Illinois Natural Park Wonders
National and State Wonders Found in the Prairie State:
National Wildlife Refuges:
National Scenic Roads and Byways:
Illinois, known for its gently rolling fertile plains, was once dominated by prairie land, part of the massive (140 million acre) tallgrass prairie that covered much of the midwest.
Let us be your guide to discovering these natural wonders. Follow the links below to obtain more information, insider tips, and pictures, as well as ideas for where to stay when visiting.
National Recreation Trails:
Chief Illini Trail Danada & Herrick Lake Regional Trail Great River Trail Great Western Nature Trail Hennepin Canal Parkway Illinois Prairie Path National Recreation Trail Moraine Hills Trail System Red Cedar Hiking National Recreation Trail Rend Lake Bike Trail Rock Island State Trail Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail Springbrook Prairie Trail Starved Rock State Park National Recreation Trail Tunnel Hill State Trail
National Forests:
Shawnee National Forest. Location: Harrisburg, Illinois. [Official Site]
National Prairies:
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie [Official Site]
National Wildlife Refuges:
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
National Wilderness Areas:
Bald Knob Wilderness Bay Creek Wilderness Burden Falls Wilderness Clear Springs Wilderness Crab Orchard Wilderness Garden of the Gods Wilderness Lusk Creek Wilderness Panther Den Wilderness
National Scenic Roads and Byways:
Great River Road Historic National Road Historic Route 66 Illinois River Road: Route of the Voyageurs Lincoln Highway Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route Ohio River Scenic Route
Illinois State Parks, Campgrounds, Recreational Areas:
Apple River Canyon State Park Argyle Lake State Park Beall Woods State Park Beaver Dam State Park Buffalo Rock State Park Castle Rock State Park Cave-In-Rock State Park Chain O' Lakes State Park Channahon State Park Clinton Lake State Recreation Area Delabar State Park Dixon Springs State Park Eagle Creek State Recreation Area Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
Ferne Clyffe State Park Fort Massac State Park Fox Ridge State Park Frank Holton State Recreation Area Gaint City State Park Gebhard Woods State Park Golconda Marina State Recreation Area Illini State Park Illinois Beach State Park James "Pate" Philip (Tri-County) State Park Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area Jubilee College State Park Kankakee River State Park Kickapoo State Recreation Area Lake Le-Agua-Na State Recreation Area Lake Murphysboro State Park Lincoln Trail Lowden State Park Matthiessen State Park Mississippi Palisades State Park Moraine Hills State Park Moraine View State Recreation Area Morrison-Rockwood Nauvoo State Park
Pere Marquette State Park Prophetstown State Recreation Area Pyramid State Recreation Area Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area Randolph County State Recreation Area Red Hills State Park Rock Cut State Park Sangchris Lake State Park Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area Siloam Springs State Park South Shore State Park Starved Rock State Park Stephen A. Forbes State Reacreation Area Walnut Point State Park Washington County State Recreation Area Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area Weldon Springs State Park White Pines Forest State Park Wildlife Prairie State Park William G. Stratton State Park William W. Powers State Recreation Area Wolf Creek State Park
Enjoy Illinois: Official Web Site of the Illinois Office of Tourism