bush such as the bladder nut, spicebush, eastern wahoo, wafter ash and paw paw. 

But one of the coolest things in all of East Central Illinois is growing at the end of this trailhead: Equisetum. Equisetum, which has been around for nearly 350 million years, filled prehistoric forests. At that time, equisetum, or horsetails as they are more commonly known, could reach heights of 30 meters. Today, two species of equisetum might reach about 4 meters. 

Can you even believe it? I could spend all day with these plants. There are only about 20 species of equisetum left, and we have some right here at the Riverbend Forest Preserve.

I feel like the universe can just drop it’s mic now.

My daughter went on this walk with me. She said, “look! It’s like bamboo.” We stared at it, and wondered when it would flower. I said, “maybe in a few weeks. It’s not warm enough yet.”

The next day I was on the Zion National Park Instagram account and saw the plant we’d seen the night before. That night, we went back to make sure that it was the horsetail. When she shook the plant, we witnessed evolutionary magic. 

These plants existed before flowering plants and cone-bearing trees. So, the way they reproduce is also unique. They produce a cloud of dust from the head of the stalk that is full of spores. 

It’s really just everything. 

From this point, you can see the lake and a gravel trail that will go to your left and right. To get back to your vehicle, you will need to go right. 

The path will take you through some familiar sights, like the beginning of the trailhead. This time pause to look for the blackberry bushes. They should begin to ripen within a few weeks!