Little Grand Canyon

We took this trail counterclockwise (the path furthest from the restrooms) to get a longer ascent. The trail was well-kept and wide enough for two. The lookout was beautiful, but the rock cliffs and hiking down into the canyon was our favorite! After a rain, the rock parts of the trail are VERY slick and require a bit of care. There are also LOTS of mosquitoes down in the canyon, but DEET kept most away.

My wife and I decided on a cloudy day to do this hike. We are glad we went. We thought the first part was great, then we got to the really fun stuff. Beautiful hike. Not too aggressive, but also not just simple!

A really cool trail, we did it clockwise so it’s easier on my knees. Get bug spray for sure. It’s very scenic and a bit challenging towards the end

Very doable for anyone healthy. Recommend starting on left trailhead, coming out at the right (from parking lot perspective). Beautiful but being mosquito spray!

Beautiful trail under 4 miles but I would rate this more towards the difficult side than moderate. There are a couple of beautiful overlooks and creek crossings but at around midpoint, the path got too wet and there was an area where we needed to jump down a huge boulder to be able to continue down the trail. Definitely need shoes with good traction.

Our first hike before moving into the area. We g🥰😘gled best hiking in area and our real estate agent also said this is one not to miss. It is just over 3 miles but parts of it are harder inclines so it takes more time then you may anticipate. We did not have enough time here. I recommend making a day of it so you can have plenty of time to enjoy. So beautiful to climb down the falls with a live stream and caverns everywhere. Watch your step. Next time I am packing a picnic to enjoy by the falls, I will update my photos then…

Very beautiful any time of the year. The main trail to the canyon is a bit strenuous on the way back so prepare to go up quite a few hills. If you take the trail down through the canyon there's a lot of lovely spots. Wasps like to build nests by the bathrooms so keep a look out! Overall wonderful place to hike.

Great hike! I'd recommended for moderate to advanced hikers. The trails can be a bit slippery when wet, the trail has you crossing the stream a bit, but a beautiful place. Definitely our favorite from the area

A nice, quiet hike. We only saw 2 other people the whole 3.2 mile loop. The parking lot is well-maintained and the vault toilet was clean and stocked. The trail is very well marked. We followed the advice and went counter-clockwise, which does seem the best way to go as you climb down the canyon in the steeper part rather than up it.

We decided a quick little hike before we head to our VRBO… we got a little sidetracked… easy walk to lookout & back, more difficult if one does the loop

About a 4mile hike and great with kids. Please bring the best bug spray money can buy. The hike takes a nice circle trail with a nice adventurous rocky climb and down hill whichever you start. Great views and overlook area for nice breathtaking pictures.

Such a fun hike! Great view with overlook, and climbing up and down the rocks is a lot of fun. Just be careful if it rained recently, as it may get a bit slick, and be prepared to get a little muddy.

The Little Grand Canyon is an awe inspiring place to visit. It was surprising to learn that it resulted from poor land preservation. This is an excellent place to visit with the family. There is a sheltered area for picnics and also a kids playground. The trails area also great.

Warning - Lots of Ticks - but totally worth it. Just be prepared. We did this hike with a 12 month old, 2 year old, 3,6,11 and 13 year old but it was very hard for the young ones. The views were great

This was well worth the stop. It’s definitely a difficult hike, which was compounded with active rain. However, we’ll be back when it’s dry for another go. Keep in mind there are areas that you need to climb down and up via cut in steps. When it rains parts of the trail become very slick and extreme caution is needed.

Best hiking experience I've had! We were there in December and the weather was near perfect, trails not crowded at all. It gets pretty sketch in some areas,def not for the inexperienced or out of shape in those parts but other parts are paved and not difficult at all.

Nice trail to hike, it's in really good condition to the first overlook, but some minor scrambling which was not bad during the dry day I visit, but could be pretty slick if wet. Also, the trail measure out a little more than 3 miles with a couple of decent uphill portions.

A beautiful three mile trail. Bug spray and good shoes are a must. We wore water shoes with no grip and it was challenging. Took the children and they found "water slides" climbing down into the canyon. Small streams to splash around in, most no more than knee deep. You could spend the day here with all the beauty it has to offer,l. Walking straight through took about two and a half hours.

Excellent hike! The 3 mile trail is tree covered the entire way and includes many rocks you'll hike both up and down. My recommendation is to start at the lower parking lot, makes the view more special when you finally reach it. It is a more difficult hike but don't let that scare you off, I saw kids to older adults out enjoying it. If you're at all unsteady use trekking poles or a good ole hiking stick. Rocks can be slippery at times. I'll definitely be going back!

It’s one of the most beautiful hikes in Illinois in my opinion. This is not a trail for beginners as it has steep inclines and decent elevation change for Illinois. It’s a loop so there’s no way to avoid going uphill. At one point your hiking down a rock creek bed which is steep and can be very slippery in parts. The scenery is beautiful though and well worth the trip!