Top spots in Illinois for autumn nature

The Autumn Trip Planner and Fall Colour Report  from state DMO Enjoy Illinois is now live.

It showcases the best places across Illinois to see brilliant colors as the seasons change.

Plan a road trip along Illinois’ seven scenic byways, stopping to see the State Parks, meeting the makers from the Illinois Made program, and staying in unique accommodations along the way.

Chicago and Beyond

Chicago’s skyline makes for a dazzling display of its own but around the second week of October visitors will see plenty of fall foliage popping in places like Millennium Park, on elm, hawthorn and maple trees. In Lincoln Park, the maple, ash, birch, and elm trees paint the park’s grounds with red, orange, and yellow.

Starved Rock is a renowned natural region situated less than 100 miles to the southwest of Chicago, and displays seasonal waterfalls, majestic bluffs, and rugged canyons. The hiking trails curve through towering trees and scenic overlooks along the Illinois River with outdoor activities include hiking, canoeing, paddle boat cruises, trolley rides, fishing and picnicking. Visitors can stay at Camp Aramoni, a luxury campground offering 11 safari-style tents, sat on 96 acres of lush forests that comes alive in the autumn.

Extending from the village of Antioch in the north to beautiful Ottawa in the south, the Fox River Valley is a picture-perfect northern Illinois destination, less than an hour from Chicago and home to 32 miles of forest trails.

With 1,700 acres and more than 222,000 live plants, The Morton Arboretum in Lisle is a tree-filled landscape and a vibrant hub for nature education, as well as a world-renowned centre for scientific research 30 minutes from Chicago. In the East Woods of the Arboretum, the sugar maple tree steals the show as every fall, the woods are transformed in oranges and yellows.

Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, 90 miles north-west of Chicago, has been named one of the highest quality Japanese gardens in North America. The 12-acre site consists of koi-filled ponds, winding paths, gentle streams, and waterfalls.

Central Illinois

Two-hours south of Chicago, Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery in Champaign is Illinois’ first farmstead cheese making facility. Learn about the cheese-making process in this Goat Dairy while tasting their varieties of cheese and sample goat milk gelato. Then explore the Eastern portion of the farm along the pasture and pond with the goats themselves. The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur is a working farm that hosts activities for visitors to test their path-finding skills in several corn mazes. Visit the friendly farm animals, enjoy wagon rides and pumpkin picking, as well as pumpkin ice cream and their famous iced pumpkin cookies.

The town of Monticello, two and half hours south of Chicago, is home to the Allerton Park & Retreat Centre, built as a private residence by artist and philanthropist Robert Allerton in 1900, it now offers a unique opportunity to experience art, nature, and history. There are outdoor concerts, themed dinners and wine tasting along with nature hikes and educational events.

Half an hour further south, the area around Lake Decatur offers 30-miles of shoreline with beautiful wildlife vistas at lakeside parks. Nearby Rock Springs Nature Center is home to a large visitor center, a museum, a restored farmhouse, nearly nine miles of hiking trails, and a paved bike trail.

In Peoria, three hours south of Chicago, Grandview Drive offers scenic views of the Illinois River while walking, biking, hiking or just driving through. President Theodore Roosevelt referred to the area as the “world’s most beautiful drive,” in a visit to Peoria in 1910, as it offers visitors numerous panoramic scenic views of the Illinois River Valley even more so in autumn, with the ever-changing colors.

Southern Illinois

There are numerous trails and lakes near Carbondale, five and a half hours south of Chicago, perfect for exploring in autumn. At almost 44,000 acres and with three lakes (Crab Orchard, Little Grassy, and Devils Kitchen,) at nearby Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge there are endless opportunities for watching wildlife, hiking nature trails, swimming and fishing.

Six hours south of Chicago, the Shawnee National Forest covers much of southern Illinois between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The area is well suited for an outdoor adventure any time of year, offering a range of activities. Garden of the Gods, renowned for its breathtaking views and walking trails, showcases the famous rock formations and provides a panoramic view of the ancient forest.

Giant City is named for its natural landscape of giant sandstone bluffs and narrow corridors framed by sheer cliff faces. Visitors can stay in the 34 cabins offered at Giant City State Park  nestled into the bluffs near the main lodge that offers a full-service restaurant, a deck and an outdoor swimming pool.

The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail features 11 award-winning wineries located along a 35-mile scenic drive, Hickory Ridge Vineyard & Winery, is said to be one of the best views on the trail and is located on the western edge of the forest. A stone’s throw from the National Forest, the Cabins at Sunrise Hill are three A-Frame cabins set on 25 acres and fully self-contained.

Read the Fall+Winter Enjoy Illinois magazine for more inspiration 

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