Visitors Guide to the Sam Bike Vadalabene Trail
Grafton and Elsah
Madison and Jersey County, Illinois
The Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail along the banks of the Mississippi River near Elsah
The Sam Vadalabene Trail is approximately 20 miles of level paved trail that parallels the Great River Road and the center portion of the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway. The trail is named after Sam M. Vadalabene, an Illinois State Senator and proponent of the trail. Riders, walkers, and joggers will see prairie wildflowers along the trail as well as flowering trees during the spring. Brilliant reds, yellows and oranges compliment the scenery in the fall. For those willing to brave the elements in the winter months should be able to see Bald Eagles soaring over the river and bluffs, or floating down the river on chunks of ice.
Attractions along the trail
(Mileage markers are approximate, the first number indicates the mileage if you start at the Piasa Bird just north of the Alton Visitors Center and the second number indicates the mileage if you start at Pere Marquette State Park's Visitor Center.)
Piasa Bird
(Mile 0 / Mile 20)
Located 1 mile north of Alton's Visitors Center at Piasa Park, this 48-by-22 foot reproduction of a Native American petroglyph is situated on a 100-by-75 foot section of the Mississippi bluffs.
BARRIER FREE PARKING
Clifton Terrace Park
(Mile 3.5 / Mile 16.5)
This is small roadside park sits along the trail with an informational kiosk of the history of the Clifton Terrace area. A small patch of prairie that features native grasses and wildflowers during the warmer months shows why Illinois was once called the Prairie State.
BARRIER FREE PARKING / BARRIER FREE PICNIC TABLES / BARRIER FREE RESTROOMS
Piasa Creek Access Area
(Mile 5.5 / Mile 14.5)
Located on the border of Madison and Jersey counties, this facility is part of the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area and provides access to the Mississippi River.
Limestone Bluffs
(Mile 8 / Mile 12)
The stretch between the Piasa Creek Access Area and Grafton is characterized by towering limestone bluffs that are ablaze with color during the fall.
Elsah
(Mile 10 / Mile 10)
A visit to Elsah is like stepping back into the 19th century. The entire town was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
BARRIER FREE PARKING / PICNIC TABLES / ILLINOIS HISTORIC SITE / RESTROOMS
New Piasa Chautauqua
(Mile 11.5 / Mile 8.5)
Private community founded in the late 19th century.
Grafton Visitors Center
(Mile 13 / Mile 7)
Grafton stretches out for approximately two miles along the Illinois River and is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. A Visitors Center welcomes travelers as you enter the town from the south with information and exhibits about Grafton and the surrounding community.
BARRIER FREE PARKING / BARRIER FREE PICNIC TABLES / BARRIER FREE RESTROOMS
Grafton
(Mile 14 / Mile 6)
Grafton stretches out for approximately two miles along the Illinois River and is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The town boasts a number of restaurants, and shops featuring antiques and crafts. In the winter, look for Bald Eagles roosting on the islands that are easily seen as the Vadalabene Trail parallels the Illinois River.
BARRIER FREE PARKING / BARRIER FREE PICNIC TABLES / NEARBY RESTAURANTS/ BARRIER FREE RESTROOMS / EAGLE WATCHING
Marquette Monument
(Mile 15.5 / Mile 4.5)
This monument commemorates Jacques Marquette being the first European to land in Illinois. The cross is cut from a solid piece of dolomite and is situated on a ledge of a bluff that overlooks the Illinois River.
BARRIER FREE PARKING / BARRIER FREE ILLINOIS HISTORIC SITE
Brussels Free Ferry
(Mile 17 / Mile 3)
This state operated free ferry crosses the Illinois River. A detour by crossing the river and riding along County Road 1 will lead to portions of the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area, the Visitors Center of the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge and the towns of Golden Eagle, Brussels, and Batchtown. The ferry area is one of the most popular spots for viewing Bald Eagles in the winter months.
BARRIER FREE PARKING / BARRIER FREE PICNIC TABLES / EAGLE WATCHING
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
(Mile 18 / Mile 2)
The Gilbert Lake portion of the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge occupies most of the land following the Great River Road on the riverside between Pere Marquette State Park and Grafton. A level, wide dirt road leads through this area for the more intrepid.
PARKING / EAGLE WATCHING
Pere Marquette State Park
(Mile 20 / Mile 0)
Pere Marquette State Park is the largest state park in Illinois and is famous for the beauty of its fall colors as well as a home for bald eagles in the winter. The Park features a number of activities throughout the year.
BARRIER FREE PARKING / BARRIER FREE PICNIC TABLES / ILLINOIS HISTORIC SITE / RESTAURANT / BARRIER FREE RESTROOMS / EAGLE WATCHING
Nearby Attractions
Alton Area
Northwest of the Wood River area is the city of Alton, the largest city in the Scenic Byway area. Alton is the home of several Civil War related sites, as well as the Alton Museum of History and Art, Robert Wadlow (the world's tallest man) and several historic districts. In Godfrey, visitors can find 300 acres of tall-grass prairie and woodlands at the Olin Nature Preserve. Crossing the Mississippi via the Clark Bridge leads to the Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area. Just northwest of the Alton Visitors Center is the start of the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail.
Elsah and Grafton
Northwest of Alton, the Scenic Byway travels to the river towns of Elsah and Grafton. The entire town of Elsah has been designated a historic district and is home to a number of Bed and Breakfasts. Grafton is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers and is known as "The Winter Home of The Bald Eagle" due to the number of good eagle watching sites in its proximity. Just west of Grafton is Pere Marquette State Park.
Calhoun County
Calhoun County lies west of the Scenic Byway and is almost completely surrounded by water. The 4 ferries connecting Calhoun County with the rest of the region provide an interesting mode of transportation. Sites in the area include the Brussels Historic District, the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge and the Center for American Archeology in Kampsville.
Pere Marquette State Park
Pere Marquette is Illinois' largest state park and is famous for the beauty of its fall colors and as a home for bald eagles in the winter. The park offers its visitors diverse recreational and educational opportunities that encompass the past, present and future. The park features hiking trails and horseback riding. The park has year round electric and basic campgrounds. The Lodge consists of both new facilities as well as those constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. All this and more makes Pere Marquette State Park a great place to explore!
Jerseyville Area
To the north and east of the Scenic Byway are the towns of Jerseyville and Otterville. Visit the Historic Courthouse Square, the Fulkerson Mansion, and the Cheney House in Jerseyville. The Hamilton Primary School, the first integrated school in the country, is in Otterville.
For Travelers Heading Across the River
Meeting the Missouri River
The two longest rivers of the United States, the Missouri and the Mississippi, meet at St. Charles County, Missouri. The Historic St. Charles downtown area offers visitors a variety of attractions including the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center, The Foundry Art Centre, and Missouri’s First State Capitol. Nearby is Confluence State Park and the Daniel Boone Home.
The Metropolitan Saint Louis Area
Metropolitan Saint Louis has a lot to offer its visitors. The area's most prominent attraction is the Gateway Arch. Saint Louis has a number of outstanding public institutions that are free to visit including the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, and the Science Center. The Saint Louis region has a number of green spaces for nature and outdoor enthusiasts. Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Faust County Park, in Saint Louis County, is home to many historical and cultural attractions including the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a historical village, and the Saint Louis Carousel. The county is also home to Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, the Powder Valley Conservation Area.
