Kankakee River State Park, IL

On land treasured for centuries – first by Native Americans, later by traders and farmers, and as early as the 1890s by recreation seekers – Kankakee River State Park offers visitors its proud heritage in an unspoiled setting. Anglers, canoeists, hunters, campers, hikers, bicyclers and other outdoor enthusiasts find the park’s recreational opportunities unsurpassed. The naturally channeled Kankakee River, listed on the Federal Clean Streams Register, is the focus of the park’s popularity. For camping enthusiasts, Kankakee River State Park’​s popular campgrounds offer more than 200 campsites, with reservations available online to ExploreMoreIL.

Kankakee River State Park is about 5 miles in a there and back format. There are also campgrounds here and we’ll try to camp here when it opens in the spring.

Another fantastic day for a hike. Use the 360° controls to spin around and see the 4 cement pillars that where supposed to be for a bridge. The bridge was never finished.

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I went a little off-trail to get closer to the river and spent some time on the rocky cliff soaking up the sun.

If you do decide to visit Kankakee River State Park, do yourself a favor and visit Rock Creek too.

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Use the 360° functions to see what the canyon walls look like and why I am so fired up about them. Go to the playlist tab on this channel and compare how these canyon walls look to the canyon walls at Starved Rock State Park & Matthiessen State Park.

The Rock Creek Waterfall is a must visit on any trip to Kankakee River State Park. Be cautious because there are no railings or fences when viewing the waterfall.

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I was having some technical difficulties at this point, which is too bad. Regardless I did what I could to capture what the waterfall looks like. As I’ve said before, this is a must see on any visit to Kankakee River State Park. Be cautious because there are no railings or fences when viewing the waterfall.

As the sun goes down I rush to finish my hike so as not to get locked in the parking lot. Kankakee River State Park is a beautiful location. Spending time along the river on a sunny day left me majorly satisfied with a lingering feeling of being connected with nature.

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