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Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor |
Description:
The Illinois & Michigan Canal, completed in 1848, connected the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River watershed along a longstanding Indian portage route. The 97-mile canal extended from the Chicago River near Lake Michigan to the Illinois River at Peru, Illinois. It rapidly transformed Chicago from a small settlement to a critical transportation hub between the East and the developing Midwest. The towpath trail along the canal is a State park that runs through a rural and wooded landscape linking a number of towns laid out by the original canal commission.
Accessibility:
Many of the visitor attractions in the Corridor are accessible. A few of the historic sites have areas which are not accessible. For further informationsend an e-mail request to ilmi_interpretation @nps.gov.
Getting Around:
The easiest method is by private vehicle. For a driving tour and other maps, send an e-mail request to ilmi_interpretation@nps.gov.
Activites:
Auto_Touring | Biking | Boating | Camping | Educational Programs | Fishing | Hiking | Horseback Riding | Hunting | Swimming | Wildlife Viewing | Bird Watching | Nature Walks | Cross Country Skiing | Snowshoeing | Snowmobiling | And more.
Facilities:
Visitor_Centers | Restaurant or Snack Bar | Picnic Areas | Groceries or Supplies | Comfort Stations | Museum Exhibits | Cabin Rentals | Fuel | Tours & Guided Activities | Medical Services | And more.
Directions to Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor
Plane:
Both of Chicago's major airports (O'Hare and Midway) are served by numerous airlines.
Car:
Five interstates (39, 55, 80, 355, and 294) run through or bisect the Corridor.
Public Transportation
Pace Suburban Bus Service (847) 364-7223 operates between Midway Airport and Joliet, and the Chicago metropolitan region. METRA (Metropolitan Rail) (312) 322-6777 operates two lines between Chicago and Joliet: the Heritage Corridor and the Rock Island. Amtrak (1-800-USA-RAIL) has stops in Chicago (Union Station), Summit and Joliet.
Attractions:
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Phone:815/4233-6370
Starved Rock State Park
Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail
Phone:815/942-0796
McKinley Woods Forest Preserve
Phone:815/727-8700
Chicago Portage National Historic Site
Phone:708/771-1335
Nearby Parks:
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (62 miles)
Lincoln Home National Historic Site (168 miles)
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Illinois Road Maps (IL Maps)
Illinois Photos