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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: northern Illinois / southern :: ILL River paddle
 
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jcavenagh
07/12/2016 08:45PM
 
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.
 
jcavenagh
07/12/2016 02:32PM
 
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!

 
billconner
07/12/2016 02:43PM
 
Cool. I assume the river, not the I&M Canal? Is that even feasible?
 
Corsair
07/21/2016 07:20PM
 
Nice! sounds like a good trip.



 
billconner
07/20/2016 01:00PM
 
If interested: North eastern Illinois Water Trails
 
bfurlow
07/19/2016 09:42PM
 
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.
 
jwb747
07/23/2016 10:06AM
 
Thanks for posting the map.