: ; tse 
: gs pe oe ey eS 
3 ont e- Ee = Bags 8 Sooe 
Fig. 39.-- A beech-maple forest between the sand- 
stone cliff and Bay Creek at Bell Smith Springs. This path 
leads the visitor to the natural bridge. 
flows southward. Most of the area is in sections 33 
eunel SYA 45 IIL Shy 1. 5) 18 
The huge cliffs and the small to massive blocks 
that strew the slopes between the cliffs and streams 
are sandstone. Cliffs have numerous undercuts, and 
a large natural bridge is developing along Bay Creek, 
north of Spring Branch. Many years ago, Hill Branch 
cut into the sandstone and at one place formed a 
sizable gorge, fig. 38. Beyond the gorge, downstream, 
the bed of Hill Branch is strewn with rock fragments. 
The beds of Hunting and Spring branches are of simi- 
lar aspect. In some places the streams are shallow 
and have riffles or small falls; in other places they 
are deep and form quiet pools. Visitors use some of 
the large, deep, quiet pools as swimming holes, fig. 1. 
The vegetation of Bell Smith Springs is decidu- 
ous forest, with prairie openings. Rock ledges and 
cliffs provide interesting plant habitats (Winterringer 
& Vestal 1956). A mesic forest, with beech and hard 
maple as the most common species, occupies the 
stream valleys, fig. 39. Above the cliffs several 
species of oaks and hickories replace the beech and 
maple. Along the stream banks the red maple, river 
birch, smooth alder, and Virginia willow thrive. Spice- 
bush is a common shmb in the valley forest; farkle- 
berry is common in the dry forests above the cliffs. 
Mosses, liverworts, and lichens clothe many of the 
moist, shaded overhangs. Some cliff faces lack plants 
and some support growths of lichens and a few ferns. 
A few hardy composites thrive in some of the cliff 
28 
recesses. Some rock ledges are bare, but most are 
clothed with lichens and bryophytes. Vascular plants 
grow in crevices of the ledges or in the small pockets 
of soil that accumulate on the surface of the rock. In 
one overhang, the filmy fern grows in scattered 
patches. 
This area, under the control of the United States 
Forest Service, is used to some extent as a picnic 
area. The name is sometimes spelled ‘‘Belle Smith 
Spring,’’ and for many years the name so spelled was 
carved on the Forest Service sign at the entrance. 
According to Allen (1949), the name should be Bell 
Smith. 
23. HAYES CREEK CANYON 
Hayes Creek Canyon, less than a mile north of 
Eddyville, Pope County, occupies part of section 31, 
T. 11 S., R. 6 E., and part of section 6, T- 12753 
R. 6 E. In this locality, Hayes Creek flows southward 
over beds of sandstone. A tributary stream from the 
east flows over similar beds and has cut a steep 
gorge at the escarpment, fig. 40. Some distance below 
the escarpment this tributary joins Hayes Creek, 
which then flows southwestward. 
The types of vegetation at Hayes Creek Canyon 
are similar to those at Bell Smith Springs. Rock 
selaginella and Selaginella apoda, fig. 41, grow on 
the sandstone, and the filmy fern grows in two sta- 
tions about one-fourth mile apart. Christmas fern, 
common wood fern, and common polypody are the 
abundant ferns in this area. Twayblade grows in the 
moist woods along the stream. 
An excellent nature trail could be constructed 
from Ozark, in Johnson County, eastward through 
Camp Packentuck, now abandoned, Jackson Hollow, 
Bell Smith Springs, through Spring Branch to Cedar 
Grove Church, eastward past Cedar Head, to Hayes 
Creek Canyon and Lusk Creek. Hikers would then 
have another scenic trail over hills and through val- 
leys in southern Illinois. 
Fig. 40.— The gorge of a tributary stream at Hayes 
Creek Canyon, north of Eddyville, Pope County. 
