America's Byways and National Wildlife Refuges
Ohio River Scenic Byway - Illinois
(Illinois)
Re-enactors at the Fort Massac October Encampment, Metropolis (IL)
© 1999 Ned Trovillion
The Ohio River Scenic Byway, a historic 462-mile stretch of road that winds through America's heartland, has been used for commerce, travel, and as an important stop on the Underground Railroad. It also provides access to five National Wildlife Refuges, two of which can be found along the Illinois branch of the byway. Covering 43,890 acres, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge sits nearly 25 miles north of the byway and includes three man-made lakes, hardwood and pine forests, rolling hills, and wetlands. Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, located in Illinois at the southern end of the byway, claims some of the oldest living trees east of the Mississippi River, and it lies at a biological midpoint of North America -- one of only six areas in the United States where four or more physiographic regions overlap.
Fish and Wildlife Lands
Illinois
Recreation Opportunities
- Guide to Fishing on National Wildlife Refuges: Illinois
- Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Illinois
Maps
Some map regions can be clicked on to view further information.
Some regions of this map can be clicked on to view further information.
