Been quiet in here!

Anyone paddling around?

Just returned yesterday from 5 days on Boot Lake. A really great trip. That's the only paddling I do all year.

scramble4a5: "Just returned yesterday from 5 days on Boot Lake. A really great trip. That's the only paddling I do all year."

Nice, Just got back with a scout group up through Knife and out through Ensign

Went out on the DuPage river this past weekend for a few hours. Dropped in at Knoch Knolls/South Naperville, paddled downstream to Riverview Farmstead in Plainfield and then back north again. Amazing wildlife, super clear water, and a lot of fish spotted. Not the BWCA, but it's 5 minutes from home.

A friend & I spent 10 days in the Knife to Ester Lake region in mid August. In July I took a younger urban family out for a few hours on a local lake (first time in a canoe for their kids). They decided to try "camping" by renting a cabin in a local forest preserve, and they had a great time.

DID 18 mi on Des Plaines river today with Adamxchicago . Great paddle.
We are dong a 3 day Wis river 42mi trip 10/18-20

Flatlandpaddler: "DID 18 mi on Des Plaines river today with Adamxchicago . Great paddle.
We are dong a 3 day Wis river 42mi trip 10/18-20
"

How was the water with all the recent rain? Or did you guys take your paddle before most of it came through?

The water was moving. It was after the heavy rain Friday night we got on the water about 8:20 Saturday morning . We dropped in at Rt 60 to Big Bend. 18 mi in just less than 4 hours.we were also paddling hard as well

bfurlow: "Went out on the DuPage river this past weekend for a few hours. Dropped in at Knoch Knolls/South Naperville, paddled downstream to Riverview Farmstead in Plainfield and then back north again. Amazing wildlife, super clear water, and a lot of fish spotted. Not the BWCA, but it's 5 minutes from home. "

That sounds pretty cool.
You were actually able to paddle all the way back upstream. Do you have to portage any sections?

HowardSprague: "

bfurlow: "Went out on the DuPage river this past weekend for a few hours. Dropped in at Knoch Knolls/South Naperville, paddled downstream to Riverview Farmstead in Plainfield and then back north again. Amazing wildlife, super clear water, and a lot of fish spotted. Not the BWCA, but it's 5 minutes from home. "

That sounds pretty cool.
You were actually able to paddle all the way back upstream. Do you have to portage any sections?"

It was a day or so after we got some rain so I was able to scoot it over any shallow sections without getting out. Coming back upstream we had to get out and walk the canoe in 2-3 spots, but that was more due to the current as opposed to depth.

Paddling the Upper Fox by the WI border and the Des Plaines by Gurnee, until the levels got too high. Try to Paddle a coupe times a week

Heading up to WIS River for 3 day paddle next Fri to Sun. Castle Rock Dam to south of Portage 42Mi. Room left in group.

bfurlow: "Went out on the DuPage river this past weekend for a few hours. Dropped in at Knoch Knolls/South Naperville, paddled downstream to Riverview Farmstead in Plainfield and then back north again. Amazing wildlife, super clear water, and a lot of fish spotted. Not the BWCA, but it's 5 minutes from home. "

I'm curious if you had clear paddling on this or did you have to get out of the boat at times? The DuPage is a tiny and scenic little creek near where I live in Carol Stream. I've been tempted to put in around Wheaton/Winfield and see where it goes. I'll hit the library over the winter for canoe trails in northern Illinois.

I've always wanted to do the Fox River in the Yorkville area too. There's a couple of campgrounds right on the river.

TomT: "

bfurlow: "Went out on the DuPage river this past weekend for a few hours. Dropped in at Knoch Knolls/South Naperville, paddled downstream to Riverview Farmstead in Plainfield and then back north again. Amazing wildlife, super clear water, and a lot of fish spotted. Not the BWCA, but it's 5 minutes from home. "

I'm curious if you had clear paddling on this or did you have to get out of the boat at times? The DuPage is a tiny and scenic little creek near where I live in Carol Stream. I've been tempted to put in around Wheaton/Winfield and see where it goes. I'll hit the library over the winter for canoe trails in northern Illinois.

I've always wanted to do the Fox River in the Yorkville area too. There's a couple of campgrounds right on the river."

I had clear paddling the entire way. Got a little shallow in spots but I was able to get the canoe over it. Had to get out on the way back north because of current, but that was the only real issue we had for the whole trip. My understanding is that the river is shallower further north and has more spots that require a portage or lining around rocks, etc.

I am interested in the Fox also. I have camped at one of the primitive campgrounds years ago near Silver Springs State Park near Yorkville. I think it's only youth groups now, but it was a great place. Wasn't aware of there being others.

I didn't have any opportunity to dip a paddle all summer since I was on the Des Plaines in early June.

I've got some winter projects but not sure where I'll be able to work on them as my usual workshop space is for sale.

bfurlow: "

TomT: "
I've always wanted to do the Fox River in the Yorkville area too. There's a couple of campgrounds right on the river."

I am interested in the Fox also. I have camped at one of the primitive campgrounds years ago near Silver Springs State Park near Yorkville. I think it's only youth groups now, but it was a great place. Wasn't aware of there being others."

A few years ago I got a book called Paddling Illinois out of the library and photocopied some pages of canoe routes.

Yorkville to Wedron is 27 river miles. Sheridan is 15 miles from Yorkville and there are two private owned riverside campgrounds near there, Mallard Bend and Rolling Oaks. These camps are roughly in the middle of the route.

this weekend

Some pics from the last paddle in September. Great day!

Paddled the DesPlaines today. Put in at Lemont and paddled up the creek by where the old Santa Fe race track was and back. It was a nice day for it. Saw no one else on the river.

Not Northern Illinois but Illinois, nonetheless....paddled 33 miles on the Sangamon River today. We saw 2 adult eagles and a Juvenile. One definite eagle nest, another possible and quite a few deer. It was a good day for a paddle.

It was a beautiful day for a paddle. I did the same area as yesterday but when further upstream before turning around. I saw 2 eagles 2 deer 1 beaver and 1 coyote. Did about 15 miles today. Saw no one on the river.

MP did you put in right under the bridge somewhere? Is it a pretty easy paddle, as far as obstructions and currents & stuff?

I would guess the current at about 1 MPH so you will notice it and want to get against the bank to rest. The current is much slower where you can paddle in the woods. Kind of cool to paddle through the trees also. I put in upstream of the bridge I have put in under the bridge but there is much stiffer current under the RR bridge that you must paddle under and a long paddle in some of the swifter current in the river. It difficult to explain how to get there but if you look at a map I think you will have no problem. Go to https://www.bing.com/maps/ and paste in 41.685675 -87.988288 . There is a wide spot in the road park near the east end of the wide spot to let the trucks turn into the place across the street. There is a old boat ramp on the other side of the 2 foot wall. This is one of the faster current places in the river so be ready when you push off. A easier place to launch which I use sometimes is at 41.710008 -87.931974 . Have fun!