Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Custom Search 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.     CONTACTS Email - ILMI_Administration@nps.gov Fax- 815-588-6046 Write to 201 W. Tenth St., #1-SE Lockport, IL 60441 Phone Headquarters - 815/588-6040 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The National Park Service does not operate any facilities within the Corridor. Hours and days of operation at the numerous parks, historic sites and other visitor attractions remain fairly constant year-round, and are set by each managing entity. Check with the Corridor Commission Office for specific details. The Office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, and closed on federal holidays. Getting There 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. Weather & Climate The climate in the Corridor region (northeast Illinois) is seasonal, with warm, wet summers and cool winters. The average January low is 13 degrees F, and the high is 30 degrees F. The average July low is 63 degrees F, and the high is 84 degrees F. Average annual snowfall is 32 inches. 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 information send an e-mail request to ilmi_administration@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_administration@nps.gov. CAMPING Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area Open From 01/01/2000 To 10/31/2000 There is one designated camping area with Class C sites which have graveled pads, water and pit tolets. The camping area has a sanitary dump station. Class C sites have vehicular access or walk-in with shower access. For More Information on this campground please call 815/423-5326 I&M Canal State Trail Open All Year Backpack carry-in is allowed at designated Class D sites along the 61-mile trail. Call the park office for location of these sites. Class D sites are for tent camping or primitive sites (walk-in or backpack) with no vehicular access. For More Information on this campground please call 815/942-0796 I&M Canal State Trail--Channahon Access Open All Year Limited tent camping or primitive sites(walk-in or backpack)are available. These are Class D sites with no vehicular access. There is also an area for youth group camping. Open fires are permitted in campstoves and fire pits provided at the sites. Permits must be obtained from the park office before camping. For More Information on this campground please call 815/467-4271 I&M Canal State Trail--Gebhard Woods Access Open All Year Limited tent camping or primitive sites (walk-in or backpack) are available. These are Class D sites with no vehicular access. There are toilets, drinking water, and picnicking facilities--all handicapped accessible. Youth group camping is also available. Open fires are permitted in campstoves and fire pits provided at the sites. Permits must be obtained from the park office prior to camping. For More Information on this campground please call 815/942-0796 Illini State Park Campground Open All Year There is something for every type of camper at Illini State Park. Both tent and trailer sites, including electric and sanitation service, are offered and some of the sites offer breathtaking views of the Illinois River. A youth area is available for youth groups and should be reserved in advance through the site office. All campers should obtain permits from the site staff or campground host upon arrival. The park has both Class A and B sites. Class A includes showers, electricity, and vehicular access. Class B includes electricity and vehicular access. For More Information on this campground please call 815/795-2448 Starved Rock State Park Campground Open All Year There is a large campground in the south of the park with 133 Class A campsites, complete with water, electricity and showers, a separate youth group camping area, and a children's playground. There is a sanitary dump. Toilets, drinking water, and picnicking facilities are all handicapped accessible. Permits may be obtained from the park office or at the permit booth in the campground area. Class A sites include showers, electricity, and vehicular access. For More Information on this campground please call 815/667-4726 LODGING Starved Rock Lodge Open All Year This historic lodge, dating to the 1930s, is a full resort facility in beautiful Starved Rock State Park. In addition to the Lodge, there are a handfull of cabins available for overnight stays. For More Information on this lodging please call 1-800-868-ROCK FACILITIES Museums ISLE A LA CACHE MUSEUM Open All Year 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone - 815/886-1467 Location - 501 E. Romeo Road, Romeoville, Illinois Closures - This facility, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, is closed on Mondays. It is also closed on state holidays. Special Programs - The annual Voyageur Rendezvous takes place the second weekend in June. In addition, the Museum staff offers