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Illinois Beach State Park |
Illinois Beach State Park
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Lake Front
Zion, IL 60099
847-662-4811
Fax: 847-662-6433
* A partial campground alcohol ban is now being enforced in the campgrounds. The
following campsites have now been designated as alcohol free: 99 -149, 220 -
238, 300 - 307.
* Park Office is open - Tuesday - Saturday, 8:00am - 4:00pm. The interpretive
center is open intermittently, please call for more information.
* Camping Reservations are NO LONGER being accepted for the reaminder of the
2006 Season.
* Mail-In Reservations for the 2007 Season will begin January 2, 2007. Any
reservation requests received before this date will be returned.
A full range of recreation opportunities complement the expansive shoreline of
Illinois Beach State Park. Interested in jogging and bicycling? The trails are
waiting! Or, is physical fitness your current pursuit? Whether you're an active
outdoor enthusiast or just interested in a quiet walk along some of the
Midwest's most scenic beaches, this is the place for you!
Stretching leisurely for six and a half miles along the sandy shore of Lake
Michigan in northern Illinois, Illinois Beach State Park encompasses the only
remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state.
Illinois Beach is a unique and captivating natural resource for all to enjoy. It
was created by the titanic forces of glacial advance and retreat and the steady
winds that breathed across expansive Lake Michigan. The park has dunes and
swales with sprawling marshes, forests of oak and vast arrays of animal life and
vegetation.
The 4,160-acre park, consisting of two separate areas, offers ample
opportunities for swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping and
just appreciating nature.
More than 650 species of plants have been recorded in the dunes area alone,
including dozens of types of colorful wildflowers. Prickly pear cactus thrives
in large colonies in the dry areas, and the wet prairies are carpeted with a
wide variety of grasses and sedges. Large expanses of marsh in the swales
support dense stands of cattail, bluejoint grass, prairie cordgrass, reed grass,
big bluestem and sedges.
The sandy ridges are crowned by black oak forests with an open, savanna-like
appearance, and several kinds of fragrant pines, introduced here a century ago,
also prosper in the southern area.
Just north of these pines is the Dead River which actually is a stream that is
blocked by sandbars much of the year forming an elongated pond. When the water
finally rises high enough, it breaks through the sandbar and drains the
surrounding marshes. The abundance of aquatic plants and fish flourishing in
this changing environment belie its name.
CULLERTON COMPLEX
On May 9, 2000, the area encompassing Illinois Beach State Park and North Point
Marina was officially designated as the Cullerton Complex in honor of William J.
Cullerton, Sr., war hero, avid environmentalist and longtime friend of
conservation.
Cullerton, best known by the general public for his "Great Outdoors" show, which
aired for many years on WGN-AM Radio, has spent nearly 50 years promoting
fishing in the Midwest and supporting a multitude of outdoor-related
organizations and events.
History
Long recognized for its complex geological structure, unique flora and
spectacular beauty, the Lake Michigan dunes area originally was, in the 1700s,
part of the "Three Fires" of the Algonquin Nation: the Potawatomi, Chippewa, and
Ottawa. Prior to then the area had been occupied by the Miami.
In the late 1600s French explorers first visited the area as part of their
survey of what was then known as the Northwest Territory. By the time Illinois
became a state in 1818, the area was full of transient hunters and trappers. In
1836, a treaty was made with the local Native Americans, who were moved
westward, and the area became part of Lake County.
During the Civil War what is now the northern unit of the park became Camp
Logan, a Union prisoner of war camp. This installation went on to serve as an
Army basic training center through World Wars I and II (when it provided ideal
conditions for practicing tank maneuvers), and, in the late 1940s, was turned
over to the Illinois National Guard.
Preservation efforts were considered as early as 1888, when Robert Douglas, a
Waukegan nurseryman, and Jens Jensen, a famous landscape architect, discussed
making it a regional park. With industry advancing from the south, sand mining
ravaging the dunes, and parts of the surrounding countryside succumbing to
pasture and homesteads, legislative efforts to save the area finally began in
the 1920s.
In 1948, the state finally acquired the first parcels of what is now Illinois
Beach State Park. In 1950, the Illinois Dunes Preservation Society was
established to protect the natural qualities of the area, and through its
efforts and the efforts of the Department of Conservation the area south of
Beach Road was dedicated in 1964 as the first Illinois nature preserve. The
northern unit, from the Commonwealth Edison power plant to the Wisconsin border,
was acquired between 1971 and 1982.
Picnicking
Easy access to Lake Michigan make this park a relaxing and enjoyable place to
picnic with the family. Both the northern and southern units of the park contain
ample picnic grounds complete with tables.
