Name: I & M Canal Trail
Rating: 4.5

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

No motorized vehicles (Snowmobiles are allowed in the winter), No firearms, and no horses.

Aqueduct carrying trail and canal over the Nettle Creek in Morris at Gebhard Woods collapsed during a flood 3 years ago. You must follow city streets to Gebhard Woods to continue the trail west or east from that point.

Description

The Illinois and Michigan (I & M) Canal Trail runs along an old canal tow road that was built to pull barges along the I & M Canal. The canal was constructed from 1823 to 1848 and connected the Illinois River to Lake Michigan. Upon completion, cargo could move from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Michigan. The original tow road was 96 miles long there are currently 61.5 miles open to the public.

This doubletrack trail runs from Rockdale to Peru a majority of which is constructed of packed crushed limestone which very easy on the knees. There are many access points along the way in the many small towns along the trail. It is also connected to five state parks, Channahon State Park, Aux Sable access area, William G. Stratton State Park, Gebhard Wood State Park, and Buffalo Rock State Park.