Hiking Illinois is your complete guide to 107 of the most scenic day hikes within the Land of Lincoln. No matter what region you wish to explore or how easy or hard a trek you want, this handy guide will lead you to the right trail.
In this one-of-a-kind resource, you'll find the following features:
- Detailed descriptions of every hike, in every region, including special points of interest, estimated hiking time and distance, and difficulty ratings for each trail
- Phone numbers and Web sites, park hours and rules, and available facilities for 60 of the state's most scenic sites
- Easy-to-read maps for every park and trail to help you navigate your hike and locate landmarks and other points of interest
- A convenient trail finder that provides a summary of each trail's features and available facilities
Hiking Illinois brings to life the history, terrain, flora, and fauna of each area. And the descriptions of nearby recreational and sightseeing destinations ensure you won't miss anything on your trip. Hiking Illinois is your guide to enjoying the great outdoors!
Table of Contents:
Trail Finder
North
1 Apple River Canyon State Park
2 Mississippi Palisades State Park
3 Rock Cut State Park
4 Winnebago County Forest Preserve
5 White Pines Forest State Forest
6 Lowden-Miller State Forest
7 McHenry County Conservation District
8 Chain O' Lakes State Park
9 Volo Bog State Natural Area
10 Moraine Hills State Park
11 Bluff Spring Fen
12 James “Pate” Philip State Park
13 Illinois Beach State Park
14 Lake County Forest Preserve
15 Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
16 Regional Trail
17 Morton Arboretum
18 Palos and Sag Valley Forest Preserve
19 Will County Forest Preserve
Central
20 Big River State Forest
21 Nauvoo
22 Siloam Springs State Park
23 Pere Marquette State Park
24 Forest Park Nature Preserve
25 Sand Ridge State Forest
26 Starved Rock State Park
27 Matthiessen State Park
28 Where Lincoln Walked
29 Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
30 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
31 Spitler Woods State Natural Area
32 Ballard Nature Center
33 Iroquois County State Wildlife Area
34 Forest Glen Preserve
35 Robert Allerton Park
36 Urbana Park District
37 Fox Ridge State Park
38 Kennekuk Cove County Park
South
39 Fults Hill Prairie
40 Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve
41 LaRue-Pine Hills
42 Giant City State Park
43 Little Grand Canyon
44 Cedar Lake
45 Trail of Tears State Park
46 Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area
47 Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
48 Ferne Clyffe State Park
49 Tunnel Hill State Trail
50 Cache River State Natural Area
51 Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
52 Mermet Lake Conservation Area
53 Max Creek
54 Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area
55 Dixon Springs State Park
56 Stone Face Recreation Area
57 Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
58 Rim Rock/Pounds Hollow Recreation Complex
59 War Bluff Audubon Sanctuary
60 Beall Woods State Park
About the Author :
Susan Post has been a research biologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey since 1978, where she has worked on such jobs as biological control of purple loosestrife, sampling streams for threatened and endangered plants, and sampling horseradish fields for insect pests. Through her work, Susan has become well acquainted with the natural areas of Illinois.
Susan is the coauthor of Illinois Wilds, a book that showcases the state's natural areas. She is also the staff writer for the Illinois Steward Magazine and the author of "Species Spotlight" for Illinois Natural History Survey Reports.
She is the codirector of the Illinois Wilds Institute for Nature (IWIN), a joint project between the Survey and the University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences that offers field courses to the public on various aspects of Illinois biology.
