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Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor

»Contact Information
»Getting There
»Weather
»Activities
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.


Contact Information

201 W. Tenth St., #1-SE
Lockport, IL 60441
815/588-6040 - Headquarters


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Getting There

By Plane
Both of Chicago's major airports (O'Hare and Midway) are served by numerous airlines.

By Car
Five interstates (39, 55, 80, 355, and 294) run through or bisect the Corridor.

By Plane
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.

Getting Around
The easiest method is by private vehicle. For a driving tour and other maps, send an e-mail request to ilmi_interpretation@nps.gov.

Weather

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.


Activities

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.
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  • Auto Touring
  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Educational Programs
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hunting
  • Swimming
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Bird Watching
  • Nature Walks
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Snowmobiling

Recommended Activities
A stay from one to four hours will allow for a walk in one of the parks or a visit to an historic site. A day trip will allow for more exploring, and multiple days would be required to see most of what the Corridor has to offer in its natural resources and historical museums. Contact the Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau at 815/727-2323 for suggested itineraries.


 
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Find Hiking and Biking Trails
If you like to go hiking or biking, then don't forget to get a map and guidebook. Trails.com offers a great service that allows unlimited downloads of trail guides for a small monthly fee. They even have a 14 day free trial. Whether you are looking for day hikes, backpacking trails, mountain bike routes or just short nature stroll, they cover it all. So let Trails.com help plan your next outing.
RV Information
Are you planning on traveling with your RV? If you are, you should check out the Good Sam Club. The Good Sam Club offers discounts on camping, a free magazine subscription and great tips on traveling with your RV. You can also get a free no-obligation RV Insurance quote . Give them a look and enjoy your trip.
Gear Up For Your Trip
Once you have finished deciding where to go, it will be time to gear up. A great place for adventure travel gear is The National Geographic Store. They have all types of maps and guides to help finalize your vacation plans.