Forest Park Nature Center
A Central Illinois jewel, Forest Park Nature Center is a beloved local haven to hike with over seven miles of trails, from flats to hills, for every hiking style, throughout the 540-acre Illinois State Nature Preserve (including part of the historic Pimiteoui Trail, which takes you to Grand View Drive and Park).
Latitude/Longitude: 40.7573, -89.5749
The Heart Of The Heights
Forest Park Nature Center is considered by many to be the heart of the Central Illinois hiking community, with a beautiful shelter that offers numerous programs, classes, guided hikes, arts festivals, environmental education, clean indoor restrooms and much more. The staff is amazing and the trails are well maintained.
One hike throughout this park will convince anyone that Central Illinois is anything but flat after plenty of elevation changes through one of the more utilized hiking sets of trails in the area. You can even register to take on their 100-mile hike challenge here and earn yourself some swag and bragging rights!
One way to tie in a hike with a nice meal is to take the Pimiteoui Trail that picks up just outside of the Forest Park Nature Center parking lot and goes 2.1 miles south, connecting with Grand View Drive. By this point you've earned the right to a fabulous lunch or dinner in Peoria Heights before taking the hike back to your car at the Nature Center.
