Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL

Illinois Beach State Park spans six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and includes 4,160 acres of dunes, prairie, and woodland. Home buyers can reach the park’s main entrance from Zion in under ten minutes, giving residents immediate access to 6.5 miles of marked hiking and biking trails that wind through restored sand savanna and black-oak forest. The park’s Dead River Trail connects directly to the 20-mile Robert McClory Bike Path, allowing cyclists to travel south to Waukegan or north to the Wisconsin border without leaving paved routes. Two guarded swimming beaches provide seasonal lifeguard service, while a boat launch at the north unit accommodates kayaks and small watercraft. Picnic shelters, a campground with 142 sites, and a nature center offering scheduled programs are all within the park boundaries. Nearby, downtown Zion’s Metra station places Union Station in Chicago within an 80-minute train ride, and the park sits less than three miles from the I-94 corridor.

Biking Paths Boating Camping Canoeing Fishing Hiking Paths Kayaking Picnic Area Restrooms Swimming Pool Water Skiing