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Facilities

Established Camping

Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground

Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground is located near the Hennepin Canal, featuring flat terrain with a mix of wooded areas and open spaces. Temperatures range from lows in the 20s Fahrenheit during winter to highs in the 80s during summer. Nearby attractions include the Hennepin Canal Parkway, which offers opportunities for hiking, biking, and fishing.

Description

State Park

The Hennepin Canal State Park is not enrolled in the camping reservation system and DOES NOT take camping reservations. Camping at the Canal is on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no set check-in or check-out times. The Canal’s site security officer makes rounds to each campsite to collect camping fees, in-person. Campers can pay by cash or check.

Camping along the Hennepin Canal towpath is PROHIBITED – camping is only allowed in the designated campsites. Fires are only allowed in the state designated fire pits at the campgrounds. Camping is not permitted in the main complex area (the area around the visitor center).

Currently, the ONLY DRINKING WATER available on the ENTIRE canal is located at the main parking lot in front of the visitor center at the large shelter. There is also a faucet on the side of the visitor center, just to the left of the main entrance. There are no operable drinking water fountains along the rest of the canal so bring your own water for your hike or camping trip.

Reservation Info

Camping is only allowed at those locks that allow camping - you can not camp except at those locations.

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Location

Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground is located in Illinois

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

41.41400034000001 N
89.7140004 W

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Access

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Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Tent Cabin
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Pets

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Reviews

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3.0

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2 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 4, 2021

Always a must-do camping trip every summer.

Plenty of room! Multiple campsites along the canal. Very clean & well maintained. Boat ramp. Clean, well kept restrooms with Handicapped access & parking. Yes, there is mosquitoes. But if you want to fish right from your campsite, you gotta expect that! Theres some stagnant seaweed along the shoreline but the water has a strong flow. Fishing is good! Bull-heads, sun fish, big mouth bass are abundant. Grills, picnic tables & garbage cans at every camp site. A few spots have plenty of room for multiple tents or a large RV. Shade trees, soft grass, a nice trail to walk & great views. The stars in the night sky are breathtaking! This isn't some posh camping for someone looking to get a resort-feel. But if you want to fish, have a clean bathroom & enjoy relaxing with lots of room, this is the place! Only $8 a night.

Sitelarge site by boat ramp.
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground by Jeny C., June 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground by Jeny C., June 4, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 11, 2016

I'm not a fan of Hennepin Canal, you might like it if you want to camp with your horse.

I will give the staff credit, the park is well maintained and looks very clean. Having said that, this park is right next to the Hennepin Canal, which is full of stagnant water, a breeding ground for millions of mosquitos.

Honestly, it was difficult to even understand how camping worked at this park. If you are not a local you wouldn't know where the campground is... well, the camps are set on the trails that run parallel to the canal. That is the only thing I could figure out from the message board and some hiking. The entire time I did not see one tent or person camping.

On the positive side, if you want to ride your horse the trails running along the canal are equestrian trails and allow horses to camp with you. The other positive is there is a cool walking bridge over the canal. These positives are not enough to overcome the fact that you are a juicy meal for the un-numbered mosquitos that live and breed in the canal.

  • Review photo of Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground by Matt S., September 11, 2016
  • Review photo of Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground by Matt S., September 11, 2016
  • Review photo of Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground by Matt S., September 11, 2016
  • (16) View All