The Can’t-Miss Illinois Hike for Every Nature Lover’s Bucket List

Stretching from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, over prairies and down through the Shawnee National Forest to the Ohio River, the Land of Lincoln is blessed with a wide diversity of terrain and natural beauty - all waiting to be explored by curious and intrepid hikers. There are some true natural wonders in Illinois, so trying to single out one Prairie State trail that no nature lover should miss was a bit of an undertaking. I mean, everyone should visit Garden of the Gods, right? And Starved Rock State Park should definitely be on your list. However, if there's one "Goldilocks" hiking trail in Illinois for nature lovers, I think it's probably the Dells Canyon and Bluff Trail at Matthiessen State Park.

You'll find Matthiessen State Park along the Vermilion River, just upstream from its confluence with the Illinois near Oglesby, about midway between Peoria and Chicago. It's a relatively small park, at less than 2,000 acres, but its home to some incredibly stunning terrain that many folks would not expect to find in north-central Illinois.

With only five miles of trails, Matthiessen State Park can be explored in half a day. But don't shortchange yourself - take your time and soak in all the beauty that you'll find here. I think the two-mile Dells Canyon and Bluff Trail loop is a great way to start your day in the park and is, in fact, a reason in itself for making the trip.

The trail carries a moderate rating due to some occasional rough and slippery conditions, as well as a good number of stairs. While the elevation gain is only a modest 200 feet over the two miles of trail, it's all pretty vertical. But you may not even notice. The narrow canyon is stacked with layers of bedrock, pocked by small caves and crevices, and tiered with waterfalls - all canopied by lush green forest in the summer or a mantle of stunning foliage in fall.

I just don't think there's another trail that packs so much natural beauty - the waterfalls, rocks formations, forest - into such a short, fascinating hike. That's why I think it's the best hiking trail in Illinois for nature lovers. What do you think? What are some other Prairie State trails that any nature lover would enjoy? Be sure to tell us all about your favorites!

Don't forget to download AllTrails Plus before you head out so you'll have downloadable maps and reviews with trail conditions at your fingertips.