Sand Ridge State Forest
Managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
1,163 acres5.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: NatFee · CC BY-SA 4.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Forest City Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Forest City Township
The biggest trail networks: Sand Ridge State Forest (5.4 mi). 6% of Forest City Township’s land is conserved, about 1,276 acres. 1,230 acres are parks and preserves, 2,795 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
6%
1,276 acres · of 33.3 sq mi of land
Trails
9.0 mi
0.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,230 ac
2,795 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
19%
of residents within ½ mile
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Sand Ridge State Forest, with 5.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
1,276 conserved acres
6% of Forest City Township’s land. Who manages Forest City Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources1,222 ac
Regional Water Districts54 ac
State Conservation Area · 1,222 acConservation Easement · 54 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 54 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Ridge State Forest State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 1,222 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Forest City Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Campgrounds in Forest City Township
Back Country 2In Sand Ridge State Forest
DirectionsBack Country 3In Sand Ridge State Forest
DirectionsTrails & water
1 named trail
Named trails
Horses · 1.3 miUnpaved · 6.2 mi
County Road 2680 East0.7 mi
When to get out
August is the best month for walking in Forest City Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 34 | 39 | 52 | 65 | 75 | 84 | 86 | 85 | 79 | 66 | 52 | 39 |
| Rain (in) | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 86 °F). 4.7 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 86 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Forest City Township →
Next door
Forest City Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Manito Township | 9% | 0.2 | 685 | 9% | B |
| Quiver Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Sherman Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Forest City Township
Where can I hike in Forest City Township?
The longest trail networks: Sand Ridge State Forest, 5.4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Forest City Township’s trails?
Sand Ridge State Forest doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Forest City Township?
19,837 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Forest City Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,230 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Forest City Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →