Posted in Illinois
March 25, 2019
7 Easy And Beautiful Spring Hikes Everyone In Illinois Will Love
As the weather begins to turn warmer, you’ve probably started looking for reasons to go outside. These seven beautiful spring hikes make it hard to want to stay indoors.
Take in the blooming buds of the fresh new season with these nature adventures. Scroll on for all the details.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Located in northern Illinois, this short and sweet hike is .8 miles and features some of the best views in the state. Watch spring bloom at Apple River Canyon State Park in Jo Daviess County. Learn more about the stairs and overlooks along this path here.
If you're looking for a much longer trail, this paved path connecting our twin cities (Normal and Bloomington) will give you a reason to get out and enjoy the spring weather. It opened in 1989 and features shelters, picnic areas, benches, and fabulous views throughout. Get more details about it here.
When it comes to Illinois' beautiful spring hikes, this is certainly one of the most historic. It allows you to take the exact route Abraham Lincoln took when he traveled the 8th Judicial Circuit as an attorney and eventually as a judge. This 14.8-mile biking and hiking path connects the cities of Pana and Taylorville and features trees, wildflowers, wildlife, and so much more.
Nestled within the Shawnee National Forest is a decent hike that is too beautiful not to try. It is a 1.7-mile loop trail that leads down some stairs to the valley floor where you'll encounter rock walls, caves, and other formations. It is beautiful any time of year, but spring is best. Learn more about it here.
This 3.7-mile loop trail is one of the most unique of Illinois' beautiful spring hikes as it features a short boardwalk path. The trail crosses marshes, prairies, forests, and fields and features an observation deck, wetlands, wildlife, and informative signs. Click here to learn more about it.
There are miles and miles of trails along the 133 miles of the Des Plaines River that flows southward from southern Wisconsin through the northern part of Illinois. The trails are interconnected and best for watching wildlife, biking, hiking, and traveling between parks and communities. Click here for more details.
Spanning 104.5 miles in northern Illinois, this trail is made up of multiple surfaces and follows a historic canal that was built in 1907. Overall, it runs from the Illinois River to the Mississippi River. The path features bridges, paved segments, and immaculate views. It is ideal for hiking, biking, and spotting wildlife.
For more like this, check out these six deep woods trail in Illinois you can get lost in this spring.
What other beautiful spring hikes are you looking forward to this season? Share your favorites with us below in the comments.
