My daughter and I were planning to canoe the Rio Grande at the end of this month, but because the trip involved air travel, for us and others, we cancelled it. Now I'm looking for an alternative. One possibility is the Buffalo River in Arkansas, a long day's drive from here (Chicago). But I wonder if there are other possibilities I don't know about. My limit, rather arbitrary, is a day's drive away, but that's not absolute. I'll welcome any suggestions.

Current River and others in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways?

Buffalo River gets very high marks from my sons and other Scout leases.

As you know everything is open in the Chicago area. So rivers south of here should all be open. Depending on if you don't mind cooler temperatures you should have some options in Wisconsin

Just make sure it doesn't involve a State Park in Illinois:

the upper iowa river in NE iowa is awesome, very pretty

The Wisconsin River & Kickapoo River... in southern/southwestern Wisconsin. Both destination paddling rivers.

mcsweem: "the upper iowa river in NE iowa is awesome, very pretty"

I was thinking this too. Or the WI ones mentioned as well

cyclones30: "

mcsweem: "the upper iowa river in NE iowa is awesome, very pretty"

I was thinking this too. Or the WI ones mentioned as well"

Plus if you want a break you can hit, Toppling Goliath and Pulpit Rock breweries both in Decorah, IA.

We’ve done many trips on the Flambeau River, north and south forks, in March. Wonderful, near wilderness canoeing, it can be cold and snowy, however.

The Namekagon River is a beautiful river with good campsites and fishing.

MidwestFirecraft: "The Namekagon River is a beautiful river with good campsites and fishing."

Who have you used for shuttle service?

Blatz: "

MidwestFirecraft: "The Namekagon River is a beautiful river with good campsites and fishing."

Who have you used for shuttle service?"

Went in 2017 with two other Dads so we had our own shuttle vehicles.

billconner: "Current River and others in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways?

Buffalo River gets very high marks from my sons and other Scout leases."

Try one of these rivers. An easy day drive from the Chicago area. My daughter and I did the Curre nt River using Akers Ferry in March probably 20 years ago. A four day, three night trip that was very nice. We saw no other canoes and only a couple of fishermen.

We used Jack's Canoe for shuttle in May 2016.
Water was pretty high & fast moving, difficult fishing, but quite beautiful and you not see anyone else.
Jack's Canoe Rental, N7504 Wagon Bridge Rd, Trego, WI 54888

Maybe not what you are looking for but have you considered the Des Plaines River or Nippersink Creek. The Des Plaines is a great river to canoe. Start up north in Wadsworth and head on down. You could have someone drop you off and pick you up down stream. There is some excellent bass and pike fishing too.
~JOE~

Not quite a river but only an hour or so - Hennepin Canal. A number of campgrounds along the way.

But Namekagon would be great.

joetrain: "Maybe not what you are looking for but have you considered the Des Plaines River or Nippersink Creek. The Des Plaines is a great river to canoe. Start up north in Wadsworth and head on down. You could have someone drop you off and pick you up down stream. There is some excellent bass and pike fishing too.
~JOE~"

+1 Paddled the Des Plaines last October with Flatlandpaddler. Quite nice for an urban river, and you won't have far to drive. State/county did a nice job of cleaning it up - growing up nearby, we used to joke what a cesspool it was. Now, not so much...
AdamX

joetrain: "Maybe not what you are looking for but have you considered the Des Plaines River or Nippersink Creek. The Des Plaines is a great river to canoe. Start up north in Wadsworth and head on down. You could have someone drop you off and pick you up down stream. There is some excellent bass and pike fishing too.
~JOE~"

There are a few log jams you'll have to portage around if you can between Wadsworth and Libertyville on the De Plaines. We're supposed to get a lot of rain tomorrow so the river might be up.

joetrain: "Maybe not what you are looking for but have you considered the Des Plaines River or Nippersink Creek. The Des Plaines is a great river to canoe. Start up north in Wadsworth and head on down. You could have someone drop you off and pick you up down stream. There is some excellent bass and pike fishing too.
~JOE~"

I have caught a few pike from shore on the Des Plaines (in April) and a few bass from the canoe (end of July). I wouldn't consider it a destination river (like say the lower Wisconsin River) but it is close. The last two summers I have been able to squeeze in a short paddle after work. I would definitely paddle it again.

The shore lines are pretty well protected. So you can be going down the river and start to get that secluded feeling, until you hear the road noise that is seemingly always close. In 2018, I even saw two beavers swimming in the river as we passed by.

They have removed many damns in Lake County as well. The fishing should only improve.

The DPR canoe marathon is scheduled for May.

I’m pretty sure the public launches for the Nippersink are all closed. The best river day trip near Chicago is the White River, which is the outflow of Lake Geneva. The segment from around Grand Geneva to Lyons is a blast with the right water levels. Lots of dangerous strainers when the water is high though.

Troutfarmer: "I’m pretty sure the public launches for the Nippersink are all closed. The best river day trip near Chicago is the White River, which is the outflow of Lake Geneva. The segment from around Grand Geneva to Lyons is a blast with the right water levels. Lots of dangerous strainers when the water is high though."

This is a nice trip. You can easily do from the Grand Geneva to city of Burlington to the park where the dam forms a lake right on Hwy 36 in Burlington. Easy 1/2 day trip.

The water is really high on the Des Plaines and you won’t be able to paddle under the bridges. You’d have to portage across the bridge sections, some of which are too steep and slippery with mud. All of the put ins are open. I live in Gurnee a mile away form the DPR.

There was a very large jam 2 miles down from the state line launch last year. Not sure if it got taken down completely. I’ll be taking my chain saw with me on my first run this year just in case it’s still there.

The jam about 2.5 miles north of Wadsworth Rd is pretty massive.

When I did that section last summer there was a helpful little drag across river right, about 5 rods long.

mirth: "When I did that section last summer there was a helpful little drag across river right, about 5 rods long."

This was also there in last Sept when I passed through too, but you will have to drag the canoe across and get out. This time of year, tall rubber boots may not be high enough to remain dry. Consider wearing hippies or bibs with a neoprene sock.

Yeah. I was in Keens & socks. Pretty much my standard wetfoot gear. I don't do a lot of cold water paddling.