My L.L. Bean Discovery Project opening kit
A box arrived in the mail the other day compliments of L.L. Bean. I have been invited to participate in the L.L. Bean Discovery Project where I would receive gear and go out and use it and report back. In the first box of goodies came an Ascent Gore-Tex jacket and a guide of hiking places around Chicago.
Sunrise on beautiful Pierce Lake
One of my favorite parks in the Chicago area is Rock Cut State Park in northern Illinois. I decided to hike the Pierce Lake Trail in the guidebook. Many Illinois parks are closed during deer hunting season, but Rock Cut remains open although there is limited hunting. I was glad that the gore-tex jacket was bright orange.
It was a bad day for Bambi at Rock Cut State Park
I arrived on Friday night around 10 p.m. and put up my tent and got a fire going. The nice thing about the new jacket is it provides warmth yet also breathes. This would come in handy as the temperatures plummeted into the lower 30s.
Trying on the bright orange Ascent gore-tex jacket
I woke up the next morning to a beautiful sunny morning and my camp site was only feet from Pierce Lake and the Pierce Lake Trail. The Take a Hike Chicago book by Barbara Bond, provided for me in my Discovery Project kit, indicated the trail was 4.5 miles around the lake and would take 2.5 hours.
Take a hike Chicago’s page on Pierce Lake
The trail was easy to follow as it basically hugged the shores of Pierce Lake for its entire length. There are several places to park along the way. I started at the Hickory Hills Campground, but there are several parking areas along the way and there is a concession with boat and tackle rentals although it was closed for the season. The Lone Star Café is open in the summer months and also rents skis when there is enough snow.
Pierce Lake in Rock Cut State Park
It was a beautiful day for a walk with temperatures in the middle 50s with hardly a cloud in the sky. Although bird migration has passed and many of the interesting birds have headed for warmer climes, a few species were still in attendance. A kingfisher, pied billed grebe, coots, Canadian geese, and juncos were spotted along the trail. Juncos are winter residence, so with so many of them flying in the trees, it was a reminder that winter is on its way as if the cold nights were not enough of an indicator.
Pierce Lake in Rock Cut State Park
The trail was completed at 2 p.m., but I still felt like hiking. I consulted the guide for another hiking option in the vicinity, and I decided on Castle Rock State Park south of Rockford in the little town of Oregon, Illinois. I got there to find that the park was closed due to hunting. Fortunately, there are other parks in the area.
I headed over to Lowden State Park along the Rock River. I drove around looking for a parking lot and found one at a trailhead near a statue. I got out of the car to find a beautiful 50 foot statue of a Native American right along a bluff overlooking the Rock River.
Native American statue at Lowden State Park
The statue commemorates the Blackhawk War which was fought in Illinois and Wisconsin between the U.S. and a band of Sauk Indians led by Chief Black Hawk in 1832. Abraham Lincoln, Zachary Taylor, Winfield Scott, and Jefferson Davis took part in this war on the U.S. army side.
I walked along the Rock River on the Blackhawk Trail and looped back on the Heckman Trail. The trails in this park can be hiked in less than an hour as it is rather small.
Enjoying a sunset along the Rock River at Lowden State Park
I ended up back at the statue for sunset and watched the sun disappear over the bluff on the western side. Before the sun faded is shone on the Native American statue and it glowed in the reflection in almost a crimson color. I got in my car drove back into town and then headed back to Rock Cut on U.S. Highway 2. I looked across the river and there was the statue still visible in the fading light.
The statue and I enjoy the sunset over the Rock River
The statue from the other side of the river on U.S. Highway 2 north of Oregon
I love stumbling upon interesting things like this when traveling. Unknown travel surprises can happen anywhere, even in the farm fields of north central Illinois.
TT
The goal of Traveling Ted is to inspire people to outdoor adventure travel and then provide tips on where and how to go. If you liked this post then enter your email in the box to get email notifications for each new entry. Daily travel photos are excluded from your email in order to not flood you with posts. There is no spam and email information will not be shared. Other e-follow options include Facebook (click on the like box to the right) or twitter (click on the pretty bird on the rainbow above).
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I am ordering this book right now for two people on my Christmas list. I dont look at Chicago-land as hikeable. I am glad to be proven wrong.
Carol,
I would say the Chicagoland area is very hikeable, but just not very backpackable. There are many trails in forest preserves, nature centers, state parks, and even a few federally owned places (Indiana Dunes and Midewin), but not many places for overnight hikes.
oh ted. your vacationing is so different from ours. but you know what they say– opposites attract. or something. xo!
thelazytravelers recently posted..the wino’s year full of thanks
It is not completely true as we have both been to Manual Antonio, and I think I have see you lazy travelers in a rainforest or two.
Such a cool project with LL Bean! I might have to get that book, too.
We hit Lowden State Park back in August after camping at White Pines Forest State Park. Mark was experiencing deja vu as we were there and then when we reached the statue of Chief Black Hawk, it hit him: he had to hike the Black Hawk trail when he was in the Boy Scouts! It is quite scenic on that overlook, peering down on the Rock River. Your sunset photos are gorgeous! And you’re right, North Central Illinois farmland ain’t all that bad.
Francesca (@WorkMomTravels) recently posted..Pompeii – with or without children
That is cool that you have been. I will have to ask you how camping at White Pines was.
The statue on Lowden Park looks really neat. I just bought an ORANGE outer shell for my Kili hike – it is THE color to wear.
Raul (@ilivetotravel) recently posted..Photos of the Week – Murals in Barrio Bellavista, Santiago
Orange is also the color of my alma mater (U. of Tennessee), but we stink at football. We just fired our coach.
Awesome pictures – I love the statue, especially the way you photographed it. I may have to check out these hiking trails sometime soon!
Thanks, the sunset was the perfect time to come here. The trails are not bad for Illinois farmland.
I love reading your blog during my lunchtime – you always take me to places I wouldn’t go! Love the lake pics – you are tempting me!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..A night at the Cadogan Hotel in London by @maiden_voyage
Thanks Mrs. O,
Glad that my posts are a good accompaniment with lunch. I hope I never upset your digestion 🙂
Love the concept of this project, so cool! 🙂
Fiona recently posted..How to Live the Made in Chelsea Lifestyle on a London Break
Thanks Fiona,
I am proud to be a part of it.
Beautiful pic of the statue. The jacket sounds awesome too, although I doubt it would live out its outdoorman destiny if I bought one…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and a Teachable Moment
It is a nice jacket to wear anytime and anywhere it rains.
I was just looking at hiking trails in Illinois… Useful post for me. 🙂 I hope I get to do some hiking before winter hits us hard.
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted..Photo of the Week: San Francisco rooftops
It won’t be long Pola, I hope.
always welcome the chance to see monuments to many of those forgotten conflicts…
Craig Zabransky recently posted..Sunset Sunday – Sunset View of Tjampuhan Valley, Ubud, Bali
Especially when they are this pretty.