Coles: Nature, Rivers, and History

Hiking and Water at Fox Ridge State Park

Steep, wooded ridges and broad valleys shape the landscape at Fox Ridge State Park. The 2,064-acre park is in Coles County, south of Charleston in eastern Illinois, and is known for its challenging hiking trails. A 8-mile trail system includes ten interconnected trails. The park’s distinctive ridges and valleys are complemented by a trail network whose scope can be understood by its total length and number of trails.

The park also offers a specific way to spend time outdoors on the water: two canoe launch sites make a five-mile trip on the Embarras River possible. If you’re choosing between hiking and paddling, you can include both activities in your outing plans. The five miles refer to the canoe trip; the eight miles describe the trail system.

Protected Areas and Nature Trails

Warbler Ridge Conservation Area encompasses more than 1,000 acres of natural land. An approximately four-mile, easy trail begins at Bypass Road and ends at Daileyville Road. Its approximate length and named endpoints give the trail a different point of reference from the overall length of a multi-trail system.

Embarras River Land and Water Reserve is in southeastern Coles County, three miles south of Charleston. It is located within Fox Ridge State Park and the Embarras River Resource Rich Area. Protected areas include upland forests, floodplain forests, a river with a moderate current, and successional areas. The reserve also has a canoe access point on the Embarras River.

Douglas-Hart Nature Center has two miles of maintained trails; they are ADA-accessible and stroller-friendly. The nature center encompasses 65 acres of original Illinois habitats, including prairie, woodland, and wetlands. The difference is useful when planning a route: Fox Ridge is described as having challenging hiking trails, while Douglas-Hart specifies that its trails are accessible and stroller-friendly.

History, Art, and Local Traditions

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site preserves the 19th-century home of Thomas Lincoln and Sarah Bush Lincoln. The site also includes a working historic farm and the historic farm of Stephen and Nancy Sargent, which was relocated here.

Tarble Arts Center is a teaching museum on the Eastern Illinois University campus in Charleston. In Mattoon, the artifacts and collections of the Coles County Historical Society are housed in the depot’s mezzanine. Both places offer a distinct connection for cultural interests, but they differ in focus: one is a teaching museum, while the other is home to historical collections.

The Coles County Fair was established in 1854 and is the oldest continuously held fair in Illinois. Its long history sets it apart from historical sites preserved on a permanent basis: here, the focus is on the tradition of a recurring event.

More Activities

Coles County Speedway is one of the oldest dirt-track facilities in the Midwest. Its track is a 1/8-mile dirt/clay oval. For motorsports enthusiasts, both the type of facility and the track length are specified. Lake Charleston has hiking and biking trails, adding more opportunities for walking and cycling to the range of activities.

Discover more destinations: Charleston, Mattoon, Christian County, Montgomery County, McDonough, Lawrence, Pope, Sangamon County.

For the broader travel overview: Illinois.