Kankakee River State Park spans 4,000 acres along the Kankakee River in Kankakee and Will counties, encompassing river islands, trails, campgrounds, and access to the river and Rock Creek. Its valley was long inhabited by Native peoples, including Illini, Miami, Kickapoo, Mascouten, and later the Council of Three Fires, with Rock Village remembered as the site of the last great Indian Council in 1830. The corridor later supported fur trading, French Canadian settlement, and failed navigation and railroad projects before becoming a recreational destination. Established in 1938 and enlarged through later land gifts, the park remains known for its varied outdoor recreation.