Franklin Creek State Natural Area

Franklin Creek State Natural Area
Franklin Creek State Natural Area is in Lee County, Northwest Illinois.  The “…Franklin Creek flows throughout the 882-acre park. Several large natural springs, hardwood forests, bedrock outcroppings and a large variety of flora and fauna comprise a pristine ecosystem.”
Here is their website.   Phone 815-456-2878
Wheelchair AccessibleMill Springs Trail 0.3 miles concrete trail to Mill Spring.

Fox Ridge State Park

Fox Ridge State Park
“Fox Ridge State Park, a 2,064-acre park just south of Charleston in east-central Illinois, is known for its steep, thickly wooded ridges, broad, lush valleys and miles of rugged, scenic hiking trails.”   Here is their website.  Phone 217-345-6416
Wheelchair AccessibleThere are two accessible trails in the east central area: …”one wandering along the edge of a ravine and the other circling a small fishing pond with an accessible fishing pier.”

Chain O’Lakes State Park

Chain O’ Lakes State Park
“Chain O’Lakes State Park in NE Illinois is a water-oriented recreation area with outstanding opportunities for boaters, anglers and skiers.”   The park borders three natural lakes – Grass, Marie and Nippersink – and the Fox River that connects the other seven lakes (Bluff, Fox, Pistakee, Channel, Petite, Catherine and Redhead) that make up the Chain. In addition, the park contains a 44-acre lake within its boundaries.”  The park features seven picnic areas and four trail systems.  Here is their website.   Phone  847-587-5512
Wheelchair AccessiblePike Marsh North Picnic area has a 1/2 mile accessible loop with a viewing platform.

Beall Woods State Park

Beall Woods State Park
Beall Woods State Park is on the banks of the Wabash River in southeastern Illinois.  It preserves “…one of the few remaining tracts of virgin timber east of the Mississippi River. At Beall Woods, visitors can see trees 120 feet tall and more than 3 feet in diameter. Besides hiking, Beall Woods also offers visitors a quiet, relaxing setting for camping, picnicking and fishing. Here is their website.   Phone 618-298-2442  Be sure to call ahead to learn trail conditions.
? Sweet Gum Trail – “”easy” 0.5 mile  trail follows Coffee Creek and features an interesting rock cliff.  The trail is closed periodically due to flooding.
? Schneck Trail – “easy” 1.75-mile trail is accessed from the park’s north side. It is closed periodically due to flooding.
Wheelchair Accessible? eyelogo copyTulip Tree Trail 1.1 mile chipped surface may accommodate wheelchairs.  From the visitor center you can pick up guides and a cassette tape for visually impaired hikers.  Here is a description of the trail from Mathprofhiker’s Trail Journal.

Illinois Map of Department of Natural Resources

Here is the Department of Natural Resources map dividing the state into five geographic areas.  Click on any one of these and you will find a list of state parks, recreation areas etc. with descriptions of many of the trails.  Better yet, there are links to website for each place where you can find phone numbers to call for information.   Many trails are described as “easy”, but  you would be wise to call first.

Harriman State Park

Harriman State Park
Harriman State Park is 16,000-acre wildlife refuge in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  “Known for its beautiful scenery and wildlife, Harriman State Park offers 22-miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails that slink through meadows, meander along river banks and through lush evergreen forests.  Some of the best fly fishing waters in the nation flow through 8 miles of Harriman State Park, known by anglers the world over as ‘the Ranch.’  Moose, elk and Trumpeter swans, the world’s largest waterfowl species, are a common sight at Harriman.” Here is an article about Harriman trails from East Idaho News.
Location map.   Trails Map    Here is the park website.  Phone is 208-558-7368.  There are a lot of trails which look as though they may be easy.  Call to find out.Wheelchair Accessible
John Muir Trail 0.75 mile paved interpretive loop to the river with a handicap fishing platform.