Illinois offers a wide variety of beautiful hiking trails, providing outdoor enthusiasts with the opportunity to explore diverse landscapes and natural beauty. Whether you are an experienced hiker or just starting out, there are trails suitable for all skill levels. From the stunning bluffs of Starved Rock State Park to the rolling hills of Shawnee National Forest, this guide will dive into some of the best hiking trails Illinois has to offer. Discover the breathtaking natural beauty of Illinois and find all the information you need to plan your next Midwest outdoor adventure.
#1 Giant City Nature Trail, Giant City State Park
Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Trail Route: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 100+ ft
Main Attraction: Massive rock formations
Trail Access: Giant City Nature Trailhead Parking lot via Rt 51
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Best Season to Visit: Year-round!
While Giant City State Park has several incredible trails, if you hike only one trail at Giant City, this is the one you can’t miss! The trail is full of fantastic rock formations that will make you feel like you’ve left the Midwest!
I would recommend hiking this trail counterclockwise. You’ll have a more gradual incline at the beginning, and the steep portion, near the end of the trail, will be all downhill. At the first split, head right to hike the trail counterclockwise.
The main path of this trail is only one mile. However, several short spur trails throughout the trail will definitely lengthen your trek a bit.
#2 Garden of the Gods Observation Trail, Shawnee National Forest
Distance: 0.5-mile roundtrip
Trail Route: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: <50 ft
Main Attraction: Massive rock formations, 360 views of Shawnee National Forest
Trail Access: Garden of the Gods Parking lot via Garden of the Gods Road
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed.
Best Season to Visit: Year-round!
Although I recommend counterclockwise, this trail forms a loop and can be hiked in either direction. It may be short, but it offers fantastic sights like incredible rock formations, breathtaking vistas, and lovely forest views.
While I did see people on this trail with strollers, it is not stroller-friendly or wheelchair accessible.
#3 Blackjack Oak/ Fern Clyffe Lake Trail, Fern Clyffe State Park
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Combo- out and back with a loop around the lake
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 300+ ft
Main Attraction: Fern Clyffe Lake, bluff views, and plenty of cool rock formations
Trail Access: The parking lot near the picnic area at the end of the main park road
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, leashed.
Best Season to Visit: Year-round!
Start your adventure at the Blackjack Oak Trailhead, where you’ll begin by ascending the steep hillside. As you climb, the surrounding beauty will unfold before you, offering stunning aerial views of the area and Fern Clyffe Lake. Please use caution near the ledge on this portion of the trail. After taking in these breathtaking sights, descend to the lake’s shore and follow the Fern Clyffe Lake Loop. The lake loop is a tranquil path that hugs the lake’s perimeter. Once you’ve completed the loop, return to the trailhead via the Blackjack Oak trail.
#4 Ottawa/Kaskaskia/Illinois Canyons, Starved Rock State Park
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Out and back
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate- depending on the season
Elevation Gain: 100+ ft
Main Attraction: Council Overhang, Ottawa Canyon Falls, Kaskaskia Canyon Falls, Illinois Canyon Falls
Trail Access: Ottawa Canyon Parking Lot via IL-71
Best Season to Visit: For the best waterfall views- Spring! It will be muddy in the spring, but it is well worth it for the spectacular waterfall views. This is also one of my favorite places to go on a winter hike. The frozen waterfalls are so impressive! Ottawa Canyon is even one of the park’s three waterfalls that allow experienced climbers to ice climb😊
Restrooms at Trailhead: No
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Start the trail at the west end of the Ottawa Canyon Lot. Just after Council Overhang, the trail splits. To the right is Ottawa Canyon Falls. Continue straight to Kaskaskia Canyon Falls. After checking out both canyons, head back toward the parking lot. Take the 0.2-mile connector trail over to Illinois Canyon.
If the Ottawa Canyon lot is full, park in the Illinois Canyon lot and hike Illinois Canyon first before taking the connector trail over to Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyons.Â
All three canyons will have several water crossings, especially in the spring. If you plan on winter hiking- bring spikes!
# 5 Hawk’s Cave Trail, Fern Clyffe State Park
Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Trail Route: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: ~100 ft
Main Attraction: Hawk’s Cave
Trail Access: The last parking lot at the very end of the main park road.
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Best Season to Visit: Year-round!
The Hawk’s Cave Trail is a beautiful, moderate hike that winds through lovely forests, leading to a fascinating cave formation. The trail features a mix of gentle slopes and rocky terrain, adding to the adventure. It can be hiked in either direction, but the highlight is reaching Hawk’s Cave, a massive 150-foot rock shelter with stunning views and a large area to explore.
# 6 Big Rocky Hollow Trail, Fern Clyffe State Park
Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Trail Route: Out and back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: < 50 ft
Main Attraction: 100 ft Fern Clyffe Falls
Trail Access: The last parking lot at the very end of the main park road.
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Best Season to Visit: Year-round! To guarantee a waterfall view visit in the spring or early summer.
This path is mostly level and easy to follow, running through a lush forest with towering cliff faces on both sides. The stunning Fern Clyffe Falls is the main attraction, a magnificent 100-foot-tall waterfall. Many visitors climb up the middle of the waterfall for a closer look, but the rocks can be very slick, so please use caution. If you prefer a closer look without getting wet, a path to the right of the falls will take you near the top.
