Eagle Creek State Park
Emmy hates swimming, but she loves a beach trail - she dips her toes in to cool down and loves fetching sticks at the shoreline. Photo by Jordan Goebig.
Only about 1 - 1.5 hours from most larger Central Illinois communities, Eagle Creek flew off the radar from us for awhile. Located in Findlay, Ill., it’s actually a great location for outdoor activities, with a number of other park and recreation systems in the area to check out. We decided to visit on the weekend that kicks off shotgun hunting season in Illinois, so we reached out to the park to find out if hiking was even allowed. They were responsive and helpful. We were able to get about 5 miles in at Eagle Creek (though they do have an 11 mile trail that was closed for hunting).
Trail Conditions
.5 - 15 miles of trails (hiking, skiing, equestrian)
The Prairie View Trail (1.5 miles) and Snowflake Ski trail (3 miles) connect - winding your through mostly prairie on wide, grassy paths.
There are some minor elevation changes, but to get a more vigorous workout, you’ll want to hike near the lake. The Campfire, High Bluff, and Windy Point trails are narrow and have quite a bit of ups and downs. You can get excellent beach views from these trails.
We were unable to hike on the Chief Illini Trail (11 miles) due to hunting, but we’re looking forward to tackling it in late winter.
Overall, the trails are fairly primitive, the signage is not in great shape (if at all), so we spent a lot of time wandering. I would recommend wearing plenty of bug spray and good hiking shoes.
Things We Love
The bluff to beach hiking was fantastic, and it’s not something you get a ton of in Central Illinois. Our dog loved getting to play around on the beach.
I get the sense that this is a hot-spot for locals, but not the type of park that brings in tons of tourists. There were definitely other folks using the park’s amenities, but we didn’t encounter anyone else on the trails.
Bang for your buck - you can get high mileage hiking in.
Things to Know
The campgrounds are expansive, and many of the trails are off of the campsites. There are restrooms and water on-site, but check the website to ensure facilities will be open based on the time of year.
Beach access allows for swimming, and there is a boat ramp and parking.
This area is for outdoor recreation. If you’re looking for restaurants, breweries, etc. this is not your place.
This location is only about 10 minutes away from Wolf Creek State Park.