THE GREAT OUTDOORS INSIDE THE MIDWEST

TUCKED BETWEEN RIVERS AND PRAIRIES, THE AMERICAN BOTTOMS AND SCENIC LIMESTONE BLUFFS, SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS IS FAST BECOMING AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE LOVER’S PLAYGROUND. KAYAKING. HIKING. BOATING. BIKING. ROCK CLIMBING. YOU NAME IT, YOU CAN FIND IT THROUGHOUT THE GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES REGION.

Water Fun

What’s your pleasure when it comes to water fun? Are you a fan of immersive experiences or leisurely excursions?

The waterways of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers are perfectly suited for kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding. Bring your own equipment and launch your adventures from the Audubon Center at Riverlands, the Alton riverfront and Grafton riverfront. Water fun is also available at Litchfield’s Lake Lou Yaeger, a 5.5 mile long lake with a public swim beach, boating and fishing. Rent kayaks, paddleboards and corcl at Milnot Beach.

Laid back river cruises are available on the Hakuna Matata, a 49-passenger excursion boat that sails out of Grafton Harbor. Weekend sight seeing cruises and dinner cruises are on tap from May through October. See the sites from the open-air top level or enjoy the comforts of the air conditioned enclosed lower level which includes a refreshment bar.

A Walk In A Park

Escaping from urban life in to nature is a breeze in southwest Illinois. State Parks are located in Grafton, Collinsville and Carlinville and there is a bounty of dedicated nature centers in between.

all new:

Resort Fun

When it comes to premier resort destinations, look no further than Aerie’s Resort in Grafton. More than 300-feet high overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers in Grafton, visitors can spend days exploring the resort complex which includes overnight lodging and dining at The Terrace at Aerie’s Resort , the riverfront community of Grafton and Pere Marquette State Park . Aerie’s also offers dazzling views from the Grafton SkyTour which carries visitors from downtown Grafton to the resort top in open air chair lifts and enclosed gondolas. Suit up and get ready to zip through the treetops at Grafton Zipline Adventures offered by Aerie’s in the treetop canopy overlooking the rivers. Ride the Alpine Coaster at Aerie’s and fly down the river bluff on 4,000 feet of track with seven hairpin turns and eight waves and twists. The coaster sleds can accommodate one adult or one adult and one child.

Byway Flyway – a side-by-side, dual line 1,400 foot zipline ride spanning Aerie’s Timber Ridge. Riders gear up at the Resort and are shuttled to Lookout Point where they strap in, launch from a platform and zip the entire span in one shot, landing at the original departure point!

Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton offers more than 8,000 acres of pristine landscapes and hiking trails. Stunning scenic overlooks dot the trails and roadways through the park and a nearby stable provides trail rides on horseback through the park. For rock climbing enthusiasts, there is an outdoor crag with more than 60 routes on highly featured limestone formations. Beaver Dam State Park near Carlinville has hiking trails, an archery range, and is a fisherman’s paradise. Horseshoe Lake State Park near Collinsville offers fishing, hiking and more on its 2,960 acres. Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield and the adjacent Shoal Creek Conservation Area have hiking trails showcasing the native environments of the region.

Reconnect with nature at The Nature Institute in Godfrey which offers breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and Great River Road from its river bluff location. A variety of hiking trails wind through the nearly 300-acre property featuring waterfalls, a savanna habitat and multiple sinkholes. The Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville has 40 acres of wetlands, woodlands and grass habitats to explore.