The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) is pleased to announce that the Home Farm Section of the Big Sky Nature Reserve is now open to the public for pedestrian use of 15 miles of hiking trails. Seasonal horseback access will run from August 1-31 this year as JDCF works out the logistics of having horse trails on one of its preserves for the first time.
The new 488-acre Home Farm Section site has joined with the adjacent Valley of Eden Bird Sanctuary to create a now 900-acre natural area that is the largest of JDCF’s public preserves to date.
The Big Sky main lot is located at 5557 S Massbach Rd, Stockton, IL. Valley of Eden can still be accessed from 5559 E Rush Creek Rd, Stockton. The main lot is the only one available for trailer parking once the horse access begins on August 1. Trail maps for all users are available at the reserve kiosks. The reserve is open daily dawn to dusk and free of charge unless otherwise posted.
For more information about JDCF, please visit their office at 126 N Main Street, Elizabeth IL, or contact them at Jdcf.org or info@jdcf.org.
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