Rocky Glen Park

Yesterday we FINALLY made to Rocky Glen.  Many years ago, a friend who knew that I liked to poke around in the woods told me of a waterfall to the south of our house.  I eventually figured out that the location was on private land and difficult to access.  Then, a little less than a year ago, the area was purchased by the city of Peoria for use as parkland.  Because the area is undeveloped, access is still limited, but the Friends of Rocky Glen have been hosting guided monthly Saturday morning hikes to the location.  Most times we have had schedule conflicts, but yesterday all four of us finally got a chance to go.  We met in the parking lot of a local bar, and shuttle bus to dropped us off close to the trail head.  We found the guides to be quite knowledgeable about the location and its history (there was an abandoned coal mine with a closed-up shaft) and prehistory (I did not know that the area was believed to be carved out rapidly by glacial floodwaters)http://friendsofrockyglen.org/.  Since we have done a bit of fossil hunting just a mile to the north of the Glen, comparisons were inevitable to other natural areas in central Illinois.  While this is not Starved Rock State Park or Matthiessen State Park, this area had larger ravines than near our house AND they were clean (no discarded tires, washing machines, and other junk).  The falling leaves added to the beauty.

.  Some of these details are posted at this website: