I grew up boating, skiing and camping on the Illinois River. So when I went back to Illinois for my 40th reunion I headed out for a drive by the river.
Wish I’d had more time to explore the Illinois River Road, a National Scenic Byway connecting more than 100 nature-based destinations. The route takes you 291 miles (468.3 km) from Ottawa to Havana through forests, wetlands, bluffs and prairies. This allows the modern visitor to travel the same route as the early French explorers, les Voyageurs.
In fact humans have been living along the banks of the Illinois River since the end of the last ice age, when glacial melt water carved out the river valley. As settlers spread westward rivers became main transportation routes.
Several species of migrating waterfowl and other wildlife make their home in the wetland and forest habitats along the banks of the Illinois River. These look mostly like sea gulls, a long ways from the sea. But I did see what looked like a white-phase Great Blue Heron fly off too fast for a photo.
I only explored about 10 miles of the northern Illinois River Road from Ottawa to Utica because I was on a mission to hike a special canyon. The first canyon to capture my younger heart.
Funny, because the first time I visited Grand Canyon, on the North Rim, 35+ years ago I heard that a river had carved that canyon and I didn’t understand why the Illinois River didn’t have a Grand Canyon. But there are small canyons in Starved Rock Country.
Do you have a special place that calls your spirit?
Gaelyn, I think I’d trade a year of my life for a month-long visit to Keirio Valley, Great Rift Valley in Kenya again. *Sigh* thanks “driving by the river” and sharing it with us. Have a great week. Jo
I’d go with you Jo.
You just made me think about those special places that call my spirit. Two spring to mind. The Tsitsikamma forest, which I am busy posting about, come to mind first. The forest calls me, more so than the bush or the beach. Table Mountain for some reason also calls my spirit. I’ve never live in Cape Town but I always long to see and go to the mountain.
I too am a forest person and loved the Tsitsikamma, and Table Mt was spectacular also.
Love your road trip. I’d never heard of the road so I learned something.
My two favorite areas that call to me are Chaco Canyon and Acoma Pueblo, both in New Mexico.
Those are both places I have yet to see, and are on the list. Shall we meet up?
I love history like this. It is so fascinating to me about who came before and what the land looked like then and how rivers were formed……..I never get tired of it. Thanks for this information. I’ve been in Illinois but only Chicago and “going through Chicago on the way to Pennsylvania”. I’ve even got some roots in the Nauvoo area and I’d love to see Springfield. I’m such a wanderlust. My camera is undergoing surgery at Nikon and ….. YIKES! HOW DO I WRITE A POST WITHOUT PHOTOS!!! 🙂 I’m blank this week.
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I’d have a hard time posting without photos also. Hope Nikon gets your gear back to you quickly.
There’s always so much more of the world to explore. Hope to meet you this winter in southern AZ.
I had never heard of the Illinois River Road before and found this post absolutely delightful. Choosing one special place is really, really hard as there are so many to choose from. I love Cape Ann (Massachusetts) where the surf splashed relentlessly on the rocks. But I also adore the Green Mountains in Vermont and Cottage Country north of Toronto.
Glad you enjoyed the post and discovery of the Illinois River Road. I agree that it’s difficult to choose just one special place because I too have many.
Gorgeous Gaeyln. You proved you CAN go home again! Love that you can hike along the same path taken by the explorers..what a great way that would be to learn history.
Yes Gaelyn I do:) Back home in Wisconsin, it’s a place called Point Beach State Forest along Lake Michigan. No matter how many years have passed. No how many people have come and gone. I still return to that place and forget time altogether.
That was a cool look into your mind. So that canyon inspired you to other canyons:) I’ve heard there’s one in Peru….a big one….that has a big condor. We should go one time. That would be epic:)
Peru is SO on my bucket list and I’d love to see the Andean condors. Canyon or not. When did we leave?
Your special place sounds delightful.
Gaelyn, what a pretty river! I love the bluff! It sounds like a fun drive which would take me several days if not weeks while I stopped along the way to count birds! As for the places that call my name? well, the Big Lost river Valley in Idaho and Antelope Island in Utah are just 2 of them. From my childhood I would say just the woods behind my house! Oh, and I am rather found of Yellowstone NP!
I think a lot of birding could be accomplished along the Illinois River, given enough days. In fact that sounds like a fun journey.
I think we all have some special places that call to us.
I was surprised to see the leaves weren’t more turned there. You know my heart in is in the high peaks of CO.
PS If I haven’t told you, I love your Header.
Thanks Barb. I know your heart lies in those gorgeous backyard mountains.