A key feature of the preserve is a 532-acre (215 ha) hill prairie located on the east bluff of the Mississippi River overlooking the American Bottom near Fults, Illinois.

[1] The preserve is dominated by steep Mississippi River limestone bluffs and ravines.

Some of these include big bluestem grass, plains scorpion, cactus, skinks, and fence lizards.

The state's Department of Natural Resources, which owns the prairie parcel, describes it as containing "the largest complex of the highest quality, essentially undisturbed loess hill prairies along the Mississippi River in Illinois.

"[1] Most of the prairie acreage that makes up this parcel apparently remained un-plowed during the pioneer years of the 1800s.