Description
Hop on the Great River Trail in charming Cordova and continue upriver alongside the shores of the Mighty Mississippi for beautiful views of the "Mighty Miss." Traverse through forest, Midwest farm fields, and alongside scenic bluffs that parallel Illinois Highway 84. Majestic bald eagles are often seen feeding or nesting along side the river. Trail users will enjoy an easy to moderate trail experience in terms of effort.
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 Manager
Visit the Village or Cordova or Rock Island County Forest Preserve District online for more information or contact:
19406 Loud Thunder Road
Illinois City, IL 61259
(309) 795-1040
View website
Nearby Geocaches
Trail Map
Trailhead Information
Access for this segment of the Great River Trail can be found within Cordova on Main Avenue 3rd Avenue North and South. The trail exits the town and metropolitan area continuing north upriver towards its terminus in Savanna, Illinois
