Posted in Illinois Hiking, Nature May 21, 2021 by Melissa Mahoney

Walk Across A 75-Foot Suspension Bridge On Kankakee River Trail In Illinois

Kankakee River State Park is located near the village of Bourbonnais in Kankakee County just south of Chicago. With 4,000 acres spanning across both sides of the Kankakee River, the park is open to many recreational activities throughout the year including hiking, biking, fishing, cross-country skiing, camping, boating, horseback riding, and more. It’s quite a scenic destination with trails that are accessible for both strollers and wheelchairs, canyons, a river, and a suspension bridge that spans across a creek.

The Kankakee River Trail is an easy-to-moderate 10.5 miles, running alongside the river and through woodland areas without much elevation gain.

At four to eight feet wide in certain areas, the trail consists of approximately seven miles of paved pathway with the rest made of gravel, so it is accessible up to a point.

Along the trail is a pedestrian suspension bridge that spans Rock Creek, a tributary of the Kankakee River.

The single-span Rock Creek Suspension Bridge was originally built in 1929 and the decking was reconstructed in 1987. It connects the trail from one side of the park to the other.

Considered one of the tallest pedestrian suspension bridges in the state, it hovers approximately 75 feet above the creek while its length is also around 75 feet.

From atop the bridge, you will be treated to panoramic views of the limestone canyons along the creek as well as a gorgeous waterfall.

With numerous parking areas around Kankakee River State Park, you can easily find a location closest to this lovely suspension bridge if that is the main reason for your visit. But with numerous areas throughout the park to explore, the bridge is just the icing on the cake!

Have you traveled across the Rock Creek Suspension Bridge at Kankakee State Park? What is your favorite suspension bridge in Illinois? Let us know in the comments.

For more on the Kankakee River Trail, head to the AllTrails webpage. And if you are interested in visiting a few swinging bridges in the state, head to our post on Pontiac’s Humiston-River Park which has three such bridges.

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Address: Kankakee River Trail, Illinois, USA