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Completed in 1848, this canal and the railroads that paralleled it were instrumental in opening up the West and the city of Chicago to development.
Today, the canal is the core of a system of local parks, trails, wildlife preserves, historic sites and recreation resources.
The national heritage corridor is a 100-mile-long cultural park between Chicago and Peru in northeastern Illinois. Although the corridor runs through the state's industrial heartland, much of its landscape is rural or wooded.
Visitors can hike the 60-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail from Rockdale to Peru or try the trails in Matthiessen, Starved Rock, Buffalo Rock, Illini and Goose Lake Prairie state parks and in forest preserves.
There are trails for cross-country skiing, bicycling and snowmobiling. There are canoe trails on the DuPage River and on the I&M Canal. Starved Rock State Park has a campground.
Outdoor Activities |
