Illinois State Parks
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COMPLIMENTARY $2.95 2017/2018 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS ILLINOIS STATE PARKS ACTIVITIES • SIGHTSEEING • DINING • LODGING TRAILS • HISTORY • MAPS • MORE OFFICIAL PARTNERS This summer, Yamaha launches a new Star motorcycle designed to help you journey further…than you ever thought possible. To see the road ahead, visit YamahaMotorsports.com/Journey-Further Some motorcycles shown with custom parts, accessories, paint and bodywork. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves, long pants, gloves and boots. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. ©2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. PRESERVATION WELCOME Energizing Welcome to Illinois! Thanks for picking up a copy of the adventure in partnership with Illinois State Parks guide to better plan your visit to our the National Parks Conservation remarkable state parks. Association. Illinois has an amazing array of state parks, fish and wildlife areas, and conservation and recreation areas, with an even broader selection of natural features and outdoor recreation opportunities. From the Lake Michigan shore at Illinois Beach to the canyons and waterfalls at Starved Rock; from the vistas above the mighty river at Mississippi Palisades to the hill prairies of Jim Edgar GO AND CONQUER Panther Creek; all the way to the sandstone walls of Giant City and the backwater swamps along the Cache River—Illinois has some of the most unique landscapes in America. And they’re all here for state park visitors to take advantage of. SAVE 20% Recreation opportunities are limitless in Illinois. Anglers delight in lakes, rivers and streams at PLUS EARN 1,000 WYNDHAM REWARDS our parks and downstate reservoirs. Campers can go online to reserve a full-service campsite BONUS POINTS WHEN YOU BOOK 2 NIGHTS* at dozens of locations, stay in a state park campground cabin, or pitch a tent in primitive campground seclusion. State park lodges offer great accommodations, terrific food and AT TRAVELODGE.COM/GO breathtaking settings. There are bicycle paths, mountain bike trails, hiking trails and horseback trails to explore. Remember to download the Prairie State Hike app on your smartphone and take a guided hike at a number of our parks—right from the palm of your hand. Check out hunting season opportunities, which make our parks destinations for visitors from throughout the state and across the country. This guide to Illinois State Parks, produced in partnership with American Park Network, is provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, intended to enhance your enjoyment of all that outdoor Illinois has to offer. It is made possible by the support of sponsors whose messages appear inside. I hope you’ll plan a day trip to a state park; a weekend away at a state park campground or lodge; or a hike in a state forest. Discover even more about our Illinois State Parks and what they have to offer at dnr.illinois.gov. For campsite reservations, visit reserveamerica.com. Enjoy your visit to the outdoors in Illinois—and come back often. Sincerely, The difference between a trip and an adventure? The can-do, can-conquer attitude that can only come from a good night’s sleep. Stay Close to Adventure.® Travelodge and Go. Wayne A. Rosenthal, Director Illinois Department of Natural Resources *Subject to availability at participating hotels. Wyndham Rewards members only. Book online by September 4, 2017 & complete the 2 night minimum stay by September 10, 2017. Sunday– Thursday arrivals only. Offer subject to change/cancellation at any time, as well as full terms at www.travelodge.com/go. Void where prohibited. 2 ILLINOIS STATE PARKS | 68274_LWP_F2_APN_Mag_MechR2.indd 1 3/29/17 6:18 AM PRESERVATION CONTENTS American Park Network® publishes OhRanger.com, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ and Oh, Ranger!® guides —a collection of visitor guides for public lands all across America. Welcome 2 American Park Network is an official partner of the National Forest Foundation, National Parks What’s New! 6 Conservation Association, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, American Hiking Society and the Student Conservation Association. Plan Your Visit 8 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Important Numbers 10 MARK J. SAFERSTEIN Lodging & Dining 12 Associate Publisher & Executive Editor Savings can take you to sights. Joel S. Saferstein Things To Do 15 Savings can take you to amazing sights. Group Sales & Partnerships Director amazing Alex Frenkel East-Central Illinois 22 EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION Managing Editor: Kate Morgan Northwest Illinois 26 Editors: Nell Alk, Monette A. Bailey, Scott Deckman, Cinnamon Janzer, Julie McCool, Northeast Illinois 34 Renee Sklarew, Andy M. Smith Proofreader: Shannon Kronstadt Graphic