Forest Park Nature Center, IL

Nature Center at the trailhead has some exhibitions, a nature store and also offers indoor and outdoor educational programs for naturalists of all ages. The surrounding Forest Park is very popular, meaning that you will actually see several people on trails who will likely be running, walking their kids or on a date. Dogs and bicycles are not allowed in this park, so you will also see lots of birds, squirrels, at least a couple of white-tailed deer, and other wildlife. There are several designated “listening points” with benches a little aside from trails where you are supposed to sit, close your eyes and listen to sounds of nature.


The trail system of Forest Park Nature Center is isolated from other city parks sitting on Illinois River bluffs. There is a standalone Pimiteoui Trail that starts across the road from the parking lot and leads to one of Illinois River viewpoints on Grandview Drive (not to be confused with Pimiteoui Trail of Detweiller Park). Other trails are all interconnected and give an opportunity to create hikes of any desired shape, length and difficulty. Valley Trail and Prairie Path are easy, flat and accessible for strollers, Wake Robin Trail is moderate and rolling across bluffs, all other trails’ difficulty rates are in between.

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