ILLINOIS

Cahokia was America’s first metropolis, a cultural center constructed by the Mississippian Indians that is believed to have housed as many as 20,000 people. It can’t be said for certain but there probably weren’t any rules against dogs among the mound builders. More than 1000 years later there still aren’t many prohibitions against dogs in Illinois. The extensive state park system - 142 properties - is one of the oldest in America having protected land since 1908; it almost universally allows trail dogs. Around Chicago the 68,000 acres of Forest Preserves are treasured dog hiking destinations. The Shawnee National Forest is the largest swath of publicly owned land in Illinois and dog-friendly, including the popular Garden of the Gods Wilderness that is a haunting landscape of eroded hoodoos and gray sandstone formations. A long as you aren’t trying to hike an Illinois Nature Preserve or get onto a restrictive Lake Michigan beach, what’s not to love for dog owners in the Land of Lincoln.  And the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site? Dogs are allowed to hike the 6.2-Mile Nature/Culture Trail there.

The Best Day Hike You Can Take With Your Dog In Illinois

River Trail/Bluff Trail
Starved Rock State Park • Utica

As legend has it, during a dust-up between local American Indian tribes in the 18th century one of the warring factions made the ill-fated call to hole up on a 125-foot sandstone bluff on the south side of the Illinois River. The other side laid siege until their trapped enemies died of starvation.

Today a wooden staircase takes Seaman to the top of Starved Rock. Boardwalks protect most of the bluffs from the national park-level visitation that the Illini’s first and most popular park receives. The stars for canine hikers at Starved Rock are the 18 rock-walled box canyons strung out along the river. The fascinating rock formations were left after glacial meltwater washedaway everything but the defiant St. Peter sandstone. Fourteen of the canyons feature waterfalls of varying intensity. If you come in spring when the flows are strongest Virginia bluebells will fill the understory of the forest.

A full tour of Starved Rock’s canyons covers 13.4 miles; more targeted itineraries from the Visitor Center will aim for St. Louis Canyon via the Bluff Trail 1.5 miles to the west and La Salle Canyon two miles down the River Trail to the east, each of which feature reliable water displays in the park.

Trails were cut through the interiorrock canyon floors in spots and expectwet paws, especially when walking behind cataracts of water. And when you finish up be sure to stop at the Veranda for Seaman to make a well-deserved selection off the Doggie Delights Menu.

HIKING TIME: 3-4 hours

(from the book 300 Day Hikes To Take With Your Dog Before He Tires You Out: Trails where you won’t be able to wipe the wag off your dog’s tail)