Customer Reviews

Hiking Illinois (America's Best Day Hiking Series)

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This book is great for an outdoor enthusiast! It contains detailed descriptions of 100 trails located throughout Illinois, including a difficulty rating, estimated time required and trail length. A summary of this information is also displayed in a table, allowing users to easily identify a trail and locate it within the book. Each detailed entry includes directions to the site, rules and regulations, contract information, and maps of both the trails and the parks. In addition, other sites of interest which are located in the surrounding area are often listed at the end of each entry. Hiking Illinois offers very complete coverage and the author incorporates her experiences at the sites into her book.

As described, this book includes detailed descriptions of 107 hikes, from easy strolls through city parks to demanding treks in magnificent, remote portions of Illinois that will amaze those who may be somewhat unfamiliar with the natural beauties available within the state. However, it is far more than just a trail guide summary. It also includes a wealth of information on the geological, biological, and human history of some of the more unique regions within the state. Area descriptions provide vivid accounts of their geological origin, geopolitical influences (including early and modern human habitation) shaping them, and even local legends and lore. Natural history buffs, or those aspiring to be, will enjoy the accounts of the variety of flora and fauna that may be encountered at each location.

Driving directions and area maps help guide hikers to each region and the individual trailheads. Sections describing facilities within each location and other nearby areas of interest make this an important resource beyond a hiking guide.

The maps, visual waypoints, mileage markers, and flowing descriptions of geological features, plants, and animals along the way give readers the impression of actually hiking along with the author. Hikers will never feel the need for a GPS unit to find their way along the trail. I particularly enjoyed the author's brief, personal notes italicized at the beginning of each hike's description. These informational tidbits and overviews highlighted the author's experiences or impressions of each hike and really set the stage for the information that follows.

This guide is very well written and was exceptionally easy to read. In fact, it read much more like a narrative rather than a "how-to" or "where-to" guidebook. Hiker or not, this book will make one vastly more knowledgeable of the natural history and beauty of Illinois. And, be forewarned; read a segment or two and even the most avowed couch-potato will want to trade in that remote for a pair of hiking boots.

I picked this up as an avid central illinois day hiker. I'd done probably a dozen of the hikes listed, and was amazed to see just how different an impression that the author had had compared to mine. I found many descriptions just simply inaccurate or misleading, and laughed out loud at some of the trails that she had marked as 4-5 boot's difficult (I found them to be very easy trails, and I'm not some superman).

The book consists of several sets of maps, the 'how to get there' maps are pretty good, but the trail maps are practically worthless. Don't rely on them to find your way around.

Several of the 'hikes' are very urbanized, including walking through cities. Not my idea of a hike, but I guess they count. All in all, I was moderately disapointed in this book. The plusses are there are some good ideas for hikes listed that you might not have found all in one spot, but the usefulness pretty much ends at getting you to the park.

More than just a list of trails and directions, "Hiking Illinois" is a siren song luring the reader to lace up his boots and explore the hidden wonders of the Prairie State. For example, describing one hike, the author observes that "monarch butterflies cluster on Joe-Pye weed blooms, white ladies' tresses orchids bloom along the spring runs, giant robber flies with orange-red eyes sally forth seeking prey, a large walking stick may hitch a ride on your backpack, and violet-blue-fringed gentians add a bit of the fall sky to the marl flats." Who wouldn't drop the remote and leap from the La-Z-Boy?

With each of the 107 day hikes chronicled by author Post, the reader receives a lesson in the surrounding flora, fauna and geology. Have you noticed that shooting star blossoms emit an odor similar to grape juice? Can you guess the members of a puddle-club? What is the origin of Liesegang rings? Are you still seated? I, for one, couldn't wait to begin following Ms. Post's footsteps.

My first hike was at the Morton Arboretum near Lisle, Illinois. "Hiking Illinois" provided a brief history of the arboretum, clear directions for driving there, a list of amenities at the site, rules and restrictions as well as hours of operation. An overview map of the entire arboretum property offered perspective as to the size of the park and the portion in which I would be hiking. I chose to hike the East Main Trail and found the starting point with ease following Ms. Post's directions. My hiking companion and I made no wrong turns, despite numerous intersecting trails, with the guidance of both step-by-step written instructions and an inset map for the East Main adventure. (Yes, the large ash with the alligator-like bark was there on the right.)

The author didn't prepare us for the two White-winged Crossbills that appeared in the grove of pines as we began our hike, but how could she have known? And ear plugs should have been recommended as we approached the marsh at the 3.3 mile mark. The din created by tens of thousands of Western Chorus Frogs was deafening. The author did inform us that the marsh was a glacial pothole created when a chunk of retreating glacier broke off, melted and filled with water. And we were also unprepared for the flock of fifty Sandhill Cranes that floated overhead on the thermals as we approached the end of our 4.5 mile hike, but the dolomite prairie was along our route just as described.

