Illini State Park (Blog Hike #1086)

Trail: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Illini State Park
Geographic Location: across the Illinois River from Marseilles, IL (41.32094, -88.71166)
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A loop hike partially along the Illinois River.
Park Information: https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.illini.html
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming November 3, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Marseilles, take Main Street south across the Illinois River to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, then turn left at the next 2 intersections to pass back under the river bridge you just crossed.  Park in the small gravel lot on the right near the gated entrance to the Pine Glen Campground.

The hike: Named for the Illinois Confederation, a.k.a. Illini or Illiniwek people, who lived here as late as the early 1800s, Illini State Park oozes history in every direction.  The park's north boundary is the Illinois River, and the Great Falls of the Illinois River proved a major barrier to barge navigation.  Thus, in the 1920s the Army Corps of Engineers built Marseilles Lock and Dam, which is formally known as Lock and Dam #5; it can still be seen in the north side of the park.  The Marseilles Moraine and its rich coal reserves lies in the southern part of the park.  The eastern part of the park was once the Marsatawa Country Club, which boasted one of the country's best golf courses in the early 1900s.

            The park's land has been in public hands since the early 1930s, and 2 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) companies worked to convert the country club's golf course into the park we see today.  The CCC built many of the park's buildings, and their camp served as a semi-correctional boys camp until the 1960s.  Construction was finished in 1934, and the park officially opened in 1935.

            Today Illini State Park offers a 58-site developed campground, fishing and boating on the Illinois River, and some picnic shelters.  For hikers, the park offers only 1 trail: the short unnamed trail described here.  Yet this trail is a good one that explores the river, the old CCC camp, and the upland woods.  I had a nice hike when I came here on a warm afternoon in early October.

Starting the loop

            This trail forms a loop, and I hiked the loop counterclockwise by walking north from the parking lot before turning left to enter the woods.  Trails at this park are unmarked, but they are wide and easy to follow.  The riverside forest is dominated by black walnut and basswood trees, and I saw a lot of squirrels scurrying through the forest.

Marseilles Canal overlook

            At 0.15 miles, you reach the first of three Marseilles Canal overlooks.  This canal was built to channel Illinois River boat traffic into Marseilles Lock, which lies just downstream.  The landmass you see across the canal is actually an island; the main channel of the Illinois River lies beyond the island.  If you look carefully at the side of that island, you can see the rock cut that was made to build this canal.

Hiking along the canal

            The trail continues west with the canal through the trees to the right.  Several downed trees had been recently removed from the trail, and the trail maintenance here was excellent.  At 0.7 miles, the trail curves left to head away from the river and start following Person Creek.  A gradual climb comes next, but the difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is only about 30 feet.  Thus, all grades on these trails are gradual.

Abandoned restroom building

            A sweeping left curve brings you to an abandoned restroom building, parking lot, and playground at 0.85 miles.  I suspect this area is connected to the boys camp from the 1960s mentioned in the introduction, but I could not confirm my suspicion.  Next the trail heads east atop a low but steep ridge that drops about 10 feet on either side.  I could not find any information about this ridge, so maybe it is part of the moraine that lies south of the park or an old river bank.

Stone picnic shelter

            1.3 miles into the hike, you reach a nice stone picnic shelter that is part of the Pine Glen Youth Group Campground.  The final leg of the loop uses an old dirt road with the group camp through the trees on the right.  500 feet later, you reach the vehicle gate that blocks the old dirt road and intersect the paved group campground access road.  Angle left and do a short road walk to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.