'Hiking Illinois'

[NOV. 29, 2000]   Hiking Illinois." Susan L. Post, Human Kinetics, 1997, 212 pages.

"Hiking Illinois" is one of the titles in the "America’s Best Day Hiking Series" from publisher Human Kinetics. According to the introductory passage, "Each book in the series offers information on 100 or more of the most interesting and scenic trails in a particular state, as well as notes about recreational, historical, and sightseeing destinations located near the trails." The focus of the book on Illinois is short day hikes that range in degree of difficulty from easiest to most difficult.

 

The book has a handy "trail finder" guide that corresponds to a geographical site locator map. This trail finder gives the trail’s name and site location, the available park facilities (camping, water sports, biking, etc.), the trail’s length (in miles), difficulty rating, and a description of the terrain/landscape.

The information in the trail finder is greatly expanded in the three sections that comprise the book. The book is divided into three geographic sections: "North," "Central" and "South." In the introduction to each geographic area there is a composite description that describes the region’s topography, major lakes and rivers, common plant life, common birds and mammals, climate, and its best natural features.

 

Once you determine the geographic area you wish to hike, you can select the trail that meets your particular sightseeing desires and physical ability. Each trail is listed within the state park or area in which it is found, along with its location on the site locator map. Area information includes a description of the physical area, directions to the site, hours and days of operation, facilities, permits, and a mailing address and telephone number.

The most important information in each entry is the catalog of different trails in that area. The trails are listed by name, degree of difficulty and length. A map of the park is included and provides information on offices, parking, stores, trails, water and boundaries. The most important feature of each park/area is the narrative describing its premier trails. This narrative contains the round-trip distance, the estimated hiking time and detailed hiking directions that correspond to the map of the trail.

 

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There are 22 entries in the "North" section, 16 entries in the "Central" section, and 21 entries in the "South" section. These 59 areas contain the 100 different trails in the book. Those areas of interest to Lincoln and Logan County include Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton, Robert Allerton Park in Monticello, and Where Lincoln Walked in Springfield and New Salem. Weldon Springs is known for the two-mile Lakeside Self-Guiding Nature Tour (1.25 hours) that circles the lake and the two-mile Beaver Dam Trail (one hour) that takes the hiker past a small pond. Both are considered moderately easy in hiking difficulty. Robert Allerton Park offers the 2.4-mile Black Schroth Nature Trail (1.15 hours) and the 5.75-mile North River Trail (three hours). North River sports the famous Sunsinger, a larger-than-life statute of the mythical god Apollo. These trails have the same difficulty rating as those in Weldon Springs.

Where Lincoln Walked is a completely different hiking experience — it includes a hike through the urban areas of the city of Springfield. Based on the life of Abraham Lincoln, these hikes encompass the New Salem experience (5.25 miles, 2.5 hours) and the city of Springfield (6.5 miles, four hours). Both include detailed maps and an explanation of the historical significance of the sites found on each hike.

"Hiking Illinois" is an outstanding guide to the hiking opportunities in the state of Illinois. The book’s geographic arrangement and the descriptive information make it useful for planning family outings, hands-on nature experiences or outdoor adventures. An added benefit is the author’s rating of each trail’s difficulty and the obstacles that will be encountered.

 

In limiting the book's scope to 100 day hikes, some areas were omitted. In the case of Lincoln and Logan County, the Edward R. Madigan State Park is mentioned in the "Other Areas of Interest" section for Weldon Springs State Park, while Kickapoo Creek Park on old Route 66 is not mentioned.

 

These local omissions aside, "Hiking Illinois" is highly recommended for anyone who is planning a vacation or day trip, wishes to commune with nature, or enjoys the beauty and splendor of Illinois’ great outdoors.

For more information, visit the Public Library at 725 Pekin St. or call 217-732-8878.

[Richard Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]

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