Madison: Trails, Nature and River Culture

Madison combines activity, river landscapes and history into a destination offering many different discoveries. The MCT trail system is a particularly defining feature of a stay: For visitors to Madison County, it is a free, family-friendly way to enjoy recreation and get around. The twelve MCT Trails cover more than 138 miles and form an extensive network of separate Class One bike paths developed and maintained by Madison County Transit.

Trails for Active and Varied Days

The trails differ in landscape and route. The MCT Goshen Trail runs through Troy, Maryville, Glen Carbon and Edwardsville before reaching South Roxana. The MCT Schoolhouse Trail connects parks, forests, fields and residential areas between Madison and Troy. Those who prefer longer distances will find the MCT Confluence Trail, a 20.5-mile paved or limestone-surfaced path. It begins at Russell Commons Park in Alton and ends near West 20th Street in Granite City.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge can also be reached via several trails: It connects to the MCT Confluence Trail, the Mississippi River Trail and the St. Louis Riverfront Trail, offering views of the broad Mississippi River. In 1999, it was reopened to the public as part of the Route 66 Bikeway. When planning your vacation rental in Madison, you can therefore first consider whether you would prefer to spend your days along longer trail routes, taking in river views or exploring changing landscapes.

Forests, Rocks and Nature Observation

The MCT Nature Trail is a wooded path that crosses several streams or runs alongside them. Along the way, you may see rabbits, turkeys and deer. The Watershed Nature Center complements this landscape with more than 40 acres and serves as an outdoor learning center.

The Olin Nature Preserve is particularly striking. This protected Illinois Nature Preserve covers 294 acres, overlooks the Mississippi River from steep limestone bluffs, and features sinkholes, ravines and exposed rock ledges. Two clearly described trails are available for different hiking preferences: The Frog Trail is a 0.5-mile paved loop for beginners; the Beaver Trail is a 2.3-mile loop leading to Beaver Falls.

Further nature experiences are offered by the 46-acre Mississippi Sanctuary, with limestone bluffs, sinkholes, bottomland forests and prairies on the uplands, as well as an extensive trail network regularly used for environmental education and public outreach. The one-mile Bluff Trail leads to the edge of a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. At the 42-acre Kemp and Cora Hutchinson Bird Sanctuary, you can observe birds and other wildlife from an observation platform and along mowed paths.

River History and Culture

The Lewis & Clark State Historic Site commemorates Camp Dubois, the winter camp of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark from 1803–1804. During regular opening hours, the site provides access to a viewpoint and a memorial stone overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. At the National Great Rivers Museum, interactive exhibits and a theater explore the Mississippi River and its habitats; the museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

History and creative offerings also come together in Alton. The Pioneer Room at the Alton Museum of History and Art covers Alton’s history from the Lewis-&-Clark expedition through the Civil War. The Jacoby Arts Center is housed in a renovated 1899 furniture store and includes an art gallery, an educational facility and arts and crafts. Classes for adults and children there focus on pottery, stained glass, mosaics, watercolor painting and book arts.

Further themed excursions include guided hikes at Heartland Prairie on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from April through October. Free public tours are offered daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Melvin Price Locks and Dam. Cahokia Mounds adds a historical perspective with a 6.2-mile Nature/Culture Trail through wetlands, forests and grasslands. The site is considered the largest pre-Columbian archaeological site north of Mexico.

The Right Base for Planning Your Trip

When searching for a vacation rental in Madison, you can use the mix of activities you want for your days as a guide. For cycling and hiking days, the various MCT Trails, the Frog Trail and the Bluff Trail offer specific distances and landscapes. If river history is the main focus, the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, the National Great Rivers Museum, the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and the Melvin Price Locks and Dam lead to different aspects of the same great river landscape. For a more flexible family stay, you can alternate nature observation, creative classes and historical discoveries.

For further orientation, you will also find the local pages for Granite City, Collinsville, Alton, Edwardsville, Hamel, Glen Carbon and Wood River. This allows you to compare the places that interest you for your trip and then begin searching for suitable accommodation in Madison.

For the overarching travel overview: Illinois.

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