Rock Island Trail Map
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Rock Island Trail information page via TrailLink
To view the map with distances along the trail click here: Rock Island Trail Distances Map
Brief History of the Rock Island Trail
The Peoria and Rock Island Railroad formerly ran freight and passenger trains from Peoria to Toulon on this rail line. By 1960, the ties and rails had been removed from Alta to Toulon and the right-of-way corridor sat vacant. In 1965, through the leadership of Bill Rutherford, Forest Part Foundation purchased the right-of-way. In 1969 the foundation donated the land to the State of Illinois for the purpose of developing it into a recreation trail.
Construction of the trail began in 1975, but due to legal challenges by several opposition groups construction was shut down. Some members of these groups even used gasoline to set fire to a new wooden deck over the Spoon River. Finally, 1981, the first five-mile segment from Dunlap to Princeville was opened to the public. Additional segments opened over the next several years. This was the first rail to trail project in Illinois.