Great Rivers in Illinois to explore for World Rivers Day

Sep 24, 2023

World Rivers Day was created to remind communities of the critical importance of rivers as waterways and as pathways to communities all across the globe. Not only do they provide environmental protection to wildlife, serve as vital sources of fresh water and food, provide estuaries and passageways for travel and transportation, and an overall life support for global ecosystems.

In the United States we have more than 250,000 rivers, totaling out to 3.5 million miles, each of which are vital resources for fresh drinking water as well as the food we consume daily. Not only that, but they’re also incredible opportunities for us to enjoy recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, canoeing, rafting, and kayaking!

Illinois has more than 87,100 miles of rivers and streams within state lines, and 880 miles of rivers along its borders. Learn more about canoeing and Kayaking throughout the state here! Here’s a look at some of the longest rivers in our state:

The Mississippi River is the world’s 4th longest river and North America’s longest river! 580 miles of which runs through Illinois; it is the state to have the largest population living along the river. This includes towns such as East Dubuque, Galena, Nauvoo, Hamilton and more.

The Illinois River is about 270 miles long, and is a primary estuary for the Mississippi River. You can travel along 150 miles of the Illinois River Road Corridor and visit the cities and towns along the way including: Ottawa, Marseilles, Princeton, Henry, Peoria, Canton, Pekin, and Havana just to name a few! Activities include birding, nature photography, fishing, rafting, kayaking, and canoeing.

The Ohio River is 981-miles long and located at the boundary between the midwestern and the southern US. The Illinois portion of the river begins at the mouth of the Wabash River and flows 133 miles to confluence with the Mississippi River at Fort Defiance. Towns along the Ohio River banks include Cairo Old Shawneetown, Elizabethtown, Golconda, and Metropolis just to name a few.

The Wabash River is a tributary of the Ohio River, and is 503 miles long. It flows to southern Illinois where it forms the border between Indiana and Illinois. You can gain access to the river from Hutsonville, Westport, St. Francisville, Mt. Carmel, Grayville, Maunie, and New Haven. This is considered a very challenging river to navigate even by the most experienced boaters, as the water depth can vary anywhere from 6 inches to 50 feet deep! It is prized by anglers, however, for its unparalleled access to fish not found on any other water source in Illinois.