Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686
The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce announces its popular Cruise the Canal golf cart tours of the Hennepin Canal for 2024 on Friday September 6 and Friday October 18. The Cruise the Canal tours allow tourists in our area to enjoy one of Illinois’ State Parks and a second chance to experience the tours surrounded by fall foliage.
Submitted Photo
"The popularity of the Hennepin Canal State Parkway north of Geneseo has increased over the past few years, with over 1.9 million people visiting the 104.5 mile long park in 2023.” says Zack Sullivan, Executive Director of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. "People organize group hikes, kayaking and canoeing are popular, and of course, the fishing is great! Combined with the majestic sights and sounds of nature at the canal, this is a unique opportunity to discover, or rediscover, one of our area’s best kept secrets.”
The popular golf cart tours offer the opportunity for guests to learn the story of the Hennepin canal - including the construction, history, and ecosystem of the canal. Tours are offered three times per day, with tour times at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm. All tours begin at Lock #24 and travel west to Lock #26 before turning back towards the starting point. The cost per person to participate is $25/person. The Geneseo Chamber also works with assisted living facilities to provide rides for seniors with no cost for the caregiver to drive.
A portion of the proceeds from the Geneseo Cruise the Canal tours goes to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for preservation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Hennepin Canal State Parkway. Information on how to get involved with canal preservation efforts is available at the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Hennepin Canal.
The canal tours are expected to sell out, so make your reservation ASAP! For more information and to reserve a spot on one of the tours, call the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686 or email geneseo@geneseo.org.