Willoughby Heritage Farm Walk

Explore a farm and then hike along a forested hill at Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve in Collinsville, Ill.

The park showcases farming life complete with tractors, barns, and a 1930’s style Craftsman Farm House. Animals on the farm include pigs, chickens, guineas, goats, and cows.

Checking Out the Farm

At the front of the farm is a red barn with horse stalls and farm equipment.

Next by the red barn is a chicken coop. If you go inside of it you can see the eggs laid by the chickens.

Then we walked down to a small pond with a water feature. Guineas were sitting on the rocks.

Another red barn houses miniature horses and donkeys. They were out in a field next to it.

Then we went across from the red barn finding goats, a calf, and sheep. By a green metal fence, we found where you can put a quarter in the machine for goat and sheep feed. Andrew and I fed the goats. He thought their tongues felt weird. (Main blog photo)

Kids Zone

Next, we went to the play area. There are kids, toddlers, baby swings, and a tire swing.

One area had a shed where you could get out dump trucks, tractors, wagons, road graders, and other toys. He liked the ramp where he would send the dump truck up and down.

Then we raced across an obstacle course. This includes a wooden bridge, swinging bridges, and logs to walk across.

Lastly, we came to a half-buried tractor. He sat on it like he was driving it. This tractor is a 1945 BF Avery Model A.

Hiking

After checking out the farm we headed to the hiking trails. The farm is made up of 40 acres of prairie and woodland overlooking bottomland forests.

We did a .5-mile hike on the Red Fox Run Trail.

Heading down to the woods from the farm we crossed a brown wooden bridge.

*Second bridge. We keep following the red markings for the trail.*

Shortly, after crossing this bridge we came to another bridge across a brook.

The trail goes uphill and we find a ravine that we cross using a chain to help us go up.

I stop for a moment to look up at a tree with high branches surrounded by green underbrush. We are in town, but this is definitely a forested place.

*Drew standing on a longer bridge across a stream.*

Another long bridge and I look down to see a small stream of water below.

I look at arrows, but I am using my AllTrails to guide me around. The map was a bit confusing to me.

Next, we come to a sign that points in the direction of the farm. I ask Andrew if we want to hike more, but he is ready to head back.

Then we go downhill and go right to the wide metal Coyote Bridge and below a creek trickles through rocks. A sign points out that this bridge was originally a flatbed railcar and recycled to be a bridge.

Then we come up a hill into prairie grass before ending back up on the farm.

Final Thoughts of the Hike

I’ve hiked the nearest loops to the farm here since I usually go with my son. Trails go back further in the many loops. It is not a large area so you can’t get too lost. But, know it can be muddy and there is a lot of up and down along the ridges. I wish to check this area out again in the future and explore other loops through the reserve.

DETAILS

Drive: Take the Popular Street Bridge across the Mississippi River and stay on Interstate 55. Take the exit for Illinois Highway 157 north and go left onto this road. Make a right onto Beltline Road, then a right onto Johnson Hill Road, another right onto Summit Avenue, and then a last right onto Willoughby Lane which ends at Willoughby Heritage Farm.

Hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Daily Farm

Address: 631 Willoughby Lane, Collinsville IL 62234