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Outdoor blogger, Teri Stickler and her fellow explorer, Kaia, check out Black Hawk State Park and Historic Site in this month’s edition of Let’s Move QC.
By Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia
If you are looking for a holiday hike close to home and bursting with local history, then Blackhawk State Park and Historic Site is a great, kid- and four-legged companion friendly place to spend a few hours appreciating the historic beauty of our area. It was a first hike for my Samoyed and loyal companion, Kaia.
Outdoor blogger, Teri Stickler, and her faithful companion (and part time LMQC mascot), Kaia.
On this day today we walked the Rock River Interpretive Trail. Though the day was hot, the forest canopy made good cover and Kaia even found a place to get her feet wet in the Rock River. This particular trail has some steep staircases, but the trail is well established and incudes interpretive signs along the path.
An interpretive Trail Guide is available at the Hauberg Indian Museum.
Hiking through history
Fighting for their own independence, during the War of 1812, Black Hawk challenged the validity of a treaty between the Sauk & Fox and Governor Harrison. The treaty ceded this and other territory to the U.S. government. Black Hawk did not accept this and fought on the side of the British against the U.S., trying to push settlers away from Sauk territory. Then in 1832 he led Sauk and Fox warriors again, this time in the Black Hawk War, after which he was captured.
Across Blackhawk Road (one can use the Pedestrian Bridge or park near Singing Bird Nature Center on 15th Street,) the wooded area offers miles of additional trails through the nature preserve.
You can also download a printable PDF of this map by clicking the link in the article.
Black Hawk Trail (1.4 miles), Singing Bird Interpretive Trail (.7 miles) and additional walking trails, all of moderate difficulty. A printable map is available here.
During the months of June and July guided natural history hikes are held every Wednesday at 10:00am – 11:15am. The hikes are free, but participants must call to pre-register: 309-788-9536.
Open year-round, the site offers picnic areas, shelters, (available on a first come first serve basis,) many hiking trails, (some paved,) restrooms, Watch Tower Lodge, The John Hauberg Indian Museum, a well-established prairie, and Singing Bird Nature Center.
Today’s Watch Tower Lodge was built in phases by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was completed in 1941. The Watch Tower Lodge is currently closed to events due to ongoing renovations. Once completed, June 2022, it will be available for event reservation.
We would encourage everyone to come visit this wonderful park and historic site.
Check out Teri and Kaia’s pictures …
If you are looking for a holiday hike close to home and bursting with local history, then Blackhawk State Park and Historic Site is a great, kid- and four-legged companion friendly place to spend a few hours appreciating the historic beauty of our area. It was a first hike for my Samoyed and loyal companion, Kaia.
Outdoor blogger, Teri Stickler, and her faithful companion (and part time LMQC mascot), Kaia.
The area has a deep and rich history. Located high on a bluff overlooking the Rock River, this was once home to the Sauk nation, “Saukenuk,” and birthplace of Black Hawk. Here for nearly 100 years the Sauk people farmed the land, fished, gathered maple sugar, and collected fur-bearing animals for fur trade. Much of this changed in the early 1800’s.
On this day today we walked the Rock River Interpretive Trail. Though the day was hot, the forest canopy made good cover and Kaia even found a place to get her feet wet in the Rock River. This particular trail has some steep staircases, but the trail is well established and incudes interpretive signs along the path.
An interpretive Trail Guide is available at the Hauberg Indian Museum.
Hiking through history
Fighting for their own independence, during the War of 1812, Black Hawk challenged the validity of a treaty between the Sauk & Fox and Governor Harrison. The treaty ceded this and other territory to the U.S. government. Black Hawk did not accept this and fought on the side of the British against the U.S., trying to push settlers away from Sauk territory. Then in 1832 he led Sauk and Fox warriors again, this time in the Black Hawk War, after which he was captured.
Across Blackhawk Road (one can use the Pedestrian Bridge or park near Singing Bird Nature Center on 15th Street,) the wooded area offers miles of additional trails through the nature preserve.
You can also download a printable PDF of this map by clicking the link in the article.
Black Hawk Trail (1.4 miles), Singing Bird Interpretive Trail (.7 miles) and additional walking trails, all of moderate difficulty. A printable map is available here.
During the months of June and July guided natural history hikes are held every Wednesday at 10:00am – 11:15am. The hikes are free, but participants must call to pre-register: 309-788-9536.
Open year-round, the site offers picnic areas, shelters, (available on a first come first serve basis,) many hiking trails, (some paved,) restrooms, Watch Tower Lodge, The John Hauberg Indian Museum, a well-established prairie, and Singing Bird Nature Center.
Today’s Watch Tower Lodge was built in phases by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was completed in 1941. The Watch Tower Lodge is currently closed to events due to ongoing renovations. Once completed, June 2022, it will be available for event reservation.
We would encourage everyone to come visit this wonderful park and historic site.
Check out Teri and Kaia’s pictures …
Teri Stickler
Outdoor Blogger and Co-Adventurer
Meet Teri Stickler. Teri is a retired Quad-City teacher. She thoroughly enjoys the out-of-doors, sharing most of her adventures with her Samoyed companion, Kaia.
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