Mara dodges cyclists on the Black Partridge Park Trail near Metamora, Illinois.
Posts by Mara Thacker:
Walkin’ in the Woods: Sangamon River Trail
![Walkin’ in the Woods: Sangamon River Trail](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_2558.jpg)
Mara heads west to check out the delightful, well-appointed Sangamon River Trail.
Walkin’ in the Woods: Abandoned Observatory Trail
![Walkin’ in the Woods: Abandoned Observatory Trail](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/img_2130.jpg)
Mara visits the Abandoned Observatory trail where she fails to see the observatory but has a nice time with her canine companion, Elmo.
Walkin’ in the Woods: Homer Lake Scenic Route
![Walkin’ in the Woods: Homer Lake Scenic Route](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/03e50913-95ec-484d-9977-eb2056fe743b.jpeg)
Mara finds a “shorter, flatter, closer” trail at Homer Lake Forest Preserve because it's hot as heck and gas is expensive.
Walkin’ in the Woods: Fox Ridge State Park Loop Trail
![Walkin’ in the Woods: Fox Ridge State Park Loop Trail](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/304494e7-86db-48de-8740-983b59c29b70.jpeg)
Mara heads south to Fox Ridge State Park for a trail with many stairs, trash cans, and gorgeous old trees.
Walkin’ in the Woods: Forest Glen River Ridge Trail
![Walkin’ in the Woods: Forest Glen River Ridge Trail](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/img_1046.jpg)
Mara heads back to Vermillion County for her longest trail yet at the Forest Glen Preserve.
Walkin’ in the Woods: North Fork Trail Clinton Lake
![Walkin’ in the Woods: North Fork Trail Clinton Lake](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ff97c5e2-5847-416d-b7b8-f6b9d3cd6164.jpeg)
Mara travails the many hills and tiny bridges along the North Fork Trail in Clinton Lake State Recreation Area.
Walkin’ in the Woods: Lake Mingo Trail
![Walkin’ in the Woods: Lake Mingo Trail](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/735ea230-4685-4f2f-b753-2b0363f9ce1a.jpeg)
Mara revisits an old favorite in Kennekuk Cove County Park.
Walkin’ in the Woods: KRR Short Loop
![Walkin’ in the Woods: KRR Short Loop](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/e4260ef0-bf53-41ed-a079-b1f5365f8e0a.jpeg)
Mara kicks off her new “Walkin' in the Woods” series with a review of the KRR Short Loop trail at Kickapoo State Park.