The spring and summer months are the ideal time to immerse yourself in the scenic beauty on display throughout Illinois. Find waterfalls, rock formations, wildflower meadows, and lakes in state parks and federally preserved land. Enjoy miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, river adventures, and ziplines for thrill-seekers of all skill levels. See what awaits below.
Day 1: Oglesby, Ottawa, and Marseilles
Start your excursion at the awe-inspiring Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, which has 14 trails ranging from 0.3 to 4.7 miles long. Its 18 canyons take you through meadows of wildflowers, stunning waterfalls and scenic vistas of the Illinois River. Tou may even see a bald eagle in mid-air.
For lunch, try The Lone Buffalo by Tangled Roots Brewery in Ottawa. Sample one or more of its award-winning beers and pair it with the Halfway to Nashville fried chicken, char-crusted fish tacos, or citrus salmon.
The next stop is Matthiessen State Park, adjacent to Starved Rock. Hike five miles of trails that lead to bluffs overlooking the Illinois River, canyons, forest, and three waterfalls. Or go mountain biking and test your hand-eye coordination at the field archery range. If you need a snack, the Dells Area has picnic tables.
Experience nighttime thrills at Zip Chicago in the town of Marseilles, where you’ll fly through the Illinois River Valley at speeds of up to 45 m.p.h. Ziplines range from 150-1,000 feet and travel approximately 85 feet above the ground. Along the way, you’ll be led by a professional tour guide, and all safety equipment is provided.
Day 2: Wilmington, and Grafton
In the morning, drive to Wilmington, where you’ll find Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Established in 1996, Midewin is 20,000 acres of federally preserved flatland. Bring binoculars so you can see more than 200 species of birds, 60 types of wildflowers, and possibly some bison.
Head to Grafton, where you can have dinner and spend the night at Pere Marquette Lodge on the grounds of Pere Marquette State Park.
Day 3: Southern Illinois
After breakfast at the lodge, explore the park. Bike to Alton and back on the 20-mile Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail that runs alongside the area formed by the confluence of the Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri Rivers. Experienced rock climbers can scale and rappel its limestone formations and, from May to October, you can ride horses on its equestrian trails.
Have lunch a short drive from the park at Aerie’s Resort. Its terrace restaurant overlooks the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, which you can see from above by taking the SkyTour lift ride. Aerie’s is also home to a 4,000-foot Alpine coaster ride and a four-line zipline canopy tour.
With 11 lakes for all sorts of water activities, ziplining at Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour, nature walking, and horseback riding, there are unlimited possibilities at Shawnee National Forest. The centerpiece is the Garden of the Gods (pictured at top), a collection of jaw-dropping 320-million-year-old sandstone rock formations that you can reach via several trails and climb to reveal some of the most gorgeous vistas to be found anywhere.
After all that activity, treat yourself to a glass or two at Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda. Then, drive to Cache River State Natural Area in Belknap. Rent a canoe or kayak from Cache Bayou Outfitters or let one of the tour guides take you through the swamp, where you’ll see cypress and tupelo trees that are more than 1,000 years old.
Next is Murphysboro, where the baby back ribs at 17th Street BBQ have won multiple championships and earned national recognition. Wrap up the weekend with an indoor thrill at Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville. Play your favorite slots or table games, and stop by the adjacent winery.
