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.
