Illinois and Michigan Canal (Illinois)

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Canal That Built Chicago — 96-mile historic canal that connected the Great Lakes to the Mississippi — the engineering feat that made Chicago the center of America

Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail follows the 96-mile historic canal that connected Lake Michigan to the Illinois River (and thus the Mississippi) — the single most transformative engineering project in Illinois history. Completed in 1848, the I&M Canal made Chicago the junction between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River systems, transforming a muddy frontier town into America’s railroad hub and the fastest-growing city in history. Before the canal, goods from New York had to be portaged overland at Chicago. After the canal, a barge could travel from New York to New Orleans without leaving the water.

Visitor Information

Frequently Asked Questions

How did a canal make Chicago?

Before 1848, Chicago was a small frontier town. The I&M Canal created the only water route connecting the Great Lakes (and the Erie Canal from New York) to the Mississippi River system. Suddenly every grain farmer in the Midwest could ship to New York or New Orleans via Chicago. Railroads followed the canal route, and Chicago became America’s crossroads.

About Illinois and Michigan Canal

The Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor preserves the 96-mile canal built between 1836-1848 connecting Lake Michigan at Chicago to the Illinois River — completing the water route from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. The canal transformed Chicago from a frontier village into America’s railroad hub. The towpath trail offers one of the finest long-distance hiking and cycling routes in the Midwest.

Things to Do

Hiking and cycling the 61-mile towpath trail, visiting canal locks and historic aqueducts, fishing in the canal, canoeing, and exploring the charming canal towns of Lockport, Morris, and Ottawa. The trail is part of the National Heritage Corridor system.