Best Hiking Trails in Loud Thunder Forest Preserve

Overview

Loud Thunder Forest Preserve is located in Illinois City and is a Rock Island County, Illinois Park. It is open from sunrise to 10:00PM. Hauberg East and West and Sac-Fox Trail North are single use trails. These trails be easily accessed via the River View camping area; see map at http://www.ricfpd.org/ForestPreserveDistrict/media/RI-County-Forest-Preserve/PDFs/Loud-Thunder-Forest-Preserve_Overview-2015.pdf. This area also offers restrooms (Pit Toilet), picnic, camping, playground equipment, as well as a boat launch. You also can access the Hauberg East Trail off of Route 92 at the Northeast corner of the park, but this is a secluded area with parking only and is not inviting.

Hauberg East is an out and back trail or you could combine it with Sac Fox North and create a loop trail. All trails at Loud Thunder are packed dirt or prairie trails and after a rain may be muddy. A wind storm on 08/10/2020 knocked down trees throughout the park. Hauberg East has a number of trees down blocking the trail as does Sax Fox North and Hauberg West. You can get around the downed trees, but this kind of hiking may not be for everyone. In addition to the trees down there is a lot of debris on the trails and at times Hauberg East and Sac Fox trails do not appear to be maintained. There are some ditch crossings that do not have bridges or steps and this may make it difficult for some. Some elevation changes and the ditch crossings may not make it suitable for smaller children; otherwise there are no technical challenges to the trails making it suitable for everyone who wants an adventure. The upper loop trails of Hauberg West are suitable for all and there are picnic tables and grills in these areas.

After your hike enjoy all of the other amenities that the park has to offer. There are numerous picnic areas available, equipped with tables and grills. Although swimming is not allowed at Lake George boat rentals are available Wednesday-Sunday 08:00AM to 7:00PM. Single and double kayaks, Jon boats and Party Barges are all available. If you have a horse there is a Horse Coral and Campground for you as well as the Bridle Trail. There are also are number of other multi-use trails in the park, i.e. Sac Fox Front loop and Sac Fox South Trail loop.

Sac Fox Front is a Multi-use trail and is predominately an equestrian trail commonly referred to as a bridle trail. This trail is a mowed grass trail that winds alongside tall prairie grasses. In the morning hours this trail is going to be wet from dew if you are going to hike it. This bridle trail trailhead can be accessed adjacent to the park office.

Sac Fox South trail is a multi-use, predominately an equestrian and hiking, loop trail. Because it is predominately an equestrian trail it is a wide trail packed earth trail. At its narrowest it is approximately three feet wide and at its widest approximately twelve feet. There are a number of stream crossings all of which have concrete footings through the streams. These streams would not be passable during a heavy ran without wading through the streams. The trails may close after a heavy rain to prevent trail rut. Sax Fox South Trail is well marked and maintained and winds through a hardwood forest. There are spots on the trail that are soft and have had heavy horse traffic. These may be tripping hazards, but you can easily walk around them. Although this trail is just at five miles in length it was suitable for persons of all ages as long as they are up to hiking its length.

Getting Started

The trailhead for Hauberg East is located on the east side of the parking lot at the River View Campground just up from the river. If you’re returning from Hauberg East via Sac Fox the Sac Fox trailhead can be found on the south side of the parking lot. Signs are posted at the trailheads and at intersections of these trails. Hauberg West is located on the west side of the parking lot for the boat launch at the back corner.

The trailhead for Sac Fox South is located south of the horse coral. Park anywhere along the horse coral, but be aware that there are also campsites in this area and please do not park in the campsites. Follow a small service road south down to the trailhead, which is located just past a trail kiosk. The prairie area before the trailhead is an interpretive area which consist of a planet walk and a tree identification area. Each planet is represented by a sign the first sign being the sun which is adjacent to the sun sign. Not all signs are readable as the elements have not been kind to the signs. This is a fun walk for the children though.

When to Go

Because there is so much available at Loud Thunder any time spring through winter is a good time to check out the park. Park may be crowded during the weekends or on holidays, but Hauberg East and West and Sac Fox North are rarely crowded. Be prepared for horses at Sac Fox South trail, especially on the weekends. This trail is popular with the equestrians on the weekends starting on Friday afternoon. There’s room for both on the trail, so don’t be shocked when you see a horse galloping up a hill in front of you.

Permits

No permits are required except for camping.

Dog Info

Loud Thunder is dog friendly, but the dogs must be on a leash at all times.