Illinois River Bluff Trail
The Illinois River Bluff Trail is reminiscent of the Appalachian Trail, with multiple outlets to jump on and off through four Peoria Park District parks via one connected trail. This trail can easily extend your expedition into multiple trails at Camp Wokanda to the north or into Detweiller Park to the south.
Latitude/Longitude:
Camp Wokanda Trailhead: 40.83593, -89.58552
Robinson Park Trailhead: 40.82389, -89.59414
Green Valley Camp Trailhead: 40.80045, -89.58582
Detweiller Park Trailhead: 40.79333, -89.58504
The Illinois River Bluff Trail is the perfect urban trail system for a day-long escape into the wilderness or to prep for a backpacking trip. With steep hills, flat sections, mature trees, bridges, creeks and even a tunnel, this is one of our favorite hikes.
The views (especially in the fall) are beautiful. There are four access areas, so it is possible to through hike or section hike.
It's a gorgeous 6.9 mile, very hilly, one-way trail…unless you make it an out-and-back. If so, plan on about 14 lovely miles round-trip.
While you can begin at any of the four different PPD parks, if you start from the north side at Camp Wokanda you can expect parking, reserved camping and restroom facilities near the trailhead. Following the IRBT signs, you'll hike up about two miles into Robinson Park, where there is additional parking and restroom facilities. From Robinson Park, continue the up-and-down hilly hike towards Green Valley Camp, at mile 5.5, which is an old Salvation Army summer camp (no longer in use). On the way there, you'll pass under IL Route 6 via a tunnel for walkers.
Once you reach the Green Valley Camp, you are almost to Detweiller Park…but wait! The journey still has some large ascents and descents in store for you for the last 1.4 miles. Once you've reached Detweiller Road in the park, there's a short detour across the road to pick up the last section of the trail, which ends in the main parking lot of Detweiller Park. Be sure to keep an eye out for cool bridges and tunnels at many turns.
For a one-way day hike challenge that takes you through all five Peoria river bluff parks over a rewarding 21-miles…
Begin with a loop through Singing Woods Nature Preserve.
Connect to Camp Wokanda.
Continue through Detweiller Park.
Follow the Pimiteoui Trail through Detweiller park to the southern parking lot, where you'll then need to walk south on Route 29 for a short distance, before walking up Skyline Road to Upper Skyline Road.
Near the 3rd bend in Upper Skyline, there's a connection through Peoria Park District property, where you can then hook into the Forest Park Nature Center connection of Trails.
This will take you via the Pimiteoui Trail at Forest Park Nature Center to Grandview Drive for a stunning grand finale!
