Great River Trail Master Plan
BHRC is working with partners – including BSRC and other GRT stakeholders – to develop a master plan for the Great River Trail, which starts/ends in the Quad Cities and Savanna.
Savanna Great River Trail Extension Feasibility Study
This ongoing study is examining options for extending the existing Great River Trail from its current northern terminus at the Savanna Marina trailhead approximately 4 miles north to Miller’s Landing, a US Fish and Wildlife Service-managed boat launch. The northern entrance to Mississippi Palisades State Park is located just across IL-84 from Miller’s Landing. The trail extension will provide local residents a safe way to walk or bike to Miller’s Landing and Mississippi Palisades State Park and serve as a draw for visitors. This four-mile extension is part of a broader effort to connect the Great River Trail with the Galena River Trail, located approximately 32 miles north of Savanna.
The project area has several known challenges to constructing a trail, including the bluff topography, proximity to the Mississippi River, and a tight corridor used by IL-84, BNSF, and utilities. The results of this study will be used to identify alternatives for further consideration, which will be assessed further during preliminary engineering.
- 2025 Purpose and Need Statement: The City of Savanna, Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, and other stakeholders have launched this Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-funded effort to improve Great River Trail connectivity between Savanna, IL and Galena, IL, by identifying feasible route alternatives that are able to be constructed and maintained between the Savanna Marina and Miller’s Landing that address existing safety risks and transportation facility deficiencies.
- 2025 Existing Conditions Summary
- 2024 Stakeholder Engagement Summary
- Study Area