a variety of special events from spring through autumn. Call the Museum for more information. Exhibits - The exhibits focus on the Voyageur-American Indian contact period of the mid-1700s. There are hands-on displays for all visitors. Available Facilities - Restrooms; a canoe landing area along the DesPlaines River; picnic facilities; and a walking trail to the DesPlaines River. LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE NATURE CENTER Open All Year Open From March 1 To October 31 -- 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open From November 1 To February 28 -- 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone - 708/839-6897 Location - 9800 S. 104th Ave., Willow Springs, Illinois Closures - The site is closed on Thanksgiving Day, on Christmas Day, and on New Year's Day. The Schoolhouse, which houses the museum, is closed on Fridays. Special Programs - The Schoolhouse, which is operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, has an active special events and regularly scheduled programs schedule throughout the year. Please call the Schoolhouse for more information. Exhibits - The Schoolhouse has exhibits on local--Chicago region--mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and on the area's vegetation. Available Facilities - Port-o-John restrooms. Several hiking and walking trails begin at the Schoolhouse and lead throughout the Preserve's grounds. WILL COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM Open All Year 1 to 4:30 p.m. Phone - 815/838-5080 Location - 803 South State Street, lockport, Illinois Closures - The building, home of the Will County Historical Society, is closed mid-December to early January and on state holidays. Special Programs - The Society schedules a variety of special programs, including the annual Will County Folk Art Festival (last Sunday in April), the Journey into the Past (during Lockport's Old Canal Days during the 3rd weekend in June), the annual Will County Pioneer Crafts Festival (1st Saturday in October), and Pioneer Christmas in early December. Exhibits - The building was once the headquarters of the Illinois & Michigan Canal Commission, the public body which built the canal during the mid-19th century. The exhibits feature displays on the construction and history of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, the I&M Canal Commissioners, and social and political history of Will County. There are farm implements in an adjoining building. The Pioneer Settlement, also adjacent to the Museum and the I&M Canal, is a group of mid to late 19th century buildings from all over the county, dismantled and then reassembled on the site. Available Facilities - Public restrooms; a small sales facility. Visitor Centers BILLIE LIMACHER BICENTENNIAL PARK Open All Year 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone - 815/740-2216 GOOSE LAKE PRAIRIE STATE NATURAL AREA Open All Year 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone - 815/942-2899 Location - 5010 N. Jugtown Road, Morris, Illinois Closures - The Visitor Center is closed on weekends from December through February. The park itself is open year-round. Special Programs - The site staff develops a series of seasonal special events dealing with the natural history of the Illinois prairie and with pioneer life on the priaire. Exhibits - The Visitor Center contains several exhibits on the natural history of the Illinois prairie and how animals and humans have interacted with this unique environment. There is also a hands-on display for all visitors. Available Facilities - Public restrooms. Self-guiding trails lead from the Visitor Center out into the prairie. Picnic areas and shelters are close by in another section of the park. There is an Observation Deck at the Visitor Center for visitors to look out over the prairie. I&M CANAL STATE TRAIL - GEBHARD WOODS ACCESS Open All Year 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone - 815/942-0796 Location - 402 Ottawa Street, Morris, Illinois Closures - The Visitor Center might be closed on holidays from autumn to spring. The park itself remains open year-round. Special Programs - The park staff develops special programs on a seasonal basis dealing with the Illinois & Michigan Canal and with the natural history of the area. Exhibits - There is a small display on the building of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. There also is a large rack which holds brochures of all the Illinois state parks. Available Facilities - Public restrooms. Picnic tables and a few picnic shelters are located just a few steps outside the Visitor Center. Two stocked ponds and the Illinois & Michigan Canal are available for fishing. ILLINOIS & MICHIGAN CANAL VISITOR CENTER Open All Year 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone - 815/838-4830 Location - 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, Illinois Closures - The Visitor