Sand Ridge State Forest
This trip occurred when I was much younger. I already had two children and a job that was very stressful and time consuming. At work, I was supporting the technology for a very large merger. My wife suggested a break and I found Sand Ridge State Forest a few hours away.
“To those who think central Illinois is one big cornfield, Sand Ridge State Forest will come as a very pleasant surprise. Just minutes southwest of Peoria, this 7,500 acre area–largest of Illinois’ State Forests–boasts sweeping expanses of native oak-hickory timbers, extensive plantations of pine, sprawling open fields, grasslands, and completely matchless sand prairies.” -Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
I arrived at the park headquarters on a very rainy Saturday afternoon. I merely asked them for someplace to camp away from everything. So many years afterward, I don’t remember the exact campsite, but it was a large field with a row of trees on the boundary. I set up a hang in the tree and then sat in the tent to wait out the rain. By the early evening, the rain stopped, and I made dinner. It wasn’t a formal campsite; there was no fire ring, tent designated area, or picnic table. I don’t recall making a fire. After the storm, it was a nice cool evening.
The next morning was much warmer, and the sun was out. After breakfast, I hiked the trails. As promised, I went through tall, wooded stands that were growing out of the sand. Amazing. I also went through grasslands and saw prickly pear cactus. That’s unusual to see in Illinois. The park is also popular for horse travel. I intersected a trailhead for those patrons of the park and refilled my water. I hiked a little more into the early evening and then packed up and returned to my car to head home. It was a nice relief from the daily stress.