The Former Town of Lille

Dogs Unknown

Features Historical Significance · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers

Stay alert as off-road vehicles, ATVs, and bikes all share the trail. Shade is limited and winds may be very strong, especially in the open meadows near the town site.

Washrooms may be found in the nearby town of Frank and at the Frank Slide Interpretive Center. If you are interested in the history of the mining towns in the area, check out the interpretive center; parking is free, but access to the building is not.

Lille was a town that specialized in coal mining and was dismantled after the mines closed in 1912. Now it's a ghost town, and only three structures partly remain: the coke ovens, the power house, and the hotel.

There are two popular parking locations for this trail. Parking at the Frank Slide Interpretive Center roughly doubles the length of the trail and starts with a sustained climb. Otherwise, drive down the road that splits off just before the Frank Slide parking lot and follow it until you reach the fork indicated by ATV/Bike/Hike/etc signs. Many ATV trails branch off from the Lille trail, but following the ATV signs will lead you to the town.

Near the town, the trail splits before the clearing, with the left path heading into the woods with views of a wide waterfall. The trails rejoin at Lille. A large coal mound can be found on the west side of town, providing an overlook of Lille. The open meadow to the east is where much of the town was located.

You may encounter cows grazing all along the trail. Don't bother them (especially the calves) and they won't bother you.