Illinois River (Colorado) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Illinois River
Illinois River in April from SH 14 south of Walden
Physical characteristics
Main source	Never Summer Mountains
River mouth	Confluence with Michigan 8,022 ft (2,445 m) 40°45′08″N 106°18′11″W / 40.75222°N 106.30306°W / 40.75222; -106.30306
Basin features
Progression	Michigan—North Platte—Platte— Missouri—Mississippi

Illinois River is a tributary of the Michigan River, approximately 71 miles (114 km) long, in Jackson County in north central Colorado. It drains part of the North Park basin south of Walden.

The Illinois River starts in the Never Summer Mountains near the continental divide, just south of Farview Mountain. It descends northward through a winding gorge, emerging into North Park at approximately 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level. It flows northward through the valley as a winding stream, past Rand. It passes under State Highway 14 just southeast of Walden and joins the Michigan from the north just north of Walden. A portion of the valley of the river south of Walden is located within the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.