If the reader was not an outdoor enthusiast before reading this book, he is sure to be a convert after just a few pages. And for the veteran hiker, the numerous accounts of adventures from all regions of Illinois are sure to open new vistas. I highly recommend "Hiking Illinois" as a must read.

The second edition of Hiking Illinois is not just a hiking guide, it's really a guide to many of the states best natural areas, with a few cultural and historical trips thrown in. It's packed with information that is easy to follow and interesting. The most outstanding feature is the author's vast and clearly presented knowledge of the biological and ecological side of the hikes. She knows every one intimately. She has directions to trails in several sites that you wouldn't find on your own, and in general she guides you to the better trails at sites. The guide is clear and quick enough refernce to let you move though the hikes briskly if you choose, but at the same time it has enough info that if you want to slow down and spend time quietly paying attention to the flora and fauna and scenery, there are plenty of points of interest to choose from. Most of the hikes tend to be on well manicured trails, so you can usually make them as strenuous or light as you like, by varying your speed.

I wish that all guide book writers put as much into their books, and knew as much about their subject, as Sue Post. Many of these hikes have fantastic scenery, but because this is Illinois, the landscape can sometimes be unspectacular, which is why it is so welcomed that the author spends time describing and pointing out the little things that usually miss our attention. I own other guides for the region, and this is my favorite. Do a couple of these hikes, at the right time of year, and you will see amazing things, do enough of them, and you won't think of Illinois in the same way.

This book provides beautiful imagery of the author's experience making the hikes all the more appealing. The author provides incredibly helpful information about each hike: approximately how long it will take, how hard it will be, what facilities are available and how to find the trailheads.

The turn by turn directions and descriptions of what I will see along the way help me know I am on the right track and not getting lost on some hours long hike I didn't plan for. The background information provided about each of the areas makes you appreciate them even more.

For each location, the author also provides the rules of the area, including those pertaining to pets. Knowing which hikes can be hiked with four legged companions is a definite plus for dog owners and eliminates the frustration of showing up only to find a "no dogs allowed" sign.

The easy to use Trail Finder at the front is great to quickly see what is available in a given area. If you are looking for a hike through forests and wetlands in the northern region, the Trail Finder quickly identifies hikes that are sure to please.

In addition to the 107 hikes that are written about in detail, additional nearby hikes are provided. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for interesting hikes in Illinois.

Most people don't think of Illinois when they think about hiking. Yes, much of the Illinois landscape is flat, boring agricultural fields--no evident opportunities for hiking. Luckily Illinois has Susan Post.

I like the easy to interpret Trail Finder table that gives at-a-glance information about the hikes featured in the book, but I most appreciate the detailed hike descriptions. What will I see? Are there interesting plants or birds? Where do I turn? What do I need to watch out for? The author has personally hiked every trail, and she takes the time to describe not only the physical trail attributes but tidbits of nature as well. She also points out culturally unique or historical features along each hike.

This fairly large soft cover book will not readily fit in your back pocket, but will not take up too much room or weight in a daypack. I'm likely to be leaving this book in the car when I hike. I tend to pick up local trail maps that will fit my pocket. Lucky for me the author has meticulously included contact information for each park.

Not every possible hike in Illinois is featured, and the reader will notice large areas of the state with no hikes. Don't despair, that's just the nature of Illinois. With over 100 hikes to choose from spread from north to south, there's more than enough trails to keep the avid hiker or intrepid naturalist busy.

Bought this book about a month ago, and have since used it about 6 times for various hikes in Illinois. The book is well laid out, and so far has proven to be very accurate. There are detailed directions to trail heads that you would never find with out this book. Some of these trails are just spectacular, and the author has really done her homework. Trails are rated with diffuculty and facilities close buy in the beggining of the book, as well as a general map to help you find the area of interest. Each hike is described in detail and includes all pertanent information, including detailed directions, hours of operation, permits and rules, etc. This book has a wealth of information, and I intend to hike all 100 hikes in time. The best part of this book is the removable pages. The hikes are arranged so that you can tear out a page along a perforation and take it with you on your hike. The maps included are not exactly topo quality, but they do give you a general feeling for the layout of the trail, and you can use them as a general referance as you hike along. Each hike is contained on one or two pages, and there is no overlap between hikes. That means if you tear out a page, you will only have one hike on that page, and not an overlap to another hike. This is a very thoughtfull addition, as my pages tend to get a little mauled after 5 miles of sweat dripping on them. I have checked the accuracy of these maps, and have found them quite accurate in milage and directions. All in all I am very pleased with this book, and will use it for many years. Keep in mind, these are day hikes, and not intended as long trail hiking. While trails very in distance and milage, all of them can be completed in one day. Good trail guide.

Doc Holiday