forest park

We always have a great experience when we go to Forrest Park Nature Center. We enjoy hiking, the shop and the small exhibits that they have. I've been taking my children since they were 3 & 5, they are now adults and we still enjoy going! If you have never been here, you really need to go, you won't regret it.

If your looking for some informatiion on nature for central Illinois, this is the place to go. A good place to take children and grand kids, plus they have some programs for children to participate in throughout the year. And it's not just for kids most all adults will learn something on their visit.

This place is beautiful. My friends and I like to hike here when the weather is decent. It's nice, quiet and peaceful

Came here on a foliage drive mid-October. Unfortunately we had the dog with us. No dogs allowed here! I'm not sure why they aren't allowed on the trails. I guess irresponsible dog owners that don't pick up after them have ruined it for the rest of us. I would urge them to reconsider this no dog policy though. Maybe put some bag stations along the way.Also, the center itself doesn't open until 1:00 on Sundays. More than a bit late for a prime nature hunting day!We didn't stay long or hike far since we had the dog but what we saw seemed very nice. Would have loved to have seen more!

There are a variety of hiking trails from strenuous woods and hills to easy prairie. This is a four season hiking area and is particularly exhilarating in December during their luminary walks.

I like that you can spend the day in nature, see the animals, walk and just admire the great outdoors

I am newer to Peoria and this park seems to have the best trails that I have found so far. The visitors center has a lot of interesting displays and a nice shop. The property seems to be pretty well managed for native plantings. They do hold volunteer work days as well as host many clubs such as Audobon and others, check the website for more info.

Nice trails from easy to hard long and short. Did not see much wildlife but had a good time. Lady at the gift shop was helpful.

Forest Park offers an extensive and well maintained trail system. The trails offer varying levels of difficulty and duration. There is a small nature center at the entrance to the park which offers a few exhibits detailing information about the local fauna and flora of the area. We will definitely come back here again when we are in town to enjoy a peaceful walk in the woods!

This is a beautiful park with nice hiking paths. Perfect way to spend a whole day, or just a couple of hours.

Excellent forested trails to walk! Some long and some short, but all are tied together and a map is at each trail head and joining trail. It's a place to relax and enjoy the forest. Great in the fall!

We were so excited to find some great hiking when we moved to Peoria. It is gorgeous out here any time of year--my favorite time to come is fall.You can choose different difficulty levels, though most are pretty rigorous, especially if you are not super fit. You can also walk the main path, though, which is totally flat throughout and take in the scenery. If you come here in early evening, you can often see deer come pretty close to the trail.We actually like parking on Grandview Drive and starting the trail there that ends in Forest Park. It's a fairly long hike round trip, so leave at least a couple of hours. You get some amazing views of Grandview Drive from one of the peaks in the trail.

Peoria has some of the best parks in Illinois, and this is one of the better ones for taking long hikes in the woods.

Forest park nature center is a great asset for the community. The large park has an extensive number of trails through the woods and restored prairie grassland. There is an A frame interpretative center staffed with knowledgeable staff. They also have a nice nature store full of natural goods. We especially like the candle lit walk they have at Christmas. The trails are lit with luminaries and there is a campfire with hot chocolate and cider at the end. Inside, they have folk art and music. A good time for sure.

Whether you choose a solitary hike or an adventure with your family, Forest Park Nature Center is the place to go. Browse through the Nature Center building with many exhibits or hike one of the many well-marked trails. There are also guided hikes throughout the year and special events. This is a little piece of heaven in River City.