I had a great weekend!
Saturday my buddy Sweeps and I paddled 14.5 miles from Channahon State Park to Wm. Stratton State Park.
We did the trip in 4.5 hrs. including three 10-15 min rest stops to drink some cold refreshments.
The first 6 miles were good with some barge traffic and little speed boat traffic.
We portaged around the north end of the Dresden dam.
Once back in the water we were on the Illinois River proper.
Speed boat and jet ski traffic made for some interesting wave patterns.
A few iffy moments when we got caught in reflected wakes and incoming wakes, but the Penobscot 17 we were paddling handled it well.
Stunning weather, and just a few bikini clad young females made for a great day!

Cool. I assume the river, not the I&M Canal? Is that even feasible?

Only short bits of the canal can be paddled. It is choked with overgrowth.
The Hennepin Canal can be paddled.

Our first 6 miles were DuPage and Des Plaines Rivers.
Then the Kankakee comes in just above the Dresden dam and the Illinois River starts there.

Sounds like a good time!

Not to hijack the thread, but how did you like the DuPage river? I have been seeing a lot more kayaks and canoes on it recently. The water is far more clear than in the past too. I was on a walk last week and was able to clearly see a decent size smallmouth bass tailing in the current. Nice to see the recovery.

If interested: North eastern Illinois Water Trails

Nice! sounds like a good trip.

Thanks for posting the map.