Forest Glen Preserve

I went backpacking here, and it was just wonderful. The 11 mile trail (with your fully loaded pack) is great to get ready for tougher backpacking trips. Campsite was nice, and they have an outhouse.

This is a great 11 mile trail. I’d highly recommend it for someone looking to step-​up from shorter trails to something closer to a full-​day hike. It’s located conveniently close to Champaign-​Urbana, and closer still to Danville. At a good pace the trail can be finished in just over five hours. Slower hikers, or those who stop at the observation tower for lunch can take up to six and half hours. With plenty of up and down, and a few very steep hills this is good trail for anyone training or practicing.
Bring waterproof boots as there are many stream crossings; also, portions of the trail itself become a bit of a quagmire during «mud season». Cool breezes come off the Vermilion river, and will cool you off when crossing the trail’s river-​side ridge lines. While most of the trail falls under a canopy of deciduous trees, there are portions of open prairie, and even a stretch alongside a corn field (very appropriate for the Corn Desert Hikers, huh?). There was only one spot where you might get lost, after coming out of the forest onto an old dirt (or mud) road, you follow the road up the hill. We crossed the road and were lost in just a few feet. The rest of the trail is very well blazed though. Large bread dogs will do well on this trail, but will get wet and muddy. I’d say it’s a bit too long and too challenging for first-​time hikers or children.
There is a campground, enclosed and open shelters, and a lodge in the park, fees vary. The 11 mile backpacking trail required pre-​registration one week before hiking, but that’s not enforced too strickly.
Unless you bring them with you, post-​hike libations maybe a bit hard to come-​by. The tiny near-​by Westville doesn’t feature any establishments that offer both (good) food and beer. The taverns feature modest viddles like microwaved hot dogs, frozen pizza, or popcorn, (seriously popcorn?). Up U.S. Route 150 in Beligum are a few Family Restaurants, basically road-​side dinners, they have impressive menus, but no brews.
Once you get to Westville, keep an eye out for the brown signs pointing towards Forest Glen. The turn off is at the intersection of State and Main.