Vermilion County, Illinois... - Danville Area Convention and Visitors

Explore and Discover
Vermilion County, Illinois...
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Everything but Ordinary outdoor activities and trails.
Cover photo © Chris Aquino Photography
Table of Contents
Kickapoo State Park
2-3
Forest Glen County Preserve
4-5
Kennekuk County Park
6-7
Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife area
8
Danville9
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Table of Contents: Dirt Artisans; Joe Rottmann;
Jay Schubert, Supernova Photography; Richard Huber
Page 2: Thomas Photographic Services; Richard Huber; Virginia Folkman
Page 4: Virginia Folkman, Harold Hopkins
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Page 8: Beth Davison Morgan Design; Virginia Folkman, Richard Huber
Page 9: Virginia Folkman
Ready to explore the wonder and beauty of nature in Vermilion
County and Danville Illinois? With over 100 miles of hiking, biking
and equestrian trails that wind their way through more than 15,000
acres, we’ve got a trail that fits you!
Jamesburg
Middle
Fork
State
Fish and
WIldlife
Area
Kennekuk
County
Park
ILLINOIS
Lake
Vermilion
Newtown
N
136
Winter Ave.
INDIANA
Kickapoo
State Park
To Champaign
136
Danville
74
Oakwood
74
150
To Indianapolis
74
1
Catlin
Belgium
Westville
ILLINOIS
Forest
Glen
County
Preserve
INDIANA
If you like to casually
enjoy nature, you’ll
discover many species
of flowers, trees, and
wildlife on the miles
of natural trails. If you
are more interested in
physical fitness, you’ll
find a wide variety
of trails to challenge
beginners and
experienced hikers.
From equestrians to
cyclists to hikers,
Vermilion County’s
remarkable trails allow
you to get up close and
personal with nature.
1
Kickapoo State Park
10906 Kickapoo Park Road . Oakwood . Illinois 61858
217.442.4915
• 2,850 acre park built on former strip-mined land
• Over 16 miles of hiking and 14 miles of biking trails
• 22 deep-water ponds for fishing and boating
• Access to the Middle Fork National Scenic River
• Campground and shelter rentals available
• Hunting, mountain biking, scuba diving, and ice skating permitted
• Canoe, kayak, tube, and paddleboat rentals available.
• Dine indoors or by the lake! Dockside Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during season.
Kickapoo State Park and Recreation Area provides an outdoor playground
that offers something appealing to each member of the family. Seven marked
trails run through the park, including the most challenging, the 7.6 mile Out
and Back Trail takes hikers through the forest and edges of cropland. The 12
mile Mountain Bike Trail winds through the forest, abandoned strip mine area,
and along the Middle Fork River. Some of the other shorter trails include: Clear
Lake Trail (3 miles), Riverview Trail (2 miles), High Lake Trail (1.5 miles) which
has a 0.2-mile portion which is ADA accessible, Nature Trail (0.75 miles), and
Brian Plawer Nature Trail (0.9 miles).
Mountain Biking: For a challenging ride, try the 12 miles of the best singletrack
mountain biking trails in Illinois. This multiple trail system is rated easy to very
technical. There are plenty of features on these trails to keep the ride interesting: log jumps, climbs, and technical switchbacks, as well as wooded hills and
ravines. Visit Kickapoo Mountain Bike Club website for detailed information and
maps. www.kickapoombc.org
2
www.danvilleareainfo.com
To Henning
10.5 Miles
Middle Fork
Vermilion River
To Rt. 136
1180 E
Stump
Pond
900 E
Newtown
To Middle Fork
State Fish &
Wildlife Area
4 Miles
2050 N
2000 N
Sportsman’s
Lake
970 N
Little
Hook
Lake Possum
Pond
1950 N
Emerald
Pond
Group
Campground
Inland
Sea
To Danville
2 Miles
Horse Rental
Clear
Lake
1880 N
N
High Lake
Brian Plawer
Campground
850 E
Silt Basin
No Name Pond
Exit 206
I-74
I-74
Long
Lake
Deep Pond
I-74
To Champaign-Urbana
25 Miles
Exit 210
To Indiana
10 Miles
Peelman
Pond
1000 E
Number Six
Lake
Lost
Pond
Oakwood
Rt.
150
ille
anv s
To D Mile
2
Middle Fork
Vermilion River
Rt. 150
Doughnut
Lake
Clear Lake Trail
Mountain Bike
Trail
Access Road
Doughnut Lake
Area
Salt Fork
Vermilion River
Out and Back
walking trail
Roads
In addition, Kickapoo Rail Trail, a 24.5 mile trail linking Kickapoo State
Park westward to Urbana, Illinois is expected to begin construction
Spring of 2016. The trail will be developed on an historic rail line
constructed in 1869 and will be open to both pedestrians and bicyclists.
3
Forest Glen County
Preserve
20301 E. 900 North Road . Westville . Illinois61883
217.662.2142
•
•
•
•
•
1900 acre park for all seasons
25 miles of walking trails
72 foot observation tower
Campground and shelter rentals available
Features the 40 acre Michael G. Reddy Arboretum
Forest Glen offers thirteen trails, featuring the 11 mile River Ridge Back Pack
Trail that can be hiked in one day but is set up with back country campsites for
backpack camping. It winds around the perimeter of the park and links
together several smaller trails.
Due to the increased popularity of River Ridge Back Pack Trail, pre-registration
is required. For more information contact 217-662-2142 or visit our website
www.vccd.org/riverridgerules.htm.
