Posted in Illinois
August 16, 2016
This Natural Wonders Road Trip Will Show You Illinois Like You’ve Never Seen It Before
Illinois has some really great natural beauty. Did you ever consider trying to see it all along a road trip? You can see all of this breathtaking beauty on this wonderful Illinois road trip.
Here is the map:
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/
And here is the trip!
Sometimes you can forget just how beautiful Lake Michigan is. This park has 6.5 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. There are trails near the beach and also through woods.
Palisades refers to the bluffs surrounding the rivers. Trails wind through these bluffs, and where they come out, you can get a peerless view of the Mississippi River. It is lush, green, and awe-inspiring.
The most famous state park in Illinois, this park is home to canyons, waterfalls, and wonderful rock formations. Overlooks throughout the park give you some great views of the river and the forest. It's also pretty gorgeous in the winter, particularly when the waterfalls freeze.
This state park has loads of great waterfalls, too. You might not know that there are dells, upper and lower. Interesting rock formations are even more stunning looking up from below.
This bridge was carved by Mother Nature, with an assist from rivers over time. The bridge is about 90 feet long and around 8 feet wide. There is a also a small cave in the area to explore.
This state park is known for some wacky stone structures. It is also known for its "Giant City Streets," almost a little city but made out of rocks. There are also a whopping 75 varieties of towering trees.
Woods surround some truly amazing rock formations. There are also a few waterfalls through this park. Be sure to see Hawks Cave, a 150-foot-long shelter bluff.
You would never know that Illinois is home to some really old trees like this--some of which are 1,000 years old. They seem to just jut out of the bog. These green waters are home to all sorts of wildlife, including sea snakes.
Once you're here, there's no mystery to why this place is named as such. The 320 million year old rocks will blow you away. And the panoramic views, particularly during sunsets, are incredible.
This giant cave will truly overwhelm you. The mouth is 55 feet long. Don't forget to walk in and turn around to see a great view of the Ohio River.
Looking for more beautiful places in Illinois? Check out this list.
