Johnson-Sauk Trail Historic Military Road

This historic military road traces the original route blazed by General Winfield Scott’s troops during the 1832 Black Hawk War, cutting through Henry and Rock Island counties from the Rock River to the Mississippi. The trail winds through remnant tallgrass prairie and oak savanna, past old settler cemeteries and forgotten military camps. Key waypoints include the Hennepin Canal crossing and the original Colona settlement ruins, where soldiers once resupplied during their pursuit of Chief Black Hawk’s band.

Easy to moderate difficulty makes this accessible to any high-clearance vehicle, though spring rains can turn prairie sections muddy. Best traveled April through October when gates are open and prairie wildflowers peak. No permits required on this mix of county roads and private easements – respect posted boundaries. Dispersed camping available at Hennepin Canal Parkway sites. This is Illinois history you can drive, connecting you to the prairie wars that shaped the upper Midwest.