Apple River Canyon State Park
Guide

Apple River Canyon State Park is a perfect place to pack a picnic thanks to the four picnic areas that are available for you to enjoy. The picnic areas are located along the edge of the river bank and come equipped with some great amenities, such as grills, water collection points, and toilets. If you have a larger group, there are also two shelters that you can reserve online that can accommodate 48 and 64 people, respectively.

We know, we know—birdwatching sounds like something you do when you’ve run out cool options, but hear us out: birding is a real-life scavenger hunt. Bring a pair of binoculars and allow yourself to notice the details of the birds you see in the trees and bushes. While before, they might have all seemed like one, brownish mass, you’ll quickly start to notice bright reds and blues, birds as tiny as a mouse or as large as a turkey. You can get bonus points if you bring or download a guide and can start identifying the birds and checking them off your list. Here at the park, you’ll see some doozies like wild turkeys, pileated woodpecker, and eastern kingbird, and since you won’t have electricity to distract you anyway, why not take your nature appreciation to the next level?

Fishing at Apple River Canyon State Park offers a fantastic way to connect with the impressive scenery. Imagine standing knee-deep in a slow-moving river at the bottom of a cool ravine with towering bluffs on either side while you cast your line without a care in the world. Smallmouth bass, sunfish, crappie, and carp happily thrive in this riparian paradise, just waiting for you and your waders to come and find them. As an additional treat, when funds are available, the park will stock the river with brown trout which flourish until mid-summer when the water gets too warm.

Remember to pack your hiking boots when visiting Apple River Canyon State Park as the campground is home to several quick, under one mile, hikes through the enchanting forests. Check out the River Route Nature Trail—the most popular trail in the Apple River Canyon area. You’ll follow the river out and back, over charming bridges and alongside bluffs with scenery that will stun you. Also, the Primrose Nature Trail, the Sunset Nature Trail, or the Pine Ridge Nature Trail are excellent options for a lovely afternoon stroll through the forest.

If you are interested in doing some hunting on your RV vacation, you will have to venture outside of Apple River Canyon State Park as no hunting is allowed on its grounds. There are plenty of other options close by, including at the Salem Unit, which is located on both sides of Salem Road only a few miles from the park. Depending on the time of year and what species you are targeting, there may be regulations in place, so remember to check the Apple River Canyon hunter fact sheet before you begin. Make Apple River Canyon State Park your home-base while you hunt, and you know you will have a comfortable place to kick up your feet after a long day of walking.

The beauty of the bluffs and canyons of the river shines in any season and arguably might be highlighted by a coating of snow. For a fun winter adventure, rent a pair of snowshoes in the nearby town of Galena, Illinois, and set out on the same trails you would explore any other season. With snowshoes, even several feet of snow can’t stop a good time as you float on top of the surface on your journey for crisp winter fun.

From geology to human settlement, this area is brimming with stories you’ll love hearing about, and you won't ever forget. At the Galena History Museum, learn about how Apple River Canyon managed to avoid glaciers that flattened the rest of the nearby landscape millennia ago, or about the Native Americans who dwelled in the area before European settlement. At one of the numerous historical sites, learn about the lead mines that spurred this region into popularity—even causing a financial crisis in far-away France when things didn’t pan out for investors.

If you’re using Apple River Canyon State Park as a home base to explore the greater Galena, IL area (named the best Main Street in the Midwest by the Chicago Tribune), then you simply can’t miss out on the great antique scene. There is something for everyone here and many things to do. Browse collectible weathervanes and real sleighs in an old barn, or visit a regal Victorian home to check out unique light fixtures and sassy classic wardrobes. Between all the shopping, look at some of the local honey and handmade soaps.