Hiking
A man and two children are looking at something in the woods.

Hiking at our Preserves


You know how every once in a while you want to tell somebody to, "take a hike?" Well this time we are telling you. 


Come take a hike with us at one of our four Forest Preserves. Go ahead and bring the family, this should be fun. For more information about our trails and trails in the Quad City Region check out QC Trails.

**In 2018, we are enforcing a new wet weather policy which limits use based on trail conditions, please check Illiniwek Forest Preserve and Loud Thunder Forest Preserve Facebook sites for trail statuses. 

Hiking at Illiniwek Forest Preserve

A man and a boy are walking down a path in the woods.

Illiniwek offers a variety of multi-use forest trails for all your hiking (or biking) adventures, including five miles of single-track trail for athletes of all levels, featuring log overs, wooden berms and scenic views. Multi-use forest trails occasionally close for inclement conditions. To check trail status check Illiniwek's Facebook page. 

View a map of the forest trails.


Open continuously without closures and located just outside the multi-use forest trails is the Prairie Trail. Winding around our beautiful restored prairies, this grass-trail is .9-miles long and has 11 interpretive signs along its path to teach you about the beautiful prairie species in the area.

View a map of the prairie trail.


No matter which trail you take, get your fix of Mother Nature at Illiniwek!

View our trail policies.

Hiking at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve

A man and two children are walking down a path in the woods.

Come spend an hour, a day, or an entire weekend with us. At Loud thunder there are enough trails to keep you hiking all weekend.


The Illinois Great River Road National Scenic Byway winds through the picturesque landscapes of the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve. Trails at Loud Thunder include the Hauberg Trail and the Sac-Fox Trail. There are other shared-use trails located throughout the preserve for mountain bikers, horseback riders, and hikers. Check Loud Thunder Forest Preserve Facebook page for trail status updates as the trails do get closed to users during unfavorable weather conditions.

The Hauberg Trail East Branch and West Branch combine to form over two-miles of moderate level hiking through the scenic forested areas along the river.

The Sac-Fox Trail is an approximately 12-mile, continuous loop, moderate level hiking trail. It winds its way throughout the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve and small portion of the the adjacent Loud Thunder Boy Scout Camp

DOWNLOAD TRAIL MAP

Hiking at Dorrance Park

A close up of a tree branch with leaves and acorns.

Looking for a place to go for a short walk in the woods? We have the place for you. At Dorrance Park we have the short walk in the woods. We are also located next to the Great River Trail, in case you are in the mood for a little bit longer of a walk. The Great River Trail is a multipurpose trail that allows users to enjoy 62 miles of hiking near the Mississippi River. The trail goes through both small towns and river landscape.

Dorrance provides an excellent habitat for wildlife and is a wonderful place for a little bird watching. See how many animals you can spot along the way, or take a good look at the trees. How many do you know?

Check Illiniwek Forest Preserve Facebook page for trail condition updates.

View our trail policies.

Hiking at Martin Conservation Area

A dirt road going through a field of tall grass and trees.

Martin Conservation Area is an excellent space to get to know nature at its best. The park has a small grass hiking trail around the native prairies which provide excellent habitat for wildlife like pollinators. It is a wonderful spot to see all you would expect in the woods or open grass spaces. Put on those hiking shoes and explore nature at its best.

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