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Located in Grafton along the Illinois River, Marquette State Park offers a well-maintained boat ramp with ample parking for accessing the Illinois River, its backwaters, and the Mississippi River beyond. The ramp is free to use and provides courtesy docks for boaters and paddlers. This location serves as an excellent entry point for exploring one of Illinois's major waterways.
The Illinois River at this location is a major waterway—a 273-mile river with an average flow of over 27,000 cubic feet per second and a gentle gradient of 0.3 feet per mile. Paddlers can expect moderate current conditions typical of a large river system. The area is situated between two significant ecological areas: Pere Marquette State Park upstream and Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge downstream, where the Illinois meets the Mississippi River. This makes Marquette State Park an ideal launch point for day trips, longer expeditions, and fishing excursions on both rivers.