Franklin Creek State Natural Area
Franklin Creek State Natural Area is a nature reserve in Illinois, at a modelled elevation of 240 m. Coffman Bluff stands 289 m to the north-northwest, 24 miles off. The nearest named place is Hurd Tract, a nature reserve 0.3 miles away. Lincoln Highway passes 1.1 miles off. 5 named summits stand within 25 miles.
What to expect
- Operated by
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
How to reach it
- 1.1 mi off the Lincoln Highway, National
Named places within 25 miles
- Atlasta Park: 2.5 mi
- Temperance Hill Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve: 5.7 mi
- Griffith Park: 6.3 mi
- Meadows Park: 6.7 mi
- Ballou Park: 6.7 mi
- Hurd Tract: 0.3 mi
- Franklin Addition: 0.4 mi
- Franklin Creek Headwaters: 1.9 mi
- Willow Park: 6.4 mi
- Van Arnam's Island: 6.8 mi
- Replica Statue of Liberty: 7.0 mi
- Schmig mem.: 7.0 mi
- President Ronald Reagan: 7.2 mi
- Berlin Wall replica: 7.2 mi
- Wings of Peace and Freedom: 7.2 mi
- Franklin Creek Grist Mill: 0.7 mi
- John Deere Historic Site: 4.7 mi
- Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home: 7.2 mi
- Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Visitor Center: 7.2 mi
- Northwest Territory Historic Center: 7.3 mi
- Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural: 2.4 mi
- Eagle: 7.1 mi
- Paths of Conviction, Footsteps of Faith: 10.5 mi
- Dolphin Boys: 10.5 mi
- Ogle County Veterans Memorial: 11.0 mi
- Castle Rock: 8.2 mi
- Devils Backbone: 9.3 mi
- Pine Rock: 11.1 mi
- Bald Hill: 16.8 mi
- Coffman Bluff: 23.9 mi
- F-105D Thunderchief: 8.2 mi
- Deck: 11.3 mi
- Byron Drag Strip: 18.5 mi
- Youth Center: 18.7 mi
- Valley View Picnic Area: 8.9 mi
- Roadside Park: 16.4 mi
- Willow Creek Rest Area - Southbound: 19.2 mi
- Willow Creek Rest Area - Northbound: 19.5 mi
- Ganymede Spring: 12.7 mi
- White Rock: 16.2 mi
- Commissioners Garden: 18.5 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Franklin Creek State Natural Area. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffman Bluff | NNW 338° | 289 m | 23.9 mi |
| Bald Hill | N 354° | 281 m | 16.8 mi |
| Devils Backbone | N 357° | 274 m | 9.3 mi |
| Castle Rock | NNW 347° | 228 m | 8.2 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:02 | 18:33 | 19:10 |
| June solstice | 05:23 | 19:54 | 20:37 |
| September equinox | 06:45 | 18:20 | 18:56 |
| December solstice | 07:22 | 15:45 | 16:30 |
Local time (America/Chicago).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 21 | 26 | 37 | 49 | 61 | 70 | 74 | 72 | 65 | 52 | 39 | 27 |
| Precip in | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 2.2 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Dixon 1W, 9 mi away.
- Virginia bluebells42 obs
- prairie trillium40 obs
- Eastern Skunk Cabbage39 obs
- Dutchman's breeches31 obs
- bloodroot29 obs
- cut-leaved toothwort27 obs
- wild geranium25 obs
- sharp-lobed hepatica25 obs
Research-grade iNaturalist community observations within 3 km — what people have recorded, not a species inventory.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element way/837213610
Take the scenic way to Franklin Creek State Natural Area.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.