Happy Trails Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Happy Trails Park is a popular destination located in the state of Illinois, offering a range of activities for visitors of all ages.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park is known for its scenic beauty, hiking trails, and diverse wildlife. The park spans over 500 acres and is situated alongside the Kankakee River, providing visitors with a beautiful natural environment to explore.
One of the main attractions of Happy Trails Park is its extensive hiking trails. The park boasts more than 13 miles of trails that wind through forests, wetlands, and prairies. These trails are perfect for hikers, bird watchers, and nature enthusiasts alike, providing plenty of opportunities to see wildlife up close. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, boating, and kayaking on the Kankakee River.
Other points of interest in Happy Trails Park include the scenic overlooks, picnic areas, and the visitor center. The park also offers educational programs and guided tours for visitors, providing insight into the area's history and natural features.
Interesting facts about Happy Trails Park include its status as a designated Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. The park is also home to a variety of rare and endangered plant species.
The best time of year to visit Happy Trails Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. In the summer, visitors can enjoy the park's many water activities, while winter offers opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Overall, Happy Trails Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to explore the natural beauty of Illinois. With its extensive trails, diverse wildlife, and range of activities, the park offers something for everyone to enjoy.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Huntington Meadows
Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Granger Forest Preserve
Ancient Oaks Park
Apple Orchard Greenway