Bear River State Park is a great place to experience nature right in the city of Evanston. Accessing the river from the upper portion of the state park, paddlers can travel down the river through milder waters until they reach the beginning of the whitewater play park. Paddlers who do not wish to run the whitewater section of class II-III rapids should take-out at the end of the state park. The area also offers great opportunity for hiking, biking, and viewing wildlife.