Too many people visit Chicago on their Illinois trip and don’t stop anywhere else. Although the stylish Midwest city is certainly worth a visit (it was named the “World’s Most Beautiful City” in 2025), there is more to discover in the Prairie State beyond the Windy City. Tucked away in the southeastern corner of the state, close to the border with Indiana, you’ll find Beall Woods State Park, a peaceful nature area covering 635 acres and encompassing a unique forest.
Beall Woods State Park is located about halfway between St. Louis, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky (which has an artsy district with trendy shops and Southern hospitality) — it’s approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes away from either city. The park is home to one of the last areas of virgin timber that’s left on the eastern side of the Mississippi River, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Some of the trees here are 120 feet tall and over 3 feet in diameter. With over 60 tree species, Jacque Cullison, the park’s natural resource coordinator for the IDNR, boasts, “People from all over the world come here to see the huge trees” (via Outdoor Illinois Journal).
What to do at Beall Woods State Park
Besides admiring the magnificent, ancient trees here, there are a number of outdoor activities to keep you busy at this state park. Hikers will want to explore the five different scenic trails around Beall Woods. The 1-mile Tuliptree Trail and the 1.25-mile White Oak Trail are some of the most popular — both are listed as easy walks and showcase the special trees and forest here. The White Oak Trail goes through upland and bottomland forest, while the Tuliptree Trail is great in spring to see wildflowers in bloom.
You can also spot bottomland oak and hickory trees on the 1.75-mile Ridgeway Trail, which can be combined with the White Oak Trail for a 3-mile loop. Visit the north part of the park for the 0.5-mile Sweet Gum Trail, where hikers can follow a creek to a rocky cliff…