Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area
Location:In southern Illinois, 3 miles northwest of Metropolis and 2 miles east of IL 45 on Upper Salem Road in Massac County.
Facilities:Sielback Forest is maintained in its natural state and has no day-use areas, trails, or major improvements of any kind.
Activities:Hunting, fishing, hiking.
Special Features:Within this land and water reserve are 100 acres of
floodplain forest dominated by cherrybark oak, sweetgum, and pin oak,
and within this soggy forest are 35 acres of forested swamp dominated
by cypress and tupelo. Many of the trees in this old-growth remnant are
more than 200 years old and nearly 4 feet in diameter. The swamp rabbit
makes its home here, and pileated and red-headed woodpeckers,
nuthatches, and tree swallows are abundant. Also found in the Forest
are two species found only in southern Illinois, in high quality
floodplain forests and swamps, the storax (a small tree also known as
American snowbell) and the giant sedge
Address:c/o Mermet Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area
1812 Grinnell Rd
Belknap, IL 62908
Phone:618-524-5577
Size: 385 acres.
See other parks in
Illinois.