Photo: Stephanie Frias | @familytravelnomads

Back November 13, 2023
Travel Blog, Trip Ideas

Year-round hiking adventures await in Lee County

Find adventures any time of year in Lee County, northwest Illinois. It has plenty of sprawling parklands, conservation areas, and parks, which makes it a fabulous place to throw on your hiking boots. From prairie trails and wetlands to old-growth forests, you’ll find a varied mix of rustic, paved, and limestone paths suitable for every interest and ability.

Ensure you have comfortable hiking shoes, a water bottle, bug repellent during our warmer months, and sunscreen (you never know). The following hiking trip takes a few hours over ten miles with five stops. Let’s begin!

Stop OnePioneer Pass Trail

Photo: Stephanie Frias | @familytravelnomads

Pioneer Pass Trail is a primitive trail that dips into the woodlands and creekbeds of Franklin Creek State Natural Area. You can pick up this trail near the Hausen-Know Shelter area.

Expect narrow paths, footbridges, and dirt trails that wind up and down the ravines over 1.5 miles. There are several places to loop back to the start, but if you follow through, you’ll eventually come to the Mill Springs Day Use Area.

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Photo: Stephanie Frias | @familytravelnomads

Stop Two | Mill Springs Trail

The Mill Springs Trail is a .3-mile paved trail that begins at Sunday’s Picnic Shelter inside the Franklin Creek State Natural Area. The trail, shelter area, vault restrooms, and picnic tables are wheelchair accessible and lead up to the edge of the bubbling Mill Springs. A stone path crosses the creek, and before the trail turns to dirt, and leads farther into the woodlands along the water’s edge.

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Seasons of Change TrailStop Three

Photo: Stephanie Frias | @familytravelnomads

The Seasons of Change Trail is part of the network of horse trails that make up 12 miles of pathways through the Franklin Creek State Natural Area. This interpretive trail begins right behind the Mill Creek Grist Mill and is designed to be enjoyed all year round. The easy trail winds through the native prairie for about a 1/2 mile before it reaches Franklin Creek.

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Stop FourLarry Dunphy Storybook Trail

The Larry Dunphy Memorial Storybook Trail is a children’s trail dedicated to the love of reading and the love of nature. Larry Dunphy was the beloved owner of Books on First Bookstore in Dixon, IL.

The trail is located in the Norwegian Hills area of the Franklin Creek State Natural Area, beginning near the Hausen-Knock Shelter, winding through the woodlands, and the shaded picnic park area at the top of the Pioneer Pass trailhead. It’s an easy, shady, grassy trail.

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Stop FiveNachusa Grasslands Visitor Center

Photo: Stephanie Frias | @familytravelnomads

The prairie trail at the Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center is a 1/2-mile mowed trail with interpretive signs identifying native grass and flowers. It’s an easy trail with hilly inclines, total exposure to the elements, and a few stopping areas with big rocks to sit on. Although it’s fenced off from the bison herd, you can often see them drinking at the nearby watering hole.

The covered shelter at the top of the trail offers wind, rain, and sun protection, but no restrooms exist.

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It is a dayWell-Spent

So, what do you think? Are you ready to go and experience the diverse beauty of Lee County’s hiking trails? Discover the wonders of nature at every turn with friends and family. It’s a road trip that needs to be on your adventure itinerary.

Our latest blog post takes you on an enchanting journey, celebrating local holiday traditions unique to our region. Discover now and light up your festive spirit! 🎅🏻❄️🎁 

#visitNWillinois #middleofeverything #enjoyillinois
It's a shopping #ROADTRIP on Dec. 10 for the #HomeTownHandmadeChristmasMarket in #OregonIL! 🎄 Shop the 30+ amazing vendors & find the perfect, unique gifts for everyone on your Christmas list. 🛍️
It’s finally time to announce the Red Bow Box Winner! 

👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

And this years winner of $250 Candlelight Walk cash is ….. 🥁 

Chloe Metz! 🎉

••••• 🎄❄️🎅🏼 •••••

#candlelightwalk #smalltownchristmas #christmas #illinois #christmasmagic #christmascountdown #oldfashioned #holidayfun #holidays #holidayseason #holidayfun #family #familyfriendly #oregonillinois #oregonil #visitnwillinois #enjoyillinois #redbow #giveawaytime
@WhitePines_Resort tradition 30+ years. Don’t miss this wacky audience-participation comedy starring the curmudgeonly Ebenezer #Scrooge & his side-kick, Narrator. 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 👉 at the link in bio, under "EVENTS."
Don't miss the 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 at Timber Lake Playhouse, Dec. 1-10! 🎶 Relive the 1956 jam session with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, & Johnny Cash. #RockNRoll history comes alive! 🎸 Info at link in bio under EVENTS.
Our region is SO READY for the #holiday 🎁 season. Start creating family memories while cutting down your tree, driving among light displays, going to a live holiday event, and more! 🎄 We've just published an article highlighting all the fun stuff happening here. Go to link in bio, under Trip Ideas or Blog.

🎄 Christmas Tree Farms
🎄 Christmas Walks
🎄 Holiday Light Displays
🎄 Live Music & Theater events for all ages
🎄 Heritage Events
Last night's "Sunset on the Rock River" as seen from the Sinnissippi Walking Bridge at the upper dam between Rock Falls and Sterling, IL…12" x 18" format...ENJOY!!!

#gierhartphotographics #paulrgierhart #gierhart #rockriver #visitrockfalls #sunset #sunsetlovers #SunsetMagic #sunsetphotography #sunsetskyline #visitnwillinois #nwillinois #whitesidecounty #takemetotheriver #illinoisphotographer #illinoisartist #visitrockfalls

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