The Story Behind the Grand Illinois Trail

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Jason Finney serves as a credit analyst for RJ O’Brien and Associates. In his free time, Jason Finney enjoys staying active by hiking.

Located in northern Illinois, the Grand Illinois Trail was first conceived of in the early 1990s by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which suggested linking the growing network of trails. An executive council and three regional coalitions worked together to connect existing trails and create new trails in order to produce one continuous journey.

The Grand Illinois Trail now runs 535 miles from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi along the state’s northern border, then crosses back along the Illinois River and the Hennepin Canal. The trail also incorporates the I&M Canal State Trail, the Old Plank Road Trail, and the Illinois Prairie Path, the latter of which was the country’s first trail to be made out of old railroad tracks. Approximately 200 miles are on paved roads, while the rest of the trail is made of limestone. The entire network is locally managed. The trail is great for both hiking and biking, and there are plenty of resources online to help with trip planning.