A scenic sampling of Illinois’ waterways, past and present, this central portion of the Canal State Trail is filled with points of interest. Come walk alongside the I&M Canal and the waters of the DuPage, Des Plaines, Kankakee and Illinois rivers, and discover locks, dams, and even two ghost towns – Dresden and Aux Sable.
Grab your sunscreen and camera as you start your trek at Channahon State Park, taking time to explore a variety of canal structures and buildings that dot the landscape. As you cross over the Du Page River and head west, the trail becomes a path that runs between the I&M Canal and the Illinois River.
Along the way, make sure to hop off your bike in Dresden, a ghost canal town overlooking a modern lock and dam on the Illinois Waterway. A similar ghost town, Aux Sable, is now just a collection of canal structures including Lock 8, an aqueduct, and one of the two remaining locktender’s homes. Once in Morris, a half-mile detour east along Armstrong Street takes you to Evergreen Cemetery, where legendary Chief Shabbona is buried.
