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Welcome to the Galena Trail

The Galena Trail and Coach Road is a scenic motor trail extending from Peoria to Galena, Illinois, following state, county and unpaved township roads. The Trail features cultural, scenic, historic and conservation points of interest, over a course of 150 miles through eight north central and northwestern Illinois counties.   The motor trail will soon be marked with directional signs and traces the historic alignments of the 1825 Galena Trail and its successor, the 1833 Peoria-Galena Coach Road, the first state road in northern Illinois. Both alignments followed ancient Native American trails, and were used by early American miners to link the Lead Mine Region of Illinois and Wisconsin with Peoria and southern Illinois.

Please Note: Directional signs guiding travelers over the Trail will begin to be installed by the State of Illinois in 2008.  If you wish to explore the Trail before the signs are installed, please follow the maps posted on this web site.

The southern Trailhead is at the Peoria’s Riverfront Visitor’s Center, at the foot of Main Street in downtown Peoria. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9-5
Saturday: 9-4.  Closed Sunday.

The Northern Trailhead of the Galena Trail and Coach Road is at the Galena Visitor’s Center in the historic train depot, 101 Bouthellier Street. 
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9-5.  Sunday: 10-5.

 

Photo of the month

Carding and knitting at the Apple River Fort


Last Updated: April 30, 2008

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