Hiking Illinois (book)

This is your complete guide to the most interesting and scenic day hiking trails in Illinois. No matter what part of the state you want to explore or how easy or hard a trek you want, this handy book will lead you to the right trail. Hiking Illinois features the following: Detailed descriptions of 100 trails, including the length of trail, estimated time to hike it, and a difficulty rating 143 easy-to-read park and trail maps A map of each featured trail, with the points of interest labeled and their distances from the trailhead given Practical information on how to get to parks, the park hours, available facilities, permits and rules, and a contact address and phone number A convenient trail-finder grid, which provides a summary of each trail's features and location in the book A section on nearby points of interest, with contact phone numbers Hiking Illinois makes it easy to enjoy self-guided tours of trails in scenic areas in the north, central, and south sections of the state. You'll discover beautiful trails in 59 featured spots, including Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area, Moraine Hills State Park, Beall Woods, and Mississippi Palisades State Park. Author Susan Post is a professional naturalist and a native of Illinois who brings to life the history, terrain, flora, and fauna of each area. And her descriptions of nearby recreational and sightseeing destinations ensure that you won't miss anything on your trip. Whether you live in Illinois or are just visiting, there's no better way to discover the natural beauty of the state than with Hiking Illinois. AUDIENCE A trail guide or reference for outdoor enthusiasts. CONTENTS How to Use This Book Trail Finder 1. Illinois Beach State Park and Nature Preserve 2. Chicago Botanic Garden 3. City of Chicago 4. Wolf Road Prairie 5. Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area 6. Palos and Sag Valley Forest Preserve 7. Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve 8. Morton Arboretum 9. The Regional Trail 10. Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve 11. Volo Bog State Natural Area 12. Moraine Hills State Park 13. Trout Park Nature Preserve 14. Glacial Park 15. Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area 16. Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail 17. Rockford Area 18. Starved Rock State Park 19. Matthiessen State Park 20. Rock River Valley 21. Apple River Canyon State Park 22. Mississippi Palisades State Park 23. Kankakee River State Park 24. Forest Glen Preserve 25. Kickapoo State Par