Illinois & Michigan Canal boat rides in full swing in La Salle

The Illinois and Michigan Canal boat is welcoming back visitors for the 2021 season.

“The Volunteer” is a mule-pulled 1840′s replica canal boat. Every trip begins with “Mule Tending 101” as period-dressed guides introduce the passengers to Moe the mule. Tales of the canal are told while the deck hand, mule tender, and boat captain guide the boat one mile up the canal to the Little Vermillion aqueduct and back in an hour-long adventure.

Boat rides are typically available 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Rides are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $9 for children. Various weekdays are also available, for a full schedule and more information, check out iandmcanal.org/experiences/canal-boat/. Riders can purchase tickets online, pick them up at the I&M Canal Visitor Center in La Salle and then walk or drive down to the boat. The Visitor Center has café beverages, gifts, exhibits and a limited food menu.

“The I&M Canal Boat is a great starting place for exploring the I&M Canal National Heritage Area,” said Canal Corridor Association Executive Director Ana Koval, “You get to learn about how vital the canal was to making northern Illinois the key crossroads of the American mid-continent and the rise of Chicago from a canal port to the greatest city of the American heartland. Then you can explore 44 other sites that tie into this story, including canal town downtowns, trails, natural areas, monuments, and museums.”

Designated by Congress, the Canal Corridor Association is the only local coordinating entity for the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area. The CCA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization tasked with maintaining and enhancing the historic, cultural, and natural resources of the I and M Canal National Heritage Area.