River Recreation

Get Outside and Experience Illinois Rivers

Illinois has 120,00 miles of beautiful rivers waiting for you to visit. Illinois’ rivers and streams offer a diverse landscape with wildlife, new sights, and experiences for those who explore them.

Our River Experiences flyers list numerous outdoor recreation opportunities to enjoy, giving you plenty of reasons to get outside!

The National Park Service has a list of biologically, geologically, and recreationally significant Illinois streams. You can make plans to visit many of them and enjoy Illinois’ natural beauty. Whether you like bird watching, fishing, canoeing, or simply visiting beautiful scenery, our streams will provide you with an unforgettable experience.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has more information on hiking trail access, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor opportunities.

Canoe & Kayak

For information on canoeing or kayaking rentals visit the Illinois Paddling Council. Paddling clubs are also a great way to get started or maintain your skills with other paddling enthusiasts. There are clubs throughout the state offering social, recreations, and instructional opportunities. Get paddling!

Fishing

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fishing Page allows you to purchase Illinois fishing licenses online and provides good information on fishing in Illinois.

The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance (ISA) is an organization of catch and release anglers helping to preserve the smallmouth bass and its habitat through education and conservation.

The Environmental Defense Fund identifies the seafood that is the healthiest for us and the best for the environment.

Fish Watch also has an easy database to search for sustainable seafood.

Wildlife Habitat

Rivers, streams, wetlands and lakes are home to many species of wildlife. The land connected to these surface waters, the riparian zones or buffer zones which connect water to land, is home to many species as well as vital to the health of a waterway.

Illinois is home to an amazing array of wildlife. The following links connect you to valuable resources and tools you can use to learn more about the wildlife in Illinois which depend on our waterways.

Fish: Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources fish guide for a comprehensive list of Illinois’ fishes.

Birds: Visit Illinois Ornithological Society for information on the birds of Illinois.

River Safety