Illinois Beach State Park

Illinois Beach State Park, near Zion, protects Illinois's only remaining stretch of natural, undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline, split between a north and south unit. Its dune-and-swale landscape, ridges of sand separated by low wet channels running parallel to the shore, supports plant communities considered globally rare because so much of the original Great Lakes shoreline elsewhere has been developed or armored. The park is an important stopover for migratory birds crossing Lake Michigan, drawing birders throughout spring and fall migration. Its beach and dunes offer one of the few places in Illinois to experience a natural Great Lakes coastline.