GPS Coordinates:
N 41.31850; W 88.71102
Site Access:
Free; Fee
Parking
Amenities: Information; Restrooms; Hiking; Boating; Fishing; Camping; Picnic; Dining; Water Fountain
Directions:
From I 80 at Ottawa, take Exit 90/SR (State Route) 23 and go south on SR 23/Columbus St. for 1.5 miles. Turn east (left) on US 6/E Norris Dr. and follow US 6 for 7.4 miles to Main St. in Marseilles. Turn south (right) on Main St. and go 0.8 miles, crossing the Illinois River bridge to the park on the left.
Description:
Located across the Illinois River from the town of Marseilles, the 510-acre Illini State Park lies along the northern edge of the “Great Falls” of the river, where a drop in streambed gradient creates beautiful roaring rapids. The park itself sits atop an old glacial moraine (elongated ridge-type hill “bulldozed” up by an advancing Pleistocene glacier) and features a dense hardwood forest of oaks and hickories on the ridgetops, sugar maple, black walnut, and white ash on the slopes, and silver maple and cottonwood in the bottoms.
Hikers (and cross country skiers in winter) can take the park's Marasottawa Trail which loops from the Sycamore Grove Shelter on the east end of the park up to the Mallard Bay Shelter and Boat Launch on the east end. LaSalle
County birders mention this trail as one of the best sites in the county for
viewing migrating vireos, warblers, thrushes, and other songbirds in fall.
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456 Fulton Street, Suite 300, Peoria, IL 61602 - 1 (800) 747-0302
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