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Illinois River Road
Catering to both nature lovers and history buffs, this 150-mile scenic byway has plenty of sights and attractions for all types of visitors.
Guide Sections
Use Illinois River Road's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Illinois River Road Details
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
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Catering to both nature lovers and history buffs, this 150-mile scenic byway has plenty of sights and attractions for all types of visitors. The landscape along this 291-mile route is shaped by the powerful Illinois River, with wetlands, forests, and lush valleys covering a large portion of the land. Starved Rock State Park, the Wildlife Prairie State Park, and the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge are a few stops where you can go hiking, cycling, or wildlife viewing. If you are more interested in exploring historic towns, then you will be spoiled for choice between several fascinating places. Take a ride on a canal boat from the mid-1800s, visit the Underground Railroad town of Princeton, or see where Lincoln made some of his earliest speeches in Havana.