Located near the southern tip of Illinois is an Ancient Forgotten channel of the Ohio River. Just south of Golconda, Illinois is a clear cut in the hills that marks the beginning of this former channel which created the Cache River Valley Wetland and Swamp system we see today.

Part of the Cache River State Natural Area, this place now include such landmarks as Heron Pond, Wildcat Bluff, the Lower Cache Canoe trail, which also includes part of the Nature Conservancy and the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refugee.

The history of the Cache River is complex and includes timber harvests, river channelization, and erosion. What is left in its wake is State Champion Bald Cypress Trees, Water Tupelo trees, and a rich wetland and swamp environment that is home to Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Canadian Geese, Winter Geese, Ducks, Frogs, Venomous Snakes, and many other types of wildlife.

The Cache River Valley spans towns such as Karnak, Belknap, Vienna, Ullin, Perks, Dongola, Joppa, Olive Branch and several others in the Pulaski and Alexander Counties.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: Ancient Ohio River Channel
0:13 Big Cypress Access
4:25 History
4:40 Heron Pond
7:11 Wildcat Bluff
9:30 Lower Cache River Canoe Trail
12:02 Present-Day Cache River Mouth to the Mississippi River
14:39 Snow in the Cache River Valley and Conclusion

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