Hiking and walking on trails in Rockford can bring up many... unique experiences. Some beautiful. Some exciting. And some are just downright terrifying! Here’s a brief list of some of the things I’ve personally encountered while on a trail in the Stateline 

  1. Cardinals 

Pair of cardinals perching on a tree branch
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Ahh... the beautiful state bird. And they always seem to be in large numbers when I witness them. I never see just one. It’s more like 5 or 6. But hey, I’m never gonna complain about that! They’re gorgeous and my favorite bird! 

  1. Litter 

Reports Of Rail Theft Rise In Los Angeles
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I hope you can feel the rage in this one. I’ve been in Rockford for about a year and I’ve never seen so much liter. Small call to action here besties, let’s do better at taking care of our community. I've seen some pretty gross stuff.  

RELATED: Rockford Named the Perfect Weekend Destination Away from Chicago

  1. The Occasional Aroma of Reefer 

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From the moment I open my car door sometimes, the scent hits you like a ton of bricks. If you don’t like it, there are certain trails I would avoid. But can’t say I blame people, kicking back in nature is what I like to do too. Whatever floats your boat.  

  1. Coyotes 

A coyote in British Columbia, Canada.
Harry Collins
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YUP! I was on a trail and one ran right in front of me... I swear it was like 20 feet away from me! It was terrifying but also SO COOL! I’d never seen one outdoors before so I was stunned. The poor thing was all by itself and running like it was terrified of me, so I wasn’t too alarmed. However, be careful folks. 

  1. Randomly decorated trees! 

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Olivia Williams
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This, at least to me, is the weirdest one of all! I was walking and there was a random tree... in the middle of the woods...decorated with Christmas ornaments! I’m not even going to bother explaining, you’ve got to see it to fully wrap your mind around its bizarreness. Just one random, little tree in the middle of the woods...decorated. How cute! And... weird. 

Hikes in Rockford are always guaranteed to leave an impression. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! What are things you’ve witnessed or experienced while taking a stroll through Screw City? 

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