Things to Do in Elsah, Illinois
The best things to do in Elsah, Illinois, are walking its stone village, riding the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail and watching winter bald eagles. Elsah is a village of 519 people in Jersey County, on the Great River Road.
U.S. Senator James Semple founded Elsah in 1853 and gave free lots to anyone who built with stone from his quarry. He’s believed to have named it after Ailsa Craig, the last rock his family saw leaving Scotland. By 1861 the village had reached its present size, and it has barely grown since.
Walk the historic village
In 1973 the entire village went on the National Register of Historic Places. The district has 48 contributing buildings, mostly stone and brick, and all four of the village’s pre-1861 taverns still stand. It’s a short, quiet walk, and that’s the point.
★ Good to know These are private homes, so enjoy them from the street and park where signs allow.
Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail
This paved 21.5-mile trail follows the Mississippi from Piasa Park near Alton to Pere Marquette State Park. It passes right through Elsah and was named a National Recreation Trail in 2006. It’s the best way to see this stretch of river and bluffs.
★ Good to know Elsah makes a good midpoint stop if you’re riding the whole trail.
Winter bald eagle watching
Elsah is close to popular bald eagle viewing spots, which is why fall and winter are its busy seasons. Hundreds of eagles gather along the rivers near Pere Marquette State Park in January and February.
★ Good to know Bring binoculars and check the trees along the river bluffs and open water.
Pere Marquette State Park
Illinois’ largest state park is upriver, about five miles west of Grafton. It has hiking trails open year-round, horseback riding, a boat ramp and a scenic drive. The Pere Marquette Lodge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and has 50 rooms plus 22 stone cabin rooms.
★ Good to know From November through March the visitor center closes on Sundays, so plan a Saturday visit if you want it.
Grafton and the confluence
Just upriver, Grafton sits where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi. Ferries cross from there to Missouri and to Calhoun County. Its Main Street has restaurants, antique shops and wine spots, since tourism is the town’s main industry.
★ Good to know Pair Elsah with Grafton for a full day on the Great River Road.
Why is Elsah, Illinois, on the National Register?
The whole village was listed in 1973. Most of its buildings are stone and brick from 1853 to 1861, and very little has been built since.
Can you bike to Elsah?
Yes. The paved Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail runs 21.5 miles from near Alton to Pere Marquette State Park and passes through the village.
When can you see bald eagles near Elsah?
Fall and winter, with January and February the peak near Pere Marquette State Park. Eagle watching is one of the main reasons people visit Elsah.
What is near Elsah, Illinois?
Grafton and Pere Marquette State Park are just upriver, and Principia College’s campus sits on the bluffs above town. See things to do in Grafton or more small towns in Illinois.
Where to find them
- Walk the historic village Elsah, IL 62028 Directions
- Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail Directions
- Pere Marquette State Park 13112 Visitor Center Ln., Grafton, IL 62037 Website Directions
- Grafton and the confluence Grafton, IL 62037 Directions
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Where to stay in Elsah
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