Watertrail

North Branch, Chicago River

Blue Star Memorial Woods (W. Lake St.) to Linne Woods (Dempster)
Put-In: Blue Star Memorial Woods Forest Preserve is on the south side of West Lake Ave. approximately 0.9 mi. west of the Edens Expressway (I94). The unimproved access is just south of West Lake Ave. on the east side of the river in Glenview.

Take-Out: Linne Woods Forest Preserve is on the north side of Dempster Street. approximately one mile west of I94 (Edens Expressway) in Morton Grove. The unimproved take-out at Linne Woods Forest Preserve is on river left just before Dempster St.

3.50

Linne Woods to Bunker Hill FP
Put-In: Linne Woods Forest Preserve is on the north side of Dempster Street. approximately one mile west of I94 (Edens Expressway) in Morton Grove.

Take-Out: Enter Bunker Hill Forest Preserve on the west side of Caldwell Ave. at Tonty Ave. approximately 0.85 mi. north of Devon Ave.(6400 N) in Chicago. Enter the forest preserve and turn south into the first parking lot. Go all the way to the south end of the parking lot. Follow the footpath to the unimproved take-out next to the footbridge over the river.

4.40

North Shore Channel

Lincoln Village Boat Ramp to River Park Canoe Launch - round trip
Put-In and Take-Out: This short round trip is requires no shuttle. The access is on the west side of the river just north of Lincoln Ave. behind the Lincoln Village Shopping Center in Chicago.

2.76

Chicago River, North Branch

River Park Canoe Launch to Clark Park Canoe Launch
Put-In: The put-in is just north of Argyle St. (5000 N.) in Chicago on the west side of the river just downstream of the small dam.

Take-Out: Clark Park is located at 3400 N. Rockwell (2600 W.) Park in the small parking lot at the south end of the playing field or on Rockwell Ave in Chicago.

2.28

Clark Park Canoe Launch to North Ave. Kayak Chicago dock
Put-In: Clark Park is located at 3400 N. Rockwell (2600 W.) in Chicago. Park in the small parking lot at the south end of the playing field or on Rockwell Ave.

Take-Out: Make arrangements with Kayak Chicago to use their dock on the west side of the river just south of the North Ave. bridge. Kayak Chicago is on the east side of Magnolia St. one block south of North Ave. at Le Moyne Street in Chicago.

3.37

Des Plaines River

Van Patton Woods Canoe Launch (Russell Road) to Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch
Put-In: This trip starts at the Van Patton Woods Canoe Launch, 1 mile east of I-94, on the south side of Russell Road just south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border.

Take-Out: The trip ends at the Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch just south of the Wadsworth Rd. bridge on river left. The Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch is on the east side of the river 0.4 miles east of Route 41 on the south side of Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth.

6.25

Independence Grove Canoe Launch to Oak Spring Rd. Canoe Launch
Put-In: Independence Grove Forest Preserve is located just north of Buckley Road (Route 137) 1/2 mi. east of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) in Libertyvillle.

Take-Out: The take-out at the Route 60 Canoe Launch is located just south of Route 60 (Townline Rd.) and 0.2 miles east of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) in Vernon Hills.

2.70

Oak Spring Rd. Canoe Launch to Rt. 60 Canoe Launch
Put-In: The Oak Spring Rd. Canoe Launch is located on the south side of Oak Spring Road in Libertyville on the west side of the river.

Take-Out: The take-out at the Route 60 Canoe Launch is located just south of Route 60 (Townline Rd.) and 0.2 miles east of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) in Vernon Hills. In between these sites are forest preserves, parks, a golf course and other open lands comprising the Des Plaines River Greenway.

4.60

Rt. 60 Canoe Launch to Rivershire Park Boat Launch
Put-In: The Route 60 Canoe Launch is located just south of Route 60 (Townline Rd.) and 0.2 miles east of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) in Vernon Hills. Approximately one mile downstream from the put-in is a low rock dam which may be run at higher water levels or can be portaged on river left.

Take-Out: The take-out on river left at Rivershire Park is located on the west side of Londonderry Lane in Lincolnshire approximately one mile south of Rt. 22 (Half Day Rd.)

4.50

Dam #1 to Allison Woods Canoