This Scenic Illinois Hike Is Even Better in the Winter

Heading down a frosty trail on a brilliant blue winter morning is one of my favorite ways to embrace the so-called “sticks season.” I first heard that term a few years ago in the circle of year-round nature lovers. And while I suppose it’s a fair assessment for the state of winter trees, it’s not quite the way I paraphrase cold-season nature trails in my mind. To me, the trees don’t become sticks when they are stripped of their lush, vibrant foliage. Instead, they are simply sleeping, and everything else gets the chance to come out for a dance during their deep slumber. It’s a magical season of soft blues and muted sunbeams, jewel-toned flutters through the branches, and a distinct twinkle thanks to Jack Frost and his ice fairies.

Perhaps seeing the forest from a whimsical perspective rather than a literal one is all in the timing. I’ve been on my share of miserable, wet, windy, frigid hikes—and sometimes the brutal combination of all three. There’s nothing romantic or fantastical about that; you just want to run for shelter and a roaring fireplace without so much as a glimpse backward. If, however, it’s winter magic you seek, it’s waiting for you on the sunny, chilly but not frigid, early mornings along the waterside. 

Last winter, I scheduled a trip for early December to do some waterfront winter hiking along the Mississippi River. I went looking for a trio of trails known as the North System within Mississippi Palisades State Park. It’s called the Sunset, Sentinel, and Pine Trail, a combination of three hiking trails that skirt along the top of the 200-foot limestone bluffs for which the park is named. Especially in winter, the views unobstructed by the bushy summer trees are truly majestic. I would even say these trails are significantly better in winter than in summer. But seeing the icy Mississippi from above only made me want to get back to the surface and revel in those majestic reflections 

So back down to the bluffs I went, nudging my way to a trail where my toes could touch the icy banks. Somewhat lesser known than the aforementioned state park, the Great River Trail is also an easy, 5-mile hike, plus it’s paved. It features dock-style overlooks that hang directly over the Illinois side of the Mississippi River and can be easily accessed from the Seven Eagles Resort Campground. Although the campground looked quiet and deserted, we discovered a few cabin suites connected to the welcome center. We grabbed one for the night, with a cozy fireplace and kitchenette, and headed out to catch the second-best time of day for a winter hike. Late afternoon golden hour, about an hour before the sun sets, is the perfect time to see the frozen water glistening between hazy blues and frosty yellows before it goes dark for the night. 

My husband and I walked the Great River Trail for a second round, never encountering another soul the entire time, unless you count the flirty red cardinal, blue jays dressed for a royal ball, and the stubborn pelicans roosting on sandy banks resistant to the freeze. 

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