PARKING:
Parking may be a bit crowded during the spring and fall. There is a small, unpaved lot that holds about 12 cars at the north side of the road. A smaller 3 car lot exists as the south end.
If you type in “Larue-Pine Hills” into your Google Maps it will show the listed lot. The actual address of the lot is 475E, Wolf Lake, IL 62998.
ANIMALS YOU MIGHT SEE!
There is a plethora of animal diversity at this location. Unfortunately any handling of the animals is prohibited. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a gander and grab some great photos!
There is a path (perhaps not an ‘official path’) right alongside the bluff that is difficult to walk along but allows for looking into the crevices of the bluffs.
If you want to find cottonmouth, as many herpers do at this spot, then really concentrate looking around the areas where the swamp waters are almost level with the road. These crossing areas are where I found each one of the four cottonmouth I came across in one day.
If you keep a close eye on the waters, you might see some grass pickerel. These fish have very long, pencil-like bodies and are ambush predators. They likely won’t be moving as this species is a lie-and-wait predator but you might be able to see one sitting near the bottom, even in the very shallow water.
If you’re there during a migration time, a good strategy is to find a nice stretch of road near the water and just wait. You’ll likely see a number of different animals moving around.
Good luck! -Koaw