kankakee river state park

Looking at the river and the cliffs in all seasons is enjoyable and attests to the glory of God. He is the Creator and truly is our only comfort and need.

As a Kankakee native (minus 15 adult years in Florida before returning 10 years ago), I've always taken this place for granted. A disastrous visit to Starved Rock last summer really drove home why Kankakee River State Park is such a treasure:1. Even at the busiest times, there are never throngs of people clogging the trails, playgrounds, or parking areas. 2. The walk along Rock Creek to the waterfall is easy, really a wide meadow path. The return path to the parking lot, away from the creek, is more wooded but still an easy and safe walk. ***WARNING*** - You will see many unofficial beaten paths leading down toward the creek, but these are potentially dangerous - DO NOT LET CHILDREN GET NEAR THEM; they are muddy, rocky, steep, and the only handholds are whatever rock or root you can grab hold of if you slip. The park does not maintain these in any way nor are there any railings or stairways. Of course, I have gone down some of them anyway, which is how I know all this. 3. Throughout the park, there are few signs prohibiting people from leaving the marked paths. After reading about everyone getting arrested at Starved Rock for veering off into nature, I realize how lucky we are not to be micromanaged like this.4. The free shotgun range is quite nice and underused. Hardly anyone seems to even realize it's there. We run into savvy people from all over the state and suburbs who make a long drive to enjoy it without some of the hassles they describe at other parks.5. Ooh, I'm going to get in trouble for this one: Morel Hunting. I'm not going to tell you where. But people successfully hunt morels in this park every year.6. Bike path is well maintained - the ride east from the visitor center toward Potawatomi campground is easy and nearly level.7. Like most state parks, with every step you get a new and different beautiful landscape view.8. Excellent boating, fishing, and wildlife hunting (check website and posted signs for shooting hours and seasons).

If you are camping, you have a choice of three campgrounds at this state park. Chippewa Campground, features Class BE (electricity only, no showers) and Class C (no electricity, no showers) camp sites. The second has "Class A" sites; Potawatomi Campground has electric and water hook-ups as well as a shower house with flush toilets. Potawatomi also has two cabins available. The third, Davis Creek Campground, is a group campground (primitive tent sites) which is available to chaperoned youth and church groups. Great hiking and bike trails are available throughout the park. The park features a suspension bridge over the canyon running through the park. You can fish in the creek that flows through the canyon or in the Kankakee river. I have taken many youth individuals and groups on hikes in the park and always try to work in a hike up the creek to the falls; it's great fun! Also in the park is an archery range and a small nature museum, where you might be able to hold a turtle or snake...

If biking, hiking, picnicking, contemplating, photography, reading is your thing- this is the place to do it! Beautiful trails along the Kankakee River are perfect for hiking- the natural beauty of the river is breathtaking. Excellent place for family reunions with large pavilions in case of rain. Peaceful and restful, even a drive through is well worth your time!! There is also camp grounds for tent camping and motor homes that are very picturesque and economical.

nice trail well maintained close to the river but most of it is in the woods. Great shade, flat with multiple areas to gain access to the trail.

I can't say enough about the park. It has big beautiful Oak trees, Hickory trees, Sycamores, Black Walnut and many others. There are beautiful rock formations and a long bike trail to ride or walk. A couple of walking bridges over creeks that everyone should see at least once, especially in the fall. They have 2 look outs that you can see a long distance an take beautiful pictures. There are 2 camping areas, both are very nice to camp in. And an old cemetary. A great place to relax.

This park runs along the river. It's well kept. You can put in a canoe or small boat and fish. If you enjoy camping, biking and exploring the river, you will enjoy this park. The 6 mile trail is paved and is wheel chair friendly. It has full hook up camping sites as well several other camping sites. We were there on a Saturday and the park office and nature center was closed. This is a park for walking, not Hiking. There are several place where you can get in the river and explore or keep cool.

Just stayed at the Potowatami campground in Kankakee River State Park with my husband and a family of 4 (at the site next door). We only stayed one night, but really enjoyed ourselves. The sites are wooded so you do get some privacy, but can definitely hear your neighbors. We stayed for a Saturday night and i would say maybe 40-50% of the sites were full. People are fairly quiet overall, so although you can hear your neighbors, i didn't find it distracting at all. The campground is also very secure. They do have rangers in trucks and on foot that keep an eye on things and no cars are allowed to drive through the sites after 10pm, which is nice. Every site has electricity, in case you need it and pumps for drinking water are nicely spread throughout the area. Every site also has a grill, you just need to bring firewood/charcoal, which you cannot buy in the park. There is a small trading post for fishing licenses/gear and wood about a 5 minute drive outside the park. Not sure about the prices, i'm sure things are much cheaper if you are OK driving a few extra miles.There is a path leading down to the river for fishing, which was really great. The river is very shallow so even the kids could get in and walk almost to the center of the river. Remember to bring your bikes as there are many miles of trails, which are really nice. I didn't have a reservation but didn't have any troubles finding 2 sites next to each other by around 1pm on a Saturday. I would definitely stay at this campground again. You feel like you are much more than an hour from the big city!

