Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park

Stretching across six Illinois counties from the Rock Island area to Bureau County, Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park follows the historic Hennepin Canal — one of the last hand-dug canals in America. Established in 1970, this 5,773-acre linear park preserves a remarkable piece of 19th-century engineering while offering over 100 miles of trails that wind along the canal’s towpath through rolling farmland and quiet woodlands.

The canal itself, completed in 1907 to connect the Illinois River to the Mississippi, never saw the commercial traffic its builders envisioned. Today that peaceful legacy works in visitors’ favor. The flat, crushed-limestone towpath is ideal for cycling, jogging, and cross-country skiing, while the canal waters draw anglers chasing catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill. Birders appreciate the corridor’s role as a green highway through agricultural country — herons, kingfishers, and migrating warblers are regular sightings.

Boating is limited to electric motors and non-powered craft, keeping the waterway quiet for kayakers and canoeists. In winter, the towpath transforms into a popular snowmobile and cross-country ski route.

The park’s best stretch runs near Sheffield, where Lock 21 has been restored and interpretive signs explain the canal’s ambitious engineering. Spring and fall deliver the most comfortable conditions, with wildflower blooms along the banks in May and vivid foliage in October.

Rated 4.4 out of 5 across 312 reviews, Hennepin Canal rewards visitors looking for a low-key, trail-rich escape from the interstates.

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