Camping | Campground Map
tent camping A campground in the southern unit provides 244 Class A Premium
sites with electricity and access to showers and sanitary facilities. You must
obtain a camping permit from the park staff, and MUST have a camping unit upon
arrival.
Reservations may be made by mail until Labor Day weekend. After Labor Day, NO
RESERVATIONS will be accepted. Send the completed reservation application, along
with a check for $25.00 to Illinois Beach State Park. This fee covers the$5.00
non-refundable reservation fee plus the first nights camping fee. Due to the
high use of this area from Memorial Day to Labor Day, reservations are
recommended but not required. Campsites are also available on first come first
serve basis but usually fill up by early Friday mornings. E-mail and phone-in
reservations are NOT accepted. For questions about your reservation application
please call 847-662-4811.
Alcohol Ban
Alcohol is permitted in campground sites: 150 -199, 200 - 217, 400 - 473, and
500 - 521. All other sites and areas of the park it is prohibited. EXCEPTION -
Illinois Beach Resort.
Concessions
A Concession trailer (Camp Store) offering refreshments, etc. is located at the
main beach area in the Southern Unit. Hours vary seasonally from May 1 to
October 31.
Swimming Beach
During the summer season, swimming is a major attraction along the sandy
shorelines, and both units provide ample parking and bathhouse with showers.
There are no on-duty lifeguards, so please be careful.
Pets
We do not allow dogs on the beach or in the nature preserve. They are allowed in
the campground, in the picnic area, and the remainder of the trails as long as
they are on a leash. Pets are not to be left unattended.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed along the beach area in both units (except in the swimming
areas) and there are several small inland fishing ponds, including Sand Pond,
where a fishing pier for the disabled is available. No fishing is allowed in the
nature preserve.
Hiking
From guided nature hikes to individual treks, Illinois Beach provides excellent
hiking opportunities. The southern part of the park features 5 miles of trails,
including a 2.2-mile loop trail with a graveled surface. In the north, Camp
Logan Trail is a 1.8-mile multi-use loop that cross-country skiers also can use.
Cross-country skiing is not allowed in the nature preserve.
Bike Trail
Bikers can travel between the North and South units of Illinois Beach State Park
by utilizing the Zion Bike Trail, a section of trail connecting 29th Street at
the south end to 17th Street at the north end.
Interpretive Center
The interpretive center is a popular spot to start your visit to Illinois Beach.
Located in the nature area, the center has educational displays, a "hands-on"
exhibit area, and seasonal park staff to answer any questions you might have.
Lodging
For comfortable accommodations, the 96-room Illinois Beach Resort and Conference
Center is the perfect place to get away for a weekend or week-long vacation. The
hotel features a restaurant, cocktail lounge, video game room, an olympic-size
indoor heated swimming pool and a giant whirlpool. A full service health club
includes exercise equipment, and sauna. Conference facilities include fully
equipped private rooms for banquets and meetings that can accommodate up to 500
people comfortably. For additional information or to make reservations call
847/625-7300.
Special Events
In May, the two day In-Campground Camper Show is held at Illinois Beach State
Park. The event draws up to 20,000 visitors and a host of camping industry
exhibitors.
North Point Marina
While in the area, be sure to visit North Point Marina, Illinois' newest and
largest marina. Located 5 miles north of Illinois Beach, this full-service
marina has 1,500 slips, a boat service center and food concession. For
additional information about slip rental, write the Department of Natural
Resources, North Point Marina, 701 North Point Drive, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096
or call 847-746-2845.
Directions
From the South are: I-294 north to Rt 173 east (approx 8 miles) to Sheridan
Road. Make a right on Sheridan Road to Wadsworth Road, make a left and you will
be in the park.
From the North are: I-94 South to Rt. 173, east on Rt.173 to Sheridan Road,
right on Sheridan Road to Wadsworth Road and make a left on Wadsworth into the
Park.
* While groups of 25 or more are welcome and encouraged to use the park's
facilities, they are required to register in advance with the site office to
avoid crowding or scheduling conflicts.
* At least one responsible adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.
* Pets must be kept on leashes at all times.
* Actions by nature can result in closed roads and other facilities. Please call
ahead to the park office before you make your trip.
* We hope you enjoy your stay. Remember, take only memories, leave only
footprints.
* For more information on tourism in Illinois, call the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Community Affairs' Bureau of Tourism at 1-800-2Connect.
* Telecommunication Device for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Natural Resources
Information (217) 782-9175 for TDD only Relay Number 800-526-0844.
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