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DNR-LANDS-210029 • 10/20 • 3000 3000 • 10/20 • DNR-LANDS-210029 Illinois of State the of Authority by Printed Kankakee River Kankakee 217/782-9175. TTY 217/785-0067; 62702-1271; IL. Springfield, Way, Resource Natural One IDNR, Officer, Opportunity Employment Equal the and/or office rights civil source’s funding the contact against, discriminated been have you believe you If factors. non-merit other or religion age, disability, origin, national sex, race, of regardless individuals all to available is agencies other and Service Wildlife and Fish U.S. the by funded those and (IDNR) Resources Natural of Department Illinois the of programs in participate to opportunity Equal 1-800-526-0844. Number, Relay Ameritech the use or 782-9175, (217) number, TTY Resources’ Natural of Department the call may individuals Hearing-impaired n 1-800-2CONNECT. at Tourism of Bureau Opportunity’s Economic and Commerce of Department Illinois the call Illinois, in tourism on information more For n http://dnr.state.il.us. at website our visit or 62702-1271 IL Springfield, Way, Resources Natural One Management, Land of Office Resources, Natural of Department the to write parks, state on information more For n footprints. only leave memories, only take Remember, stay. your enjoy you hope on lot parking 9 Area at launch a and use day Bridge We facilities. other and roads closed in result can nature by Actions n Warner the at launch a there’s less- or horsepower 10 times. all at leashes on kept be must Pets n of motors with craft launching for ramps boat two has minors. 15 of group each accompany must adult responsible one least At n park The spot. fishing good a also is Creek Rock pike. conflicts. scheduling or crowding avoid to office northern and walleye catfish, channel bass, smallmouth site the with advance in register to required are they facilities, park’s landing for great river, clean a is Kankakee The the use to encouraged and welcome are more or 25 of groups While n website. our visit or intendent super site the call information, more For visitors. handicapped Bourbonnais, IL 60914, 815-933-1383 60914, IL Bourbonnais, for hunting offers also park The hunting. to open areas 102 Rt. W. 5314 and times shooting dates, opening for superintendent Park State River Kankakee site the contact game, any taking Before raccoon. and coyote fox, squirrel, rabbit, dove, pheasant, duck, for permitted is hunting Firearm turkey. for hunting firearm and bow deer; for allowed is hunting bow Only hunters. for spot popular a it makes wildlife abundant park’s The Fishing & Hunting K PAR STATE Kankakee River Kankakee riverbanks. the to close keep snakes non-poisonous and frogs while areas, timbered and bluffs park’s the roam deer and coyote Fox, bluebirds. and herons blackbirds, red-winged are see can you birds the of Some wildlife. with teeming is Park State River Kankakee State Park State turkeys, wild and turtles to beavers and badgers From Kankakee River Kankakee s Wildlife Department of Natural Resources Natural of Department Illinois of State acres. 4,000 roughly totals now park the 1989, in grants additional Kankakee River State Park Mascouten also were in the region from 1679 until the On land treasured for centuries-first by Native Ameri- 1760s. Potawatomi Indians hunted along the Kankakee cans, later by traders and farmers, and as early as the River in the 1760s, and by the 1770s, the Potawatomi, 1890s by recreation seekers - Kankakee River State Ottawa and Chippewa nations—“The Three Fires”— Park offers you its proud heritage in an unspoiled dominated the area. The most extensive village was setting. Anglers, canoeists, hunters, campers, hikers, “Rock Village” or “Little Rock Village” inside the pres- bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts find the park’s ent-day park near the mouth of Rock Creek. In 1830 it recreational opportunities unsurpassed. The naturally was the site of the last great Indian Council. Following channeled Kankakee River, listed on the federal Clean the Black Hawk War in 1832, the Potawatomi ceded all Streams Register, is the focus of the park’s popularity. their land along the Kankakee and Illinois rivers to the Enveloping both sides of the Kankakee River for 11 United States. Most Potawatomi left the area by the end miles, in an area six miles northwest of Kankakee, the of the decade, except for Chief Shaw-waw-nas-see, park consists of approximately 4,000 acres. Illinois whose grave is commemorated by a boulder along the Routes 102 on the north and 113 on the south frame nature trail at Rock Creek. the park, with Interstates 55 and 57 both providing Noel Le Vasseur and other fur traders, including convenient access. Hubbard, Chabare and Bourbonnais, traded with