Illinois' Little Grand Canyon Looks Even More Spectacular In the Winter
By Benjamin Clancy|Published November 21, 2020
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Benjamin Clancy
Author
Benjamin Clancy is the Illinois and Indiana writer at Only In Your State, a doctoral candidate at UNC Chapel Hill in Communication, and an artistic type who has attended the Vermont Studio Center residency in poetry writing and makes something like music as "little other." They grew up in Austin, Texas and currently live in Chicago, IL with their partner, two dogs, and a cat. Get in touch by emailing bclancy@onlyinyourstate.com.
Looking to make your Illinois winter just a little bit grand? One of beloved Shawnee National Forest’s most famous trails, the “Little Grand Canyon” offers all-season adventures that only grow more sensational in the snow. This is the ultimate holiday hike for those who like athletic thrills with their wintery chills.
Little Grand Canyon’s parking area is located at Little Grand Canyon Rd, Pomona, IL 62975.
Little Grand Canyon is a Shawnee staple, shaped from beautiful falls. Running water has formed this natural staircase, which makes for a trek that can be treacherous but is also sheerly beautiful.
Visitors are on the fence about whether this hike is family-friendly. In any season, it seems like you'd need some pretty intrepid tykes to take on the white diamond trials on the canyon itself. It might be better to leave the kids at home when you take on this wild winter trek.
The view of Shawnee forest from the canyon bluffs turns sparse when the leaves flee. This gives the park an austere majesty that's sheer visual poetry.
Find the enchanted entrance to the trail within this fading foliage and watch for winter birds while you carefully creep down the canyon. In the warmer months, you'd have to fend off mosquitos and snakes; now the only bite you really have to worry about is frost.
The Little Grand Canyon trail is 2.9 miles, but don't dismiss its challenges. The climb out of the canyon in the snow might be the most trying part of the trek, but it also might be the most rewarding. Looking up at the gorgeous canyon walls glossy with snow and ice, it's hard to ignore the sense of grandeur.
This canyon may be little, but it’s no less grand for it. Shawnee National Forest has always been a destination for the nature lovers of Illinois. If you haven’t been in the winter then you’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. This winter, get lost (but not too lost) with a hike through Little Grand Canyon.
What are your favorite hikes that spice up the colder months? What slice of Illinois nature do you think looks best on ice? Leave a comment!
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