Remaining trails range from 2 miles to the 1/3 mile Beech Grove asphalt,
handicapped trail overlooking woodland valley. The Big Woods Trail is 1 mile
long and is the most rugged of all trails in the preserve. The trails also feature
a historic observation tower. The 72-foot tower gives a spectacular view of the
Vermilion River bottoms.
4
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River Ridge
Back Pack Trail
Group
campgrounds
Beech Grove
Handicapped Trail
Canoe
access
Big Woods Trail
Ve
rm
i
l lio
Sycamore
Hollow
Campus
Tent
campground
Roads
iv e r
Observation
Tower
N
Ranger
Station
r
r
Rive
llion
mi
Ve
Pioneer
Homestead
nR
Park
Entrance
5
Kennekuk County Park
22296-A Henning Road . Danville . Illinois 61834
217.442.1691
• 3,000 acre park featuring forested and prairie habitat
• Over 15 miles of walking trails
• 170 acre Lake Mingo
• Access to the Middle Fork National Scenic River
• Historic area including buildings from the 1800s
• Shelter rentals available
• Visitors center including natural history exhibits
Kennekuk County Park, located five miles west of Danville, is an oak-hickory
forest type with native tall grass prairie areas. It contains two Illinois Nature
Preserves within its boundaries (Windfall Prairie and Horseshoe Bottoms). Visit
the new Environmental Education Center at Kennekuk County Park to learn
about Illinois wildlife. View rotational exhibits, art and photography showcases
and special events at the Center throughout the year.
Kennekuk features eight trails including 7.2 mile Lake Mingo Trail. Remaining
trails are approximately one mile or less. The most popular being the one mile,
scenic Lookout Point Trail where hikers can look out across the Middle Fork
River Valley at one of the highest elevations in the park. Wheeler Foundation
Nature Trail, located at Kennekuk Environmental Education Center, is a ¼ mile
concrete trail that is ADA accessible.
6
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Lake Mingo Trail
Wheeler
Foundation
Nature Trail
Lookout Point
Trail
Roads
Collins
Archaelogical
Site
Lake Mingo
Ball Diamonds
Bunker Hill
Historic Area
Lorrence
Pioneer
Cemetery
Education
Center
Dodson
Cemetery
Horseshoe
Pond
N
Twin Points
Pond
Middle Fork
National
Scenic
River
White Oak
Pond
Lookout Point
Picnic Area
Cedar Hill
Pond
Oak Bluff
Picnic Area
Prairie
restoration
area
Check out the Kennekuk Environmental Education Center.
Stop by the Kennekuk County Park Visitor’s Center for hours.
Visitor
Center
Park
Entrance
To Henning Road
7
Middle Fork State
Fish and Wildlife
Area
Access through Kickapoo State Park
10906 Kickapoo Park Road . Oakwood . Illinois 61858
217.442.4915
• 2,700 acre area
• 35 miles of marked
scenic trails for
equestrian, cross-country
skiing, and snowmobiling
• Campground and
equestrian campground
rentals available
• Hunting, canoeing,
and picnicking permitted
To Henning Road
Then North to U.S. 136
Middle Fork River
Kinney’s Ford
Canoe Access
Field Archery Trail
2600 N 720 E
2620 N, 900 E
To Henning Road
To Rout 49
Collison
Kennekuk Cove
County Park
er
Riv
2400 N, 900 E
Equestrian Trails
Walk-in
Camping
Bunker Hill
Canoe Access
Roads
N
8
Jamesburg Road
2750 N, 870 E
Wescove
k
For
dle
Mid
Middle Fork State Fish and
Wildlife Area borders Illinois’
only Wild and Scenic River.
Designed as the state’s first
Scenic River in 1986, and
named a National Wild and
Scenic River in 1990, the
Middle Fork branch of the
Vermilion River flows through
Vermilion County on the
state’s eastern border.
To Potomac
2250 N, 900 E
To I-74, Oakwood
and Kickapoo
State Park
Entrance Road
Illinois Power
Generating Station
www.danvilleareainfo.com
Southgate
Habitat Area Trail
Exit 220, off I-74
Southgate Drive . Danville . Illinois 61834
Located in the Southgate Industrial Park at the intersection of Southgate Drive
and Borgen Drive, the ADA-compliant paved trail is 3/4 mile. It is mostly flat
and loops around a 4.5 acre pond. The surrounding area features native trees,
shrubs, and grasses. A variety of wildlife including ducks, herons, and other
waterfowl are present. Paved parking and a small picnic shelter is available.
Winter Park Cross
Country Course
900-1300 East Winter Avenue . Danville . Illinois 61832
Located around the Danville Area Soccer Complex, the courses begin near the
entrance to Winterview Park. There is a choice of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 3, and 3.1 mile
moderate cross country courses to run or walk. The grass and dirt paths guide
through gently rolling open and forested areas.
Fetch Dog Park
Espenscheid Park
Kimball Street, North of East Voorhees . Danville . Illinois 61832
Fetch Dog Park is a fully fenced, off-leash dog park. There is a ¾ mile
fitness trail and over 1 mile of trails in the park.
There are many other smaller walking areas at Danville, Illinois city parks.
For more information go to http://www.danvilleareainfo.com
9
For more information about what is available in the Danville area visit
www.danvilleareainfo.com or call 800.383.4386
06/2015 2,500
Photo by: Victoria Folkman