Show Connector Trails
This trail is located close to or on open water, wetlands, or floodplain. Please use caution and be alert for water near or on the trail. Be alert for flooding and swiftly moving water. Check with your local trail manager for more information on closures during periods of high water.
Trailhead Information
This section of the GRT can be accessed by Fisherman's Corner Recreation Area, a popular camping destination along the Mississippi River or in the Village of Rapids City at Shuler's Shady Grove Park which can be accessed via a parking lot on 1st Avenue and 11th Street.
Description
This section of the Great River Trail has abundant offerings to nature enthusiasts. Fisherman's Corner offers camping, fishing, and opportunities to see abundant wildlife in a shallow water marsh on the upstream side of Lock and Dam No. 14, which contains frogs, turtles, muskrats, blue herons, and waterfowl in the fall. Downstream of the levee are fishing waters containing all species native to the area. In the winter, trail users will also often be treated to majestic bald eagles in flight, feeding over the Mississippi River, or nesting in the Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge Nature Preserve on the adjacent bluff. On the eastern end of this section is Shuler's Shady Grove Park which includes a public boat ramp and gazebo with a scenic overlook of the Mississippi River. This 2.7-mile section of trail is flat and has a concrete and asphalt surface, making it an easy to moderate experience for trail users.
The Great River Trail (GRT) runs beside the Mississippi River through the Quad Cities region from Sunset Park in Rock Island to the Rock Island County-Whiteside County line. This section of the GRT is part of the larger 66-mile GRT mile trail system that extends from Rock Island, Illinois at its south end to Savanna, Illinois at its northern terminus. The GRT is widely used as an alternative transportation link and for both active and passive recreational benefits. In addition, the trail provides access and connections to neighborhoods, commercial districts, industrial areas, recreational areas, and historical landmarks. The trail parallels the Great River Road National Scenic Byway (Illinois state highways 92 and 84) throughout the region.
Other Information
The Great River Trail is also part of three other significant trail networks: the Mississippi River Trail (MRT), the American Discovery Trail (ADT), and the Grand Illinois Trail (GIT). The MRT is a 3,000 mile trail system that follows the Mississippi River from the headwaters in Itasca, Minnesota to its delta at the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, Louisiana. The ADT traverses the U.S. coast to coast from California to Delaware for more than 6,800 miles across 15 states. As it loops more than 500 miles between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, the entire Grand Illinois Trail joins together existing and proposed state and local trails to create the state’s longest continuous trail. It hugs historic canals, crosses unglaciated hills, parallels the Rock and Fox Rivers, and includes one of America’s first rail-trails.
Elevation Profile
The elevation profile above approximates terrain along the specified section of trail and is provided for general information. Use your best judgment to choose trails with elevation changes to match your comfort level. See QC Trails Terms of Use for more information.
Trail Managers
Visit the Rock Island County Forest Preserve District or the Village of Rapids City online for more information or contact:
Rock Island County Forest Preserve District
19406 Loud Thunder Road
Illinois City, IL 61259
Phone: (309) 795-1040
jcraver@ricfpd.org
Village of Rapids City, Illinois
P.O. Box 134
1204 4th Avenue
Rapids City, IL 61278
Phone: (309) 496-2321
r.village@mchsi.com
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