Sand Ridge State Forest Yellow Trail

Sand Ridge State Forest, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (near Forest City and Manito, Mason County)

Sand Ridge State Forest sits on an old sand ridge above the Illinois River in central Illinois. Backpacker describes “long sections of sandy trail that are unlike anything else Midwestern hikers have ever seen outside of the Great Lakes beaches,” with prickly pear cactus. The Yellow Trail is its long loop at 14.8 miles, and the Illinois DNR lists 12 primitive backcountry campsites along the forest’s trails.

The sand is the challenge. The Outbound warns that it makes even flat stretches tiring.

The hike

The Illinois DNR explains the landscape: “Fifteen thousand years ago the flood waters of the last glaciation period receded down the Illinois River valley, leaving a vast deposit of sand.” A later hot, dry period drew southwestern plants and animals north, and wind piled sand into dunes up to 100 feet high, which became the wooded ridges that give the forest its name. Wikipedia says the soil is 89 percent sand and the dunes stand 20 to 98 feet high.

The DNR says the state bought the first 5,504 acres in 1939 as an experimental forest, and the Civilian Conservation Corps planted pines to control erosion and test timber in sandy soil. Today the forest holds about 4,000 acres of native oak-hickory, about 2,500 acres of pine plantation, and open fields and sand prairie. The DNR lists badgers, pocket gophers, silvery bladderpod, and prickly pear cactus among its southwestern species. The Henry Allan Gleason Nature Preserve protects a vehicle-free sand prairie inside the forest.

The Outbound’s route for the Yellow Trail starts at Parking Lot 2 on East County Road 2300 North and heads north, sharing the Red Trail at first; follow yellow blazes at every junction. It describes sandy hills, prickly pear, and a pine barren. Backpacker suggests early summer, when the cactus blooms. A Dyrt reviewer found every backcountry site empty and noted one sandy climb hard enough to ask locals about.

Tips

Get your permit first. The DNR says backcountry users must get one from forest headquarters.
Bring all your water. The Dyrt reviewer saw no water along the trails; a ranger pointed to spigots and pumps at specific spots.
Allow extra time. Deep sand slows you down.
Follow the yellow blazes. The Yellow Trail shares tread with other loops at first.
Check hunting seasons. Hunting is allowed on most of the forest.

Camping

The Illinois DNR says backcountry camping is available at 12 primitive sites along the forest’s trails, and “users must obtain a permit from the forest headquarters prior to back-country use.” Pack Your Tent says campers register at the office and are assigned a site. The forest also has Pine Campground, a drive-in campground with water, and the DNR says water is provided at developed areas.

Inside Intel: Backpacker and The Outbound both recommend Backcountry Site 7, about halfway around the Yellow Trail, for a one-night trip. The Dyrt reviewer described the sites as small clearings with fire pits.

Trail facts

Distance: 14.8-mile loop
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate; sandy
Campsites: 12 primitive backcountry sites forest-wide; Site 7 is about halfway on the Yellow Trail
Water: At developed areas; carry what you need on the trail
Permits: Backcountry permit from forest headquarters
Trailhead: Parking Lot 2, East County Road 2300 North (The Outbound)
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Deep sand on the Yellow Trail:

Deep sand makes Sand Ridge's flat miles slow, and a rain shell that runs warm won't help. See how three shells compare, including one testers like for venting.

Compare the shells →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.