This 1,000-Acre Park In Illinois Has The Most Fascinating History
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published July 03, 2019
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
With so many parks in the Land of Lincoln, it can be difficult to decide which one to visit next. If you love a little bit of history with your nature, there’s a historic park near Marshall, Illinois that will please your Illinoisan heart.
This one is all about our roots. From Abraham Lincoln to the Native Americans, this state park has been familiar to them all. Check it out:
Lincoln Trail State Park on the east-central side of Illinois is a little-known natural area that preserves wildlife and history. It is known for its extensive trails and scenic views.
The area is named for Abraham Lincoln as the trail within the park marks the path his family took to get to the Prairie State from Indiana in 1831. You'll be strolling in the footsteps of justice when you go for a walk or hike here.
Speaking of the lake, there is a marvelous 146-acre body of water at the southwest corner of the park that is probably the most popular section of the place. This man-made lake has numerous fingers and is bordered by thick woodland for amazing views you'll want to photograph in every season.
Another thing that makes this a historic park is the fact that it was previously occupied by the Miami, Kickapoo, and Mascouten Native American groups. When you hike the trails, you may see leftover carvings from their cultures in the rock bluffs.
Altogether, this trail extends into Kentucky to mark the entire path Lincoln's family took before ending up in Illinois. There are 3,000 markers throughout three states to show the way, and the park is just west of the trail.
In addition to walking in the steps of greatness, there a wealth of other fun activities to enjoy at this historic park. Boating and fishing are allowed on the lake. You can also hunt in the forest as well as camp and picnic.
This park is even open in the winter for activities like ice fishing, skating, and cross-country skiing.
Address: 16985 East 1350th Road, Marshall, IL, 62441
For more details about the Lincoln Trail State Park, check out its page on the Illinois Department of Natural Resouces website here. If you’ve ever been to this historic park, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.