Buffalo Rock State Park

On my last day of the Utica excursion I decided to give Buffalo State park another chance.

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I had visited it years before, excited about the earth sculptures, only to get hot in the harsh sun of the prairie landscape.

I-MCanalCrane

To let a speeding truck pass me I pulled into the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Lock Entrance and snapped a selfie there.

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The birds-eye view can be perused from Starved Rock State Park.

I-MCanalcLock

The Buffalo Rock State Park entrance on this road was different from what I remembered, (and later learned I had indeed come another way before).

BuffaloRockDriveUp

My trusty state park guide book was at home, and I went by the maps on signposts at each park this year, when before I always had everything mapped out ahead of time.

FigureTree

With Geocaching more prevalent I’m sure there are phone apps by the forest districts, but I still prefer to walk the trails pretending to be disconnected, though knowing I have GPS on my phone is certainly comforting as a lone wanderer.

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I strolled down the overlook path, thinking it would give me the birds’eye view. Instead, it took me past the river, and a later sign clarified that this was a River Overlook. Four Pelicans flew over me at one point, which was awesome to watch.

IllinoiriverView

The Effigy Tumili were in the other direction of the river overlook, so I wandered back that way, just enjoying the prairie flower scents and cricket and bird sounds.

BuffaloRockTrailMap

I came upon the catfish and laughed at not being able to see the eye at all. It was just a mound, with a path that the sign said we were allowed to climb.

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Titled “Effigy Tumuli” in tribute to the Native American burial grounds that inspired it, Michael Heizer’s “earth art” depicts five sculptures native to the Illinois River.

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Sculptures of a snake, turtle, catfish, frog and a water strider were created into mounds hikers can climb and explore. On top of the catfish, I took a view around.

catfish view

This photo by L. Jenkins shows what the mound looks like:

CatfishTumuli

I crossed paths with other hikers, who shared my initial disappointment of not being able to ‘see’ the effigies. Even Google Earth doesn’t do it justice:

EffigyTumuliGoogleEarth

The turtle was considered risky to climb, but I observed a pair of monarchs at the foot of the mound, both extremely camera shy. The grass was taller than me.

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I kept the insect-cam going and trusted my zoom lens a lot.

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If the snake is meant to be the exposed lime rock, it’s the easiest effigy to recognize.

snake sign

Limestone formations are so spectacular.

Snake1

Google Earth’s view:

SnakeTumuliGoogleEarth

I wanted to linger but a mosquito urged me to move on. I had an allergic reaction to a bite on my arm, even though other bites were fine, so not having yet consulted my medical experts I was leery of inviting another sting of epic proportions. Next time Benadryl cream will be my companion, and a small container of vinegar.

Snake2

I pondered walking the whole length of the park’s path to the area I had entered last time, but it was getting hot and I had not brought my hat, so I figured I wouldn’t risk heat fatigue with a 2-hour drive ahead of me.

TumuliView

I came upon a few of these “Say Anything” icons but am not sure what they mean…

SayAnything

More critters crossed my path:

CritterCam

Thus I wandered back the way I came, and startled when I noticed bison through a chain link fence.

Buffalo

I suppose Buffalo Rock should have some buffalo!

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I switched into sandals and began the drive home. Most of it was easy except a stretch on I-55 where weavers crisscrossed all three lanes to violate the speed limit.

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Otherwise the ride home felt surprisingly short, making me think I should head into the I&M Canal’s territory more often this year.

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