Boneyard Loop Sounds Daunting, but It’s One of the Best Urban Trails in Illinois

Eyes wide, I step softly onto the Boneyard Greenway Loop. The name’s got me spooked, but a scary hiking trail in Illinois certainly wouldn’t exist on a University campus. Right? Perhaps dusk is not my imagination’s friend, and the light that falls into the darkness from old buildings behind towering trees doesn’t help. I’m on the University of Illinois campus, attempting to walk my way around the one-mile (or so) urban trail that follows Boneyard Creek, but there’s no way I’m proving the daunting trail name wrong—not in the dark. 

Why Is It Called Boneyard Creek

Boneyard Creek isn’t just a fantastical name or an apparition from student lore. It’s the real name of the creek, given by the Native Americans who wandered here before the first settlers arrived in 1822. Historians say the creek was indeed littered with bones, but the legends of why are less concrete. Some say human remains were strung across the creek, like prizes after hard-won battles. Others say they were animal bones from a herd of bison that was caught in a blizzard and froze to death along the creek. Another says the creek was simply a burial ground. Whatever the true source, settlers had hoped to rename the creek, but history prevailed, and the Boneyard Creek name remains. Along with the urbanization of the surrounding Champaign village and, eventually, the University of Illinois campus, an urban path was created along the creek. That strangely named hiking trail is the Boneyard Greenway Loop.

What the Hike Is Actually Like

Although I would never recommend walking alone after dark, the campus has an equally charming and eerie vibe at night. That said, the scenic hiking trail in Illinois along Boneyard Creek is quite stunning in daylight, alive with the hum of students buzzing to and fro along the glittering creek, with reflections of classical and Victorian-era buildings. Even during the frigid winters, the creek and the 0.8-mile pathway remain pillars of the community and the campus. 

What To Know Before You Go

The Boneyard Greenway Loop has rich ties to the area, serving as an artery between Champaign and downtown Urbana. The paved pathway isn’t so much a hike as an urban trail, a pedestrian thoroughfare where you can watch geese and ducks between civic buildings, lecture halls, and student housing. A few sights you’ll want to make a point of seeing are the historic Stone Arch near the Second Street Basin and the waterfall and sculptures at Scott Park. You can also see the Natural History Building and the Mechanical Building within the historic section of the campus along the trail. The best places to park to access the Boneyard Greenway Loop are the metered spaces along Springfield Avenue and Wright Street, the Neil M. Gorsuch Bridge public parking lot, or Lot E 14 and Lot D6 for the University parking lots. Parking is free on weekends and after 5 p.m. during the week.

Although the Boneyard Greenway Loop certainly has one of the most unusual hiking trail names in Illinois, there’s nothing scary about it, and you aren’t likely to see any bones. Boneyard Creek is a legendary part of Champaign, the University of Illinois, and Urbana—and it’s a must-see if you find yourself on campus. If you’re looking for scarier places to visit, check out one of these haunted places in Illinois.