Two wheels, or four…your choice! Head out to explore the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route this autumn! The Rock River offers a widely changing landscape through it’s 320 miles. Explore the 11 counties and 37 charming river communities along the way! Each region has it’s own character, history and special features for you... Read More

From the Rock River Times, June 28, 2016 – By Frank Schier, Editor & Publisher  With the August 1 deadline only a month away, and with the race on Aug. 21, more than 23 teams have registered for the Rock River Anything That Floats Race (RRATFR). Since up to 100 teams will be accepted, you and... Read More

From the Daily Union, May 24, 2016 –   Read entire article. Overlooking the Rock River, the Fort Atkinson Club community center was the perfect venue for the Rock River Coalition’s “Testing the Waters: A Paddle and Probe Adventure” Monday evening. On May 15, the coalition kicked off an 11-day paddle down the Rock River,... Read More

Safety for all while paddling the Rock River National Water Trail. Wear It! The Rock River Trail Initiative received a grant from the National Safe Boating Council to help promote National Safe Boating Week and safe boating in general, and use of life vests by all who recreate on the river. The Rock River Trail... Read More

The Rock River was featured in the 2016 Winter/Spring edition of Northwest Quarterly.com Magazine Written by Jon McGinty Read the full article The Rock River has suffered the impact of urbanization, but many dedicated groups have worked and are working to restore its health. Jon McGinty explores the impact of these efforts, including recognition by... Read More

To celebrate Earth Day a group of Stateline area McDonald’s employees and their family members pitched in to clean up an area along the Rock River and Turtle Creek at Nature At The Confluence, 306 Dickop Street, South Beloit, Illinois. The cleanup crew was coordinated by manager Dan Beyer and was comprised of crew members from... Read More

The Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest Tournament Series invites everyone to the historic Rock Falls riverfront for the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series. This team tournament is presented by Bass Pro Shops and will be hosted by Rock Falls Tourism. This is the first ever tournament stop in Rock Falls and is the Midwest... Read More

The Rock River has suffered the impact of urbanization, but many dedicated groups have worked and are working to restore its health. Jon McGinty explores the impact of these efforts, including recognition by the National Park Service. Article in Northwest Quarterly by Jon McGinty, Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016 Once a waterway of pristine beauty, the Rock... Read More

On March 7, 2016, Greg Farnham from the Rock River Trail initiative had the pleasure of speaking to Sustain Jefferson, a non-profit group advocating for conservation and sustainability in local communities in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.  Below is Greg’s presentation on the Rock River Trail Initiative. Below is the URL link to the article on Greg’s presentation in the Daily Jefferson... Read More

Washington, DC – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced this year’s deadline for producer applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is March 31. March 31 is also the deadline by which initial applications are needed from farmers with expiring 2012-2016 contracts if they want to renew them for another five years. Some... Read More

Are you ready for 50,000 spectators to line the Rock River to watch a race? Ladies and Gentlemen, start your mental paddles! Remember the Rockford Rock River Raft Race from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s? That race is reported to have 50,000 spectators in 1988. The contest is back as the Rock River Anything That... Read More

As we look ahead to activities to move the Rock River Trail forward, it is instructive to reflect on the vision for the trail initiative as adopted in 2012.  “The Rock River Trail Initiative envisions a commonality of interests in and respect for the Rock River that will result in active participation by a diverse... Read More

Our thanks to Tim Dimke and David Spencer of the Rockford Park District for completing installation of signage to mark the Rock River National Water Trail at put in/take out sites on the river through the city. The signs look great and designate safe access for paddling the Rock River.  

From Rock River Coalition Newsletter Winter 2016 | Visit the Rock River Coalition Website By Mark Riedel, DNR Rock River TMDL Coordinator Our Rock River Basin community has made exceptional progress this past year with our collective Rock River Recovery efforts and implementation of the Rock River Basin TMDL. While most of our newsletters and communications share... Read More

From Rock River Coalition Newsletter Winter 2016 | Visit the Rock River Coalition Website By Suzanne Wade, Project Coordinator How exciting it will be to have the Rock River in Wisconsin united through our paddling, monitoring and educational event. We’re working out the details, so EVERYTHING IS STILL DRAFT. Check for updates on our website, Facebook and in... Read More

By Becky Binz, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Rock River Stormwater Group From Rock River Coalition Newsletter Winter 2016 | Visit the Rock River Coalition Website Did you know that actions (particularly yard care actions) we take at home have a direct impact on our waterways? When precipitation falls, water runs off of our yards and roofs, into... Read More

“Nature at The Confluence” is an initiative to transform the area of land where Turtle Creek meets the Rock River into a community space that celebrates the natural and historical  signifigance of the land. Beloit 2020, to coordination organizations has announced that funding has been secured to begin transforming the former Dahlman Muffler shop into Nature At... Read More