My family stayed at Chippewa . We were supposed to stay 2 nights but we ended up leaving early. Reasons we left early ..... had horrible storm come through with hail flooded our tent got that cleaned up but our stove was wet and wouldn't work... went to camp host told them what happened they offered us wet wood... great thanks we actually finally got it lit ... then we had to deal with the 20 plus people dancing and playing music til 1 am so then we went to the camp host again in the morning they could care less... I know most of u probably won't care but to me that is messed up !!! The park is pretty and yes very small campsites and yes alot of daddy long legs but in my book the rudeness and disregard of other people was unbearable!!!! Not sure if we will ever give this spot another shot but if we do I hope it's better it has so much potential!

Camped for 2 days with girlfriend and adult daughter in July 2014. Potowatami is nice and wooded though other campers are not far away when full. Quiet at night. Electric at all sites. $25/night. Showers were o.k. from the girls' standpoint. We had 2 tents and most sites had at least one good tent spot.Chippewa is cheaper I believe and considerably more open (less woods) No showers there either...Looked very nice for tents but also many RVs.Good park for easy bicycling and walking. Of course river is great for fishing and paddling but be careful:Some have died on this river over the years.

Most of the camping spots here are the drive-in type where you park in your campsite and put up your tent next to the car. The Potawatomi sites have electricity at each site and full bathrooms (toilets/urinals, sinks, & showers) which lessens complaints from the non-campers. It is an easy 20 minute drive over to Reed's canoes in Bourbonnais. My wife and I took two canoes with our two boys and made the 12 mile journey in 3 hours 30 minutes. Sites are on the small side but that was all we needed. It's a state park...not a Hilton ;)

we camped here for a month while visiting family. they have electric but you have to have wasted on board, there are faucets where you can fill your holding tanks and there is a dump station. we loved it as the park was not full and even when it was there was not a lot of noise. there are three separate camp grounds and the river runs next to each one. lots of actives and places to visit near by. Will camp here again.

My son and I started our camp trip at the Chippewa campground. We found a nice, quiet site with no amenities for$8. There were kind camp hosts, walking/bike trails and pit toilets. We spent the day fishing in beautiful Rock Creek. Caught 4 fish and had a blast. The Precambrian rocks are awesome. Parking was easy. Later that night bad weather moved in. I had remembered that the other campground had two rental cabins. We talked to our host and she called over to the other host and found that they had one cabin left. We moved there. They were nice enough to transfer our tent fee towards the 50$ cabin fee. They told us the cabin was bare bones. Either way it would be safer than a tent. We were pleasantly surprised with the little cabin. It had electricity-and ceiling fans. It had two sets of bunks and a double. It had a table for two where we played cards. We lost power mid night into the next day, due to the storm. The cabin was clean and served us well. The campground was nice. Warning though, if you have a fear of spiders, this is not the place for you. I'm not a fan, but they were mostly daddy long legs, but I've never seen so many in my life. The ground crawled with them. Just an FYI. Otherwise it's a nice destination.

I was in the area for an appointment with my kids and decided to take a detour and visit the park. The negatives first: The snack area was closed as were several of the restrooms. The restroom that I visited smelled and had toilet paper all over the floor. I am not shocked by rustic restrooms. I have visited rustic spots in the National Parks, but they were not smelly and were clean. These were gross. The positives: The park itself was mowed and the paved path along the river was pretty. The river was an easy hike from the parking lot. Upon returning home I read up on the history of the park. That history - plentiful - was not readily accessible to the casual visitor - this one from out of state. Interpretative signage or guide maps at tat the parking lots would have been a nice touch. My kids left the park just having seen a river and trees - pretty ones.

So relaxing a visit to see the waters of the river and cliffs at Rock Creek. Wonderfully paved paths and an enjoyable bike route allow a experience of the park's various features. Camping is good and in a relaxing atmosphere. Wonderful Bourbonnais and Kankakee are so close by and give opportunities for good food and drink or entertainment.