Everyone Should Take This Exhilarating Adventure To Some Of Illinois' Best Hidden Gems
By Melissa Mahoney|Updated on January 19, 2024(Originally published August 31, 2021)
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
The Land of Lincoln is full of astounding beauty with its numerous state parks, rivers, and lakes, including Lake Michigan, which provides plenty of opportunities for recreation. And with all the beauty, it should come as no surprise that the state has seven designated National Scenic Byways ranging in length from 33 miles to 550 miles. If you only have a half-day or a day available for a scenic drive, there’s no byway quite like the 33-mile Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. You won’t believe the numerous hidden gems you’ll find along the way.
Although this byway is only 33 miles, its short length allows for greater exploration of each point of interest along the way. So, pack some snacks and water, your hiking boots and camera, and hit the road in your vehicle, preferably a 4×4 that can handle some off-roading adventures at the end of this journey. You’ll certainly have plenty of opportunity to take your own beautiful Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway photos. Let’s get this road trip started!
The Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway is a 33-mile section of the much longer 550-mile Great River Road in west-central Illinois. It's a byway that marks the meeting of three major waterways: the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers.
Beginning in Hartford and meandering along routes 3, 143, and 100, the Meeting of the Great Rivers byway takes travelers on a scenic journey through Hartford, Wood River, Alton, Elsah, Chautauqua, and Grafton, where it ends at Pere Marquette State Park.
To begin our journey, we will start in Hartford and take a short drive to our first stop: the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower. Towering 150 feet above the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, it was built to commemorate the Lewis & Clark Expedition which began over 200 years prior.
Lewis And Clark Confluence Tower, Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Dr, Hartford, IL 62048, USA
Visitors can take an elevator or climb the stairs to enjoy views from three platforms at the 50-foot, 100-foot, and 150-foot marks, as well as exhibits on the two explorers and the river confluence found here.
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Once you're done taking in the views from atop the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, get back in the car and head out on the byway along Route 143 W to our next stop - the Melvin Price Lock & Dam in Alton. This dam with two locks is among the largest along the river. Free guided tours are given daily and you can head eight stories to the top of the dam for some of the best views of the Mississippi River!
Melvin Price Lock And Dam, Mississippi River, Alton, IL 62002, USA
From the Melvin Price Lock & Dam, make your way back to the byway along Routes 143 W and 100 and head west to our next hidden gem, the Piasa Bird, also located in Alton. On a riverside bluff is the modernized version Native American-style painting of a mythical creature known as the Piasa Bird.
The original was painted by the Illini Indians who also gave the bird the name, "The Piasa," which translates to "a bird that devours men."
Continuing on this scenic journey, we come to Elsah, a town that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With its location along the Mississippi River, towering limestone bluffs, and well-preserved historical structures, Elsah provides a great escape back in time, as well as breathtaking natural scenery.
Take your time going through this town! It will be worth an extended stop.
Once you get back into your car, you'll pass through the summer resort destination of Chautauqua, which was first established in 1885 as a place for religion, education, and recreation. Like Elsah, Chautauqua is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a gorgeous area along the Mighty Mississippi.
As we keep heading northwest along the river, you'll pass by the Grafton Visitors Center at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Stop by for some photos of the red-and-white-striped lighthouse where the visitors center is located before heading into town.
Grafton Visitor Center, 950 E Main St, Grafton, IL 62037, USA
With its incredible views, thriving downtown area, and home to Illinois' largest state park, Grafton is an ideal place to stop and explore for a several hours.
Aerie's Resort & Winery is a must-visit destination in Grafton, offering a winery, restaurant, lodging, zip line course, and more. The best and most popular of all is the Grafton Skytour, a gondola that will take you over the riverside bluffs with scenic views, unlike anything you've seen before.
Aerie's Resort in Grafton Illinois, 14 W Main St, Grafton, IL 62037, USA
Our final destination along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway is Illinois' largest state park, the lovely Pere Marquette State Park. Covering an expanse of more than 8,000 acres, Pere Marquette is bordered by both the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.
With so much to do at this park, including hiking, boating, camping, fishing, and horseback riding, you could easily spend a few days here. The park also has a lodge where you can stay overnight.
While there is a scenic drive within the park itself, if you brought your hiking boots, you can explore the beauty of Pere Marquette State Park on foot. There are 12 miles of trails through forests and above the bluffs where you can find sweeping views of the landscape below.
Whether you choose to drive or hike, standing at one of the scenic overlooks, like the Eagle Roost Scenic Overlook, will give you the best views you've seen all along the meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway!
If you're not quite ready to end this scenic road trip after Pere Marquette State Park, take a short 20-minute drive 11 miles north to Hillbillie Offroad for an off-the-paved-path adventure! Make sure you have a 4WD vehicle to drive along the more than 40 miles of trails. It will be an exhilarating experience!
Are you ready to embark on this scenic journey through 33 miles of dramatic landscape that can only be found in west-central Illinois? There’s a reason why the Meeting of the Great Rivers has been given the distinction of a National Scenic Byway. You’ll just have to see for yourself why this road is known as one of the prettiest scenic byways in Illinois.
So, pack what you need for this day trip, gas up your (preferably off-road) vehicle, and make this your next Illinois adventure! If scenic drives in Illinois are your thing, take a look at The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List by OnlyInYourState.
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