Illinois Beach State Park Hike

Illinois Beach State Park Hike
2.5, 4, or 6.5 miles — optional barefoot walk in the lake

We’re heading to Illinois Beach this Sat. The trail is flat with a mix of sand, packed dirt, and gravel — nothing technical. Most of it is full sun, so bring water and sunscreen. The first stretch takes us through open savanna and dune trails, and eventually out to the lake.

At around 2.5 miles, we’ll hit the shoreline. If it’s calm, you’re welcome to take your shoes off and walk in the water. Totally optional, but bring a towel if you’re into that kind of thing.

You can stop there, or keep going.
– 4 miles total if you loop through the wildflower and gravel trail
– 6.5 miles if you follow the narrow beachside path — tall grass, dune views, and a quiet finish

Meet at the Nature Center parking lot
📍 Google Maps pin
From Sheridan, turn onto Wadsworth. Pass the stop sign, go about a mile.

Bring:
– Water
– Sunscreen
– Towel (if you’re planning to walk in the lake)
– Shoes that can handle sand
– Swim or take a dip at your own risk since there is no lifeguards

Photos from the last hike are attached if you want to see what the trail looks like. If you’ve been needing to move, get some sun, or just step outside your head for a bit — this is a good one.

Resources for you:

https://dnr.illinois.gov/inpc/area.area2lakeillinoisbeach.html

"Illinois Beach is the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state, with dunes and swales, sprawling marshes, forests of oak
and vast arrays of animal life and vegetation. More than 650 species of plants have been recorded in the dunes area alone,
including dozens of types of colorful wildflowers. Prickly pear cactus thrives in large colonies in the dry areas, and the wet prairies are carpeted with a wide variety of grasses and sedges. Large expanses of
marsh in the swales support dense stands of cattail, grasses, big bluestem and sedges."