Illinois Beach (Adeline Jay Geo-Karis) State Park
The park stretches 6.5 miles along the shores of Lake Michigan at the northeast corner of Illinois in the town of Zion. The park hosts the only remaining beach ridge shoreline in Illinois, and its varied topography of dunes, wetlands and forests was carved by retreating glaciers from the Ice Age.
Details
Location
The main entrance to the park is located at the east end of Wadsworth Road in Zion, Illinois. A detailed map may be found here.
Managed By
Distance from Downtown Chicago
47 miles from the center of town
How To Get There
Accessibility
There are accessible parking spaces. One lakefront boardwalk trail is accessible. The Dead River Trail mentioned below is not accessible. There are a number of accessible restrooms. There are 6 accessible campsites and one accessible fishing pier.
Things To Do
Beach Activities, Biking, Birdwatching (Brewer’s blackbirds, grasshopper sparrows, gulls, snowy owls, warblers), Boating, Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking (the stunning Dead River Trail is highly recommended), Jogging, Picnicking, Running, Swimming, Visitors Center, Watchable Wildlife and Wildflowers.
Fun Facts
The northern portion of the park was formerly Camp Logan, a U.S. Army basic training center that was active in World Wars I and II. The terrain was very suitable for tank maneuver training.
Other Information
In season a camp store and gift shop are open near the main beach parking lot. Consult the park map linked above for the location of restrooms and water.
Eats
Healthyums, 2724 Sheridan Road, Zion, Illinois features healthful, tasty breakfasts.
Nearby Public Lands Worth Visiting
Best Time To Visit
All year
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