the Potawatomi along the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers in The Park’s Past the 1820s. When the Potawatomi left the area in 1838, Several prehistoric sites are documented within Kanka- Le Vasseur persuaded a number of his fellow French commemorates the log cabin village of Rockville. It was kee River State Park. The park is within a region used Canadians to emigrate from Quebec to the Bourbon- begun in 1840, nine years after William Baker and other by Illini and Miami Indians at the time of the first Euro- nais Township area. Because of his settlement efforts, settlers first began farming along the Kankakee River. pean contact in the 1670s and 1680s. By 1685 the he is called “the father of Kankakee.” The Kankakee & Iroquois Navigation Company— Miami were sufficiently numerous that the Kankakee A marker on the west bank of Rock Creek Bridge later known as the Kankakee Company—was char- River was called the River of the Miami. Kickapoo and tered in 1847 to provide water power and a navigable waterway from the Illinois & Michigan Canal to Warner’s Landing, along the site of the present-day Warner Bridge Road. The company failed in the early 1880s, shortly after the Wabash Railroad came through. At the Chippewa Campground, hand-cut limestone pillars mark where a railway bridge was to have been built be- fore financiers ran out of money. Just inside the park’s main entrance is the Smith Cemetery, with graves of several family members, most of whom died of yellow fever at the turn of the century. A major industry in the area in the 1890s was the Custer Bowery Amusement Park, which frequently drew crowds from Chicago. The park was gone by the 1920s, but by then the river had become a popular spot for summer cottages. The area became more accessible to vacationers in 1928 when concrete roads were built along both sides of the river. In 1938 Chicago resident Ethel Sturges Dummer donated 35 acres of land for a state park. Commonwealth Edison turned over another 1,715 acres to the state in 1956. With the company’s the south side of the river. However, please realize snowmobile trails can be found on the south. A 4-mile boating can be hazardous because the river is shallow route along Rock Creek lets hikers take in the beauty and rocky. of limestone canyons and a frothy waterfall. A bicycle trail begins at Davis Creek Area and travels 10.5 miles Canoeing to Area A parking lot, at one point crossing a suspension Kankakee River State Park provides first class canoe- bridge. Cross-country skiers have 15 miles of trails in ing opportunities with many limestone outcrops that the form of a linear trail along the river and a loop in the make it a scenic trip in any season. Canoeists have no west end of the park. problem navigtaing the river’s shallow water and rocks. A 12-mile equestrian trail is located in the wildlife Call the park office for further canoe information. management area along Route 113 and is open April 1 Camping through October 31. When there’s snow cover of four inches or more, the park is open from sunrise to sunset for snowmobiling on the trail only. Directional signs for the trails are posted and maps are available at the park office. Stay on designated trails. its fast current, drop offs and rocky bottom, no swim- Riding Stables ming is allowed in the park in any area, including Rent a horse at the park’s riding stables on Deselm Rock Creek. Road, 0.75 mile north of Route 102. Guided horse All motorized vehicles are prohibited on all of the rides, hand-led pony rides, beginners lessons, cookouts Kankakee River State Park Trails. and parties can all be arranged at the stables. Carriage and pony cart rides are fun for children and adults who Exotic Species due to physical or mental limitations are unable to ride Plants and animals not native to Illinois are exotic or for those who want to enjoy a leisurely ride through species. Most of them are harmless to our state; Pleasant sites at reasonable prices make Kankakee the park. We offer opportunities to earn badges/patches however, some can be very invasive to native plant River State Park a great place to pitch camp. Potawatomi for Horsemanship and/or Community Service. This fa- communities and can overwhelm or wipe out native Campground has no cabins as well as 110 Class A sites cility is equipped to serve people with disabilities. species. Prevention and control of exotic, invasive located in a wooded setting. 98 sites are offered at Reservations are recommended, call us at 815-263- species requires tremendous cooperation between Chippewa Campground, which has Class B electric and 3882 or email at Kankakeestateparkridingstables@ managers and all users of parks, natural areas and C facilities.

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