Kankakee River State Park
Views from the Rock Creek bridge area. Photo by Jordan Goebig.
Situated about halfway between Chicago, Ill. and Champaign, Ill., Kankakee River State Park is a perfect place to stop and stretch your legs at (with miles of trail) when you’re doing one of those exciting drive-through-the-flatlands of Illinois.
The Trails
3 - 12 + miles
Kankakee River State Park has trails running all along the river - some of it is unpaved, but a majority of the non-equestrian trails are paved and bike-friendly as well. We parked near Rock Creek to check out the walking bridge, close-up river views, and the canyon view from the bridge.
Overall, the trails are fairly flat. There are some hills along the bike trails, but nothing too strenuous. There are some trail signs, but it would be difficult to get lost since you’re just walking along the river. We did not visit the equestrian trails.
Things We Love
The Kankakee River views are really pretty, and there are several short trails off of the main ones that will take you right up on it. We visited after a big snow and freeze had hit the area, and the frozen ice was beautiful on the river.
There’s a lot to do at the park - camping, fishing, boating, cycling, hiking, etc. - and it’s a reasonable distance from the city and from many other Illinois communities. The park has a large footprint, so I would guess it gets pretty busy in warmer weather months since there were a respectable amount of people there in February.
The paved biking trails make this a much more accessible trail system to wander around on for all abilities. The park also has an accessible area marked for fishing and river watching.
Things to Know
There are a lot of areas for parking (and not a lot of signage). If you’re new to the park, plan out what you want to do and where you want to park before heading in. The online map is just fine, but you don’t want to get stuck walking down roads to get to a trail.
The park is really pretty and a wonderful amenity, but it is an Illinois park and the river is its best asset. And as stated above, it’s really a park that serves people who want to participate in outdoor activities vs. escape into nature via hiking. I enjoyed my walk and the sites very much, but I never felt like I was “alone in the woods.” I hope that makes sense.
They do allow hunting in the park, so check for dates and trail closures before going from Oct. - Jan.