Kankakee County: River Landscapes, Nature and Culture

Kankakee River State Park stretches for 11 miles along both sides of the Kankakee River and covers about 4,000 acres. Kankakee County lies along Interstate 57, south of Chicago. River areas, protected landscapes and historic sites offer different ways to explore the region on your trip.

River and protected landscapes

The Riverfront Trailways of Kankakee County also follow the river: they offer more than 10 miles of trails for biking and walking along the Kankakee River. For a different kind of nature experience, Kankakee Sands-Illinois includes four preserves with rare sand prairies and black oak savannas. There, you can hike, photograph nature and watch birds.

The dry sand savanna at Mskoda covers 4 acres, is classified as Grade B and provides habitat for five state-listed species. In southeastern Kankakee County, Guiding Star Savanna Nature Preserve also features a Grade B dry sand savanna, located on the slopes of sand dunes. The preserve is permanently protected within the Illinois Nature Preserves system.

Trails and outdoor experiences

Perry Farm Park has smooth, paved trails for different kinds of activity: walking, running, inline skating and biking. The trails also pass by Indian Caves, which are associated with the Kankakee River.

Kankakee River State Park has a 3-mile hiking route along Rock Creek. The route offers views of limestone ravines and a waterfall. The stated distance helps you distinguish this trail from the more than 10 miles of the Riverfront Trailways: one figure refers to a single hiking route, while the other refers to trails for walking and biking along the river.

In addition to its trails, Perry Farm Park has a historic farmstead with a farmhouse, barns, outbuildings, animal enclosures and gardens. The grounds also include Centennial Orchard, the Durham Memorial and Millennium Garden. This mix of trails, landscape features and historic elements makes the park a versatile stop for visitors who want to include outdoor activity and local history in their stay.

Architecture, museums and history

B. Harley Bradley House stands out for its 90 art glass windows. Visitors interested in architectural details will find a distinctive feature here that differs from the region’s nature and landscape themes. Taylor Schoolhouse was moved to the Small Memorial Museum campus in 1976, adding a concrete example of an earlier school building to this historical perspective.

The French Heritage Museum explores French involvement in the history of the Kankakee River Valley. This includes the history of early explorers and missionaries, the coureurs de bois and fur traders, and pioneer settlers from France, French Canada and Belgium. Its focus is on the different groups and periods of French settlement and presence in the region.

Tours of Doctor Small Home are available on request when visiting the museum campus; contacting the site in advance is recommended. The Kankakee County Mural Trail was introduced in an announcement dated October 7, 2025, as a self-guided way to explore regional art, culture and creativity. The announcement mentions 17 outdoor murals and an interactive map with navigation and information. Check the trail app before your trip.

Choose a focus for your stay

Exploration Station offers another way to experience the region: this interactive learning center invites children to explore and discover through hands-on activities. Most exhibits are designed for children ages 2 to 8. If you are planning a trip with children, this age range gives you a specific guide to the exhibits’ intended audience, though it may not apply to every exhibit.

When choosing a hotel, it helps to decide on the focus of your trip first: river trails and landscapes, birdwatching, or museums, farm history and architecture.

Discover more destinations: Bourbonnais, Manteno, Kankakee, Jefferson, Champaign, Pope, Jackson, Lee County.

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