Center, along with the other organizations in the building (Gaylord Building Historic Site), is closed on Mondays and state holidays. Special Programs - In the Hands-On History gallery on the second floor, students, families, and researchers can explore connections between the Illinois & Michigan Canal and local, regional and national history. The Visitor Center staff will design trail walks, workshops, and living history programs to meet classroom curricula and organizational needs. Exhibits - The 'Illinois Passage' gallery on the ground floor introduces the story of the Illinois & Michigan Canal corridor to the public. The exhibits are a partnership between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which manages the Visitor Center, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which owns the building. Available Facilities - Public restrooms; small bookstore. ILLINOIS WATERWAY VISITOR CENTER Open All Year 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone - 815/667-4054 Location - On Dee Bennett Road, about 3 miles east of Utica, Illinois, and directly across the Illinois River from Starved Rock State Park. Closures - None Special Programs - The staff schedules tours of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The staff also offers Water Safety Weekend in late May just before the recreational boating season. From January to March, the staff participate in an area-wide 'Flock to the Rock,' in which visitors are encouraged to watch the bald eagles which come to spend the winter and to feed in the open water below the dam. Exhibits - The exhibits focus on the construction and operation of the Illinois Waterway, which opened in 1933 as the modern successor to the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Available Facilities - Public restrooms. Sales facility operated by Eastern National Park & Monument Association. There is an Observation Deck for visitors from which to view boats and barges 'locking through'.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.   Campgrounds Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor: Martin Campground-joliet, Joliet, 5 miles away Green Fields Campground, Elwood, 7 miles away Empress Rv Resort, Joliet, 12 miles away A-ok Campgrounds Of Frankfort, Frankfort, 12 miles away Enchanted Shores, Peotone, 17 miles away Lake Shokakana Family Resort, Channahon, 18 miles away   Marinas Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor: Old Plank Marina, Frankfort , 12 miles away Big Basin Marina, Channahon , 17 miles away   Hotels Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor: Super 8 Romeoville Bolingbrook, Romeoville , 5 miles away Ramada Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook , 5 miles away SpringHill Suites Chicago Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook , 6 miles away Americinn - Bolingbrook, Il, Bolingbrook , 6 miles away Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites BOLINGBROOK, Bolingbrook , 6 miles away Aloft Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook , 6 miles away La Quinta Inn & Suites Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook , 6 miles away   Ski Areas Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor: Four Lakes, Illinois , 10 miles away, 100 foot drop, 7 lifts, 7 runs Villa Olivia, Illinois , 25 miles away, 180 foot drop, 6 lifts, 9 runs Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park, Illinois , 34 miles away, 180 foot drop, 3 lifts, 5 runs Wilmot mountain, Wisconsin , 48 miles away, 260 foot drop, 11 lifts, 25 runs Grand Geneva, Wisconsin , 58 miles away, 211 foot drop, 5 lifts, 16 runs Alpine Valley, Wisconsin , 65 miles away, 388 foot drop, 14 lifts, 20 runs Highlands of Olympia, Wisconsin , 83 miles away, 205 foot drop, 3 lifts, 5 runs Little Switzerland, Wisconsin , 91 miles away, 200 foot drop, 7 lifts, 15 runs Sunburst, Wisconsin , 98 miles away, 225 foot drop, 9 lifts, 10 runs   Whitewater Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor: Des Plaines, Will County , 5 miles away, Class I-II - 4 miles long (Fishnet Rapids) Fox River, DuPage / Kane County , 24 miles away, Class I-II(IV) - 0.05 miles long (Batavia Dam)   Public Lands Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter - IN , 68 miles away Kankakee River State Park, Illinois , 20 miles away Goose Lake Prairie State Park, Illinois , 25 miles away Mazonia-Braidwood Wildlife Area, Illinois , 27 miles away   Golf Courses Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor: Broken Arrow Golf Club, Lockport , 2 miles away Big Run Golf Club, Lockport , 2 miles away Ruffled Feathers Golf Course, Lemont , 4 miles away Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Lemont , 4 miles away Prairie Bluff Public Golf Club, Joliet , 6 miles away   Lakes Near Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Tampier Lake, Cook County , 7 miles away Turtlehead Lake, Cook County , 14 miles away