Comlara Park
Comlara Park weaves you through prairie, forest, and along the Lake Evergreen and nearby streams. Photo by Jordan Goebig.
I had to move away from Normal, Ill. (after over a decade as a resident….) to truly explore Comlara Park, a county-owned and managed property located just a few miles north of the Bloomington-Normal community.
The Trails
1 - 12+ miles
There’s no definitive mileage length, at least that we could find, on the Comlara Park trails, but we estimated that if you were to do all of the trails laid out on their interactive map, you could get around the whole lake, and we think it would be in the 12 - 14 mile range.
The trails range in width and size, weaving you through lots of open prairie, sometimes through dense woods, and sometimes along the lake. They are not well-marked, though I promise it’s hard to get lost, and you can spend a lot of time “choosing your own adventure” to just keep hiking. Their online map is really helpful at keeping you on track, so have it on a device or take some notes with you while you hike.
You do share many of the trails with mountain bikers, horses, and trail runners, so be mindful…especially if you have a cute pup.
Things We Love
It’s a wonderful amenity to have right off of Interstate 39. We have stopped here to let the dog get a good walk in on road trips to visit family or the wonderful state of Wisconsin.
Illinois wildlife viewing at its best. We recently visited in February, and we saw plenty of deer, raccoons, and lots of birds. Lake Evergreen is the focal point of this park, and it’s a big draw for both local and visiting bird populations.
It has a lovely and popular campground, though based on how many people I know that enjoy using it and the very large text on their website, I suspect that weekend reservations fill up fast.
Things to Know
There are two parking areas to hike from. There is a parking lot near the archery range that will put you in a centralized location to hit up miles and miles of trails. There’s also a small parking lot near their visitor’s center at the main entrance that will lead you directly to a popular trail that loops you a bit around the lake…and you can meet up with some of the other trails from there.
Great trails for your dogs, but very muddy - especially when any kind of precipitation has been in the area. The trails are used extensively, and it shows in the mud.
There are vault toilets available for hiking use (and were open in February…though it was pretty drafty!).