Designers: Mario Arce, Dennisse Cruz, Centerfold Map Mike Dion, Yamileth Recinos, Tatiana Hurtado DIGITAL Technology Managers: Scott Falconer, Josh Eckstein South Illinois 39 ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING West-Central Illinois 46 (212) 581-3380 [email protected] Illinois State Museum 51 Business Development: Sharon Burson, Randy Burton, Mary Pat Kaleth, Pat Keane, Preservation 52 Craig King, Kristi Rummel Operations Manager: Matthew Price Photography 54 American Park Network 41 East 11th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10003 If You Only Have A Day 56 @OhRanger ©2017 APN MEDIA, LLC · All Rights Reserved Oh, Ranger! and American Park Network Special thanks to Michelle Silver and everyone at the are registered trademarks of APN Media, LLC. Illinois Department of Natural Resources for their invaluable assistance. (Cover: Monarch Butterfly on Anise Hyssop Blossom geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Oce by Willowpix/iStock.) geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Oce GET THE APP! Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. FOR MORE INFORMATION IT’S FREE! DOWNLOAD NOW GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; Distribution requests Some discounts, coverages, paymenta Berkshire plans Hathaway and features Inc. subsidiary. are not available © 2017 in GEICO all states or all GEICO companies. [email protected] GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ installation/sponsorship [email protected] PRESERVATION WHAT’S NEW! WHY PARKS MATTER There is nothing so American as our national parks. – Franklin Delano Roosevelt ® Access to parks is one of the things that’s truly great about life in America. Not just na- tional parks, like FDR stated, but all parks. Parks afford everyone, regardless of race, income, Mark, Joel & Alex – Support parks, stay healthy! social status or age, the opportunity to escape the concrete jungle and step into the wild. It Take a deep breath in a park and you’ll immedi- doesn’t matter whether it’s a small step into a ately know the value of greenspace. local park or a giant leap into the backcountry. Health & Wellness Studies show a high The effect is the same. Time in nature feels correlation between time spent in parks and good. Other values that parks bring may be improved health (and, in my view, happiness). less obvious. Since we take care of the things You move more when you’re outside, which de- we value, I’d like to highlight a few other ben- creases stress, makes you more fit and reduces efits we all receive from public lands: the risk of many health issues, such as diabetes, Economic Impact America’s federal, high blood pressure and heart disease. Exercise state and local parks and public lands gen- (which parks inspire) also positively impacts your erate $200 billion in annual economic activ- cholesterol levels. A few years ago, I started bi- ity and support more than one million jobs! cycling to work every day. A year later, my over- You might help a dozen businesses during a all cholesterol went down while my HDL—the weekend hiking trip. Imagine the impact of “good” cholesterol—went up. The results of a week-long national park adventure. Parks a small change in your exercise routine can be raise property values, too! amazing! Parks invite this change. Conservation Trees produce the oxygen The value of parks is undeniable, so follow we need to survive, but did you know that FDR’s lead and support our public lands. It’s they also help save money? It’s estimated that the all-American thing to do. (Congress, take trees in cities save $400 billion in costs to re- note!) You’ll save the country money while im- tain stormwater. A single tree can store 100 proving our nation’s health—and your own, too. gallons or more, which helps keep streets from Not a bad combination! flooding and reduces the need for artificial stor- age facilities. A tree can also absorb as much as three tons of carbon gas during its lifetime. [email protected] GET CONNECTED AT YOUR FAVORITE PARKS! Five national parks One iconic American road trip VisitUtah.com/itineraries ® 6 ILLINOIS STATE PARKS | 159 W. BROADWAY STE 200 TEL 801 531 0122 SALT LAKE CITY UTAH 84101 FAX 801 531 0123 Client: UOT Publication: American Park Network Magazine Job #: 16-UOT-1731 Road To Mighty Issue: Due to Vendor 4/7 File: 16-UOT-1731 RTM_Brothers_AmericanPark_170407.pdf Bleed: 5.875” w x 8.875” h File Created: 03/27/2017 Trim: 5.375” w x 8.375” h Agency Contact: Robyn Reynolds Live: 4.75” w x 7.375” h Phone: 801-531-0122 Colors: 4C Email: [email protected] PRESERVATION PLAN YOUR VISIT Thanks for picking up this guide, SPECIAL SERVICES - and welcome to the Land of Lincoln! Park activities and facilities accessible The Illinois Department of Natural to visitors with disabilities are indicated Resources (IDNR) manages 309 state throughout this guide by the - symbol.