Illinois peaks
Illinois summits
First Ascent Awards
47 of 219 peaks 21%
Top climbing months
September 17%
July 16%
March 9%
Illinois mountains highlights
Latest summits

"Quick out and back trip for us from MI. Camped close by through Hip-Camp, then parked at private driveway and walked in. Very busy for the morning already.. awesome that the owner allows this. The peak is right by their house. " — CravinoCrew • Sep 4, 2021

"As part of a 16 or 17 state highpoint blitz of the Northeast this August while working remotely 8 hrs a day from various Starbucks.
This was a last minute, leave on 15 minutes notice, 28hr 1976km mission to get Charles Mound in on a rare weekend opening when I was anywhere in the region.
I fully intended upon obeying the private land owner instructions to not visit at dark. I waited until literally the last possible minute (4:20am) to begin the walk in the 1.25 miles and then depart for a 10h 6m drive across a border (Canada) to catch a flight (spoiler: which I did with <15 min to spare). I walked with a headlamp and stayed to the path and tried to be as quiet as possible. Morning light was appearing as I reached my car. Thanks for the opportunity.
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A sick daughter returning from Mexico changed the schedule and caused me to depart on a moment's notice from Thunder Bay for a brief Timm's Hill (Wisconsin) and Charles Mound (Illinois) quick 28 hr blitz. I considered adding Akron (Michigan) but there simply weren't enough hours never mind any sleep.
Departed Thunder Bay 11am EST and arrived at Timm's Hill at around 6pm CST. Then off to Charles Mound on the ..." — alexjoseph • Aug 3, 2019

"State highpoint #23 for me! It was exciting to be with Kevin and Amber as they crossed this one off as #47 for them! This is the one with access issues as the private landowners only allow highpointers to visit on select weekends each year - which was part of what inspired this trip in the first place! We walked up the road as requested. A muggy day, but a good day, and the chairs at the summit were cute. :) Yes - this was an "open" weekend where people could visit - and *so* many people had visited based on the summit register entry! " — psychikingjes • Jul 7, 2019

"Thanks to the good relations of the Highpointers Club working with owners and managers of state highpoints, the owners of Charles Mound agreed to allow an unprecedented winter access over Presidents Day Weekend this year on February 13th and 14th. I've wanted to add this summit to my winter climbs of the state highpoints for quite a few years and was able to do it yesterday after driving from New Hampshire. Although I've been to Charles Mound several times since the early 90's, it was only in summer months. It's a little over a mile from the gate at the road to the summit. The road generally follows a tree line and winds around a field near a barn and where an old homestead used to be. Years ago we could park there and walk the sort distance to the summit. When the new owners took over the property they built their home just yards from the actual summit, not realizing people wanted to visit the highpoint all hours of the day so they had to restrict access to a few weekend days during the summer months. It's worked out pretty well for everyone but adding the winter dates will help with those that don't want to use valuable vacation time in the summer. It was 7 degrees on the summit ..." — StoneMan • Feb 13, 2016

"My brother Erin flew home from Shanghai yesterday, spent the night at my place in Plainfield and wanted to visit our dad who is buried in Plano, so we took a sentimental trip through the area and when he realized he remembered dad taking us up there prob 40 yrs ago to show us. So we pulled onto Buck Nesson's farm and had a very enlightening exchange with Buck who very graciously allowed us passage after exchanging family histories. We had a nice walk through the property and captured some great photos and relived memories of walking with dad 40 some yrs ago. Everything today seems very meant to be and interrelated with both sides of our family and friends as we visited my dad's favorite Aunt who is in hospice at her home and heard from several friends who's stories all seem to be intertwined from our pasts." — eriktthorson • Feb 5, 2016