Illinois Beach State Park

About Illinois Beach State Park

With a wide range of leisure activities complementing it, and physical fitness as its current goal, it is one of the best parks in the state of Illinois.

Illinois Beach State Park is the only remaining coastline in the state and stretches from the Illinois River to the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Illinois Beach is a unique and fascinating natural resource that everyone can enjoy. Whether you are an active outdoor enthusiast or just want to take a break from your daily commute to work, school, work - in a park or other activities, this is the place to be.

The 4160 hectare park, which consists of two separate areas, offers a variety of activities, from kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing, swimming and just enjoying nature. The park has a total area of 1.5 million square feet and is created by the steady winds blowing from Lake Michigan.

The wet prairie is covered with a variety of grasses and blessings, and the large swamps and hollows carry many bird species, reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey and insects. Cacti thrive in large colonies in dry areas and in this dune area alone, over 650 plant species have been identified, including dozens of colourful wildflowers.

The sandy ridges are crowned by black oak forests, which have an open savanna - like a look. In the southern area, several species of fragrant pine trees, which were introduced centuries ago, also flourish. North of the pines flows the Dead River, which is actually a creek, which is blocked by sandbanks all year round and forms a long pond. When the water finally rises high enough, it breaks through the sandbanks and flows into the surrounding swamps. The aquatic plants and fish that thrive in this changing environment share their name with the creek and its name.

Long known as one of the most beautiful areas of Illinois Beach State Park, the dune region of Lake Michigan was originally the site of an old, growing pine forest, a remnant of the Great Lakes era.

French explorers who visited the area at the end of the 19th century as part of their exploration of what was then known as the Northwest Territory. The area had previously been occupied by Miami and later by the US Army and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

When Illinois became a state in 1818, the area was full of fleeting hunters and trappers, but after the local Indians moved west, treaties were signed and it became part of Lake County. During the Civil War, what is now the northern unit of the park became Camp Logan, a Union POW camp. In the late 1940s, it was handed over to the Illinois National Guard, where it was used for tank maneuvers.

Efforts to protect the natural environment have been underway since 1888, when Lake County Board members Jens Jensen and his brother-in-law John Jensen discussed making the park a regional park.

When industry moved south, sand mining devastated the dunes and parts of the surrounding countryside were forced to give way to pastures and farmsteads. Legislative efforts to save the area eventually began in the 1920s, and in 1948 the state finally acquired the land for what is now Illinois Beach State Park. In 1950, the Illinois Dunes Preservation Society was founded to protect its natural features. The area south of Beach Road was inaugurated as the first nature reserve in Illinois.

Between 1971 and 1982, more than 2,000 acres of land in Lake County and Illinois were purchased for the park.

For more information about renting a slide, please call 847-746-2845 or write to the Illinois Beach State Park Visitor Center at (846) 745-8477. Near the main beach in the southern part of the area there are concession trailers and a snack bar. A full-service marina is located 5 miles north of Illinois Beach and features a boat ramp, boat parking and parking for up to 10 boats. In this area you can visit the largest dune park in the state, Chicago Dunes National Park, as well as many other parks in Illinois.

The opening hours vary seasonally from 1 May to 31 October, but reservations can be made by post during the summer months. Before setting up camp, you must obtain a camping permit from the park staff. The campsites in the south offer a variety of amenities such as picnic areas, picnic tables and a picnic area.

Reservations are required for all campsites in Illinois Beach State Park during the summer months and are recommended. For reservations please call 847 - 746 - 2845 from Tuesday to Saturday. We do not accept e-mails or telephone reservations; please send us a copy of your completed reservation request with your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

It is the perfect place for a weekend or a week - long vacations - and is one of the most popular campsites in Illinois Beach State Park.

The hotel features a heated swimming pool and a full-service fitness centre, including fitness equipment and sauna. Conference facilities include a fully equipped private room with a private conference room that can accommodate up to 500 people. The hotel also has two heated swimming pools and an indoor / outdoor sports hall as well as a spa.

Swimming is a major attraction along the sandy coast during the summer season and each unit offers ample parking, bathhouse and showers. For more information or reservations, call 847-625-7300 or Illinois Beach State Park Hotels & Resorts at 1-888-542-6200.

Fishing is allowed in the swimming areas and on the beach, but a fishing license is required and fishing within the nature reserve is not allowed. Be careful, there are no lifeguards, so be careful and note several small inland fishing ponds, including a sandy pond where there is a jetty for the disabled.

This is a relaxed and pleasant place to picnic with the family and have easy access to Lake Michigan.

Both the northern and southern units of the park have large picnic areas and tables, and there are many picnic tables and picnic chairs in the southern part, as well as a picnic area on the beach.

Illinois Beach offers great hiking opportunities, from guided nature walks to individual trekking tours. The southern part of the park has 5 km of hiking trails, including a 2.5 km trail from the beach to the northern end of Lake Michigan. Cross-country skiing is not allowed in the reserve, but there is an area on the south side of Illinois Beach State Park that cross-country skiers can use, as well as a 1.2-kilometer (1.2-mile) trail to the north.

Cyclists can ride a stretch of the road that connects 29th Street at the southern end with 17th Street at the northern end. The Interpretation Center is a popular base for visiting Illinois Beach. Located in the nature reserve, the center has staff available to answer any questions.

Dogs are not allowed on the beach or in the nature reserve, and pets are not allowed unattended, but only on a lead.

The park is located about half a mile north of Chicago, on the west side of Sheridan Road, just east of Wadsworth Road. Turn right off Sheridan Road onto Wadworth Road and turn left into the Illinois Beach State Park parking lot, then right onto the beach.