Honor someone with a gift to the Rock River Trail Initiative in their name Do you know someone who loves the Rock River? We offer the opportunity to donate to the Rock River Trail inititiative in honor of the special person in your life. Your generous contribution helps to support the activities of the Rock River... Read More

Show your support for the Rock River Trail by purchasing Rock River Trail patches. Whether you paddle, drive, bike or hike the Rock River Trail, we hope you’ll show your love for the trail by purchasing and displaying our beautiful new patch. It’s only $10 and includes shipping and handling. Makes a great gift! Purchase it... Read More

Read more about this program at National Parks Service website Traveling along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, 8th graders at The Mount Washington School learned about important history and a problem of today’s world. The students had been studying Captain John Smith’s work to map the waterways of the Chesapeake. With paddles... Read More

Rock River Trail Initiative council members Matthew Hilligoss and Dave Druen are making it happen in Sterling, Illinois! Make plans to attend the inaugural Outdoor Sports Expo to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 22 at Moonlight Bay Marina, 1552 Mound Hill Road, Sterling, Illinois. Read Article from www.saukvalley.com http://www.saukvalley.com/2015/07/27/rock-river-advocates-to-launch-outdoor-sports-expo/aon64ul/ STERLING – It’s no secret... Read More

Hmmm, Could this work on the Rock River Trail? Download entire article Article from The Star Tribune – July 29, 2015 | http://www.startribune.com/national-park-service-explores-canoe-sharing-service-along-mississippi/319720951/ A canoe ride on the Mississippi River, the stuff of dreams for many, could soon be possible on a whim. The National Park Service is working on a plan to create a canoe-sharing... Read More

Our own Dean “Bareback” Mathias, Rock River Trail council representative for Rock Island County, is in the news for his good Samaritan efforts on the RAGBRAI bicycle ride across Iowa. Read about Dean and photos of his exploits to help fellow riders at this RAGBRAI article: http://ragbrai.com/2015/07/21/munson-the-yoda-macguyver-and-good-samaritan-of-ragbrai-rolled-into-one/?hootPostID=cd8958a3947dca5d4637b70b7110132c We’ve also posted two photos of Dean and the link ... Read More

The Rock River Trail Initiative supports planting of milkweed to restore lost butterfly habitat and forage throughout the river corridor in Wisconsin and Illinois. Mary O’Toole of Lake Sinissippi (Rock River – Hustisford, Wis.) kindly forwarded photos of a Swallowtail butterfly and bee on milkweed plants at her lake home. Milkweed is a host plant... Read More

The Rock River Trail was featured in the June 15 edition of Destinations Travel Magazein as part of an article on National Water Trails. Check it out!

IDOT-Dixon has begun installation of road signs to mark the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route in Ogle County.  The initial installation site is on IL Rt 2 at Grand Detour – a beautiful section of the road route. IDOT-Dixon has also given permission to the city of Oregon to install signs to mark the Rock... Read More

The Rock River Trail Initiative was honored on May 19, 2015 by the Quad City Riverfront Council for development of bike and water trails along the Rock River at an awards luncheon in Moline, Ill. last Tuesday. Pictured are Greg Farnham (l) and Frank Schier (r), co-coordinators of the Initiative with Bill Nelson, parks director... Read More

A big thank you to Chad Pregracke, president of Living Lands and Waters’ One Million Trees program. Chad and his organzation has donated these trees to the Rock River Trail Initiative and our river. This marks the fifth year in a row that over 10,000 trees have been planted within the view shed of the Rock River in Illinois... Read More

One of the joys of distributing free oak trees by the Rock River Trail Initiative is to engage with young people in the Rock River corridor. These photos are from Virginia Wiggen and Betsy Parker of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona, Wis. Over 400 youth were involved in tree planting including Badger Volunteers... Read More

The Rock River Trail Initiative distributed free oak trees to the eleven counties of the Rock River corridor this week. This marks the fifth year in a row that over 10,000 trees have been planted within the view shed of the Rock River in Illinois and Wisconsin – a total of over 50,000 hardwood trees... Read More

Celebrate Arbor Day by planting a free oak tree and learning how to help the Monarch butterfly by planting milkweed. For the fifth year in a row, the Rock River Trail Initiative (RRTI) will distribute 11,825 trees in the 11 counties of the Rock River, April 22, April 23 and April 24. Chad Pregracke, president of... Read More

For the fifth year in a row, the Rock River Trail Initiative (RRTI) will distribute 10,000 trees in the 11 counties of the Rock River, April 22, April 23 and April 24. Chad Pregracke, president of Living Lands and Waters’ One Million Trees program, has donated these 50,000 trees to the Rock River Trail Initiative... Read More