# 7 Owl/LaSalle/Tonty Canyon Loop, Starved Rock State Park
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Combo- out-and-back with a loop near the end
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 200+ ft
Main Attraction: Owl Canyon Falls, LaSalle Canyon Falls, Tonty Canyon Falls, Illinois River
Trail Access: Parkman’s Plain Lot via IL-71
Best Season to Visit: Spring, if you want to see the waterfalls at their best! Again, the trail may be muddy in spring, but the stunning waterfall views make it worth the extra effort!
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
The trail begins flat before you come to several sets of steep stairs leading down into Owl Canyon. Once at the bottom of the last set of stairs, you can go right back into the canyon to see Owl Canyon Falls.
Next, head back to the river and head left as you wind along the Illinois River before heading into LaSalle Canyon. When you get to the beautiful arched bridge, stay straight to continue into LaSalle Canyon. The LaSalle Canyon Falls are my favorite falls in the entire park; however, you are on the canyon rim the entire time after the trail veers away from the river, so please keep little ones close.
Once you have seen the LaSalle Falls, walk behind them to the other side of the canyon to continue to Tonty Canyon for more spectacular waterfall views! After visiting Tonty Canyon, head over the arched bridge and wind back along the river before heading to your car!
# 8 Ghost Dance Canyon Trail, Dixon Springs State Park
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: < 50 ft
Main Attraction: Unique rock formations, large canyon walls, and a beautiful creek
Trail Access: Park at the small lot in front of the pool building. The trailhead will be to the west of the pool building.Â
Best Season to Visit: Year-round!
Restrooms at Trailhead: No
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
This beautiful trail winds through the canyon as you stroll along the peaceful creek. Once you reach the end of the distinct path, cross over the creek and continue for another 0.25 miles before you reach the turnaround point. The difficulty level of the creek crossings will largely depend on the water levels on the day you visit.
# 9 French/ Lovers Leap/Wildcat Canyon Loop, Starved Rock State Park
Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 300+ ft
Main Attraction: French Canyon Falls, Wildcat Canyon Falls, Illinois River
Trail Access: You can access this trail from either the lodge parking lot or the Visitor Center lot, both of which are accessible via 875th Rd.
Best Season to Visit: In spring, you’ll get the best views of the waterfalls! The trail might be muddy, but the gorgeous waterfalls are worth the extra effort!
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Follow signs from the Visitor Center to Lover’s Leap to begin this trail! If you go all the way to the Sandstone Point Overlook before swinging back around towards the Visitor Center, this loop will be approximately 4 miles roundtrip. However, you could easily shorten or length this hike if you wanted.Â
On this route, you will see Lover’s Leap, Eagle Cliff Overlook, Beehive Overlook, and Sandstone Point Overlook (my fave) before looping back around and heading through Basswood Canyon, Wildcat Canyon, and French Canyon on your way back to the Visitor Center lot. We are waterfall chasers, so even though the overlooks are lovely, we loved the waterfalls of Wildcat and French Canyons. The Wildcat Canyon Falls top at over 80 feet, and the 45-foot French Canyon Falls require walking through running water and into a canyon slit to really observe the breathtaking cascades!
This is a thrilling hike, to say the least, and one you won’t want to miss! Throughout this entire loop, several large sets of stairs and sections are on the canyon rim, so please use caution near ledges.
#10 Upper and Lower Dells Loop, Matthiessen State Park
Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip
Trail Route: Figure 8 Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 300+ ft
Main Attraction: Lake Falls, Giant’s Bathtub, Matthiessen Lake, Cascade Falls
Trail Access: Parking lot near the Fort via N 25th Road
Best Season to Visit: Year-round. The frozen waterfalls in the winter are incredible😊
Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Upper Dells- This part of the trail is approximately 1.5 miles roundtrip. However, mileage will vary based on water levels in the season you visit.
Start at the parking area and walk down the long set of stairs next to the Fort. Once you reach the bottom, cross the bridge, follow the signs for Upper Dells, and head down the next set of stairs into the gorge. Walk through the beautiful gorge until you reach a split in the trail. Take the stairs to continue the trail to the Giant’s Bathtub. The gorge will end at Lake Falls, just past the last set of stairs.
Next, head up the stairs and go right for lovely views of Matthiessen Lake and another look at Lake Falls from the bridge. If needed, there are restrooms near the lake; otherwise, head back past the stairs and follow the signs for the Fort/parking lot.
Once you return to the main bridge, do not cross over it. Continue straight and follow the signs for Lower Dells.Â
Lower Dells- This part of the loop is approximately 2 miles roundtrip. Follow the bluff trail south from the main bridge until you reach the next bridge. Cross the bridge and take the stone stairs down into the gorge. From there, head back north through the gorge on the Canyon Trail. The trail ends right at Cascade Falls. Between the massive canyon walls, the gorgeous waterfall running under the stone bridge into an enormous, peaceful pool, and a cool cave area to explore, this is easily our family’s favorite spot in the park😊
After exploring the gorge, you can either head back the way you came or take the other side of the bluff trail back to the main bridge. Either way, it is about the same mileage—we often split up and see who arrives back first! Then, head up another daunting set of stairs from the main bridge to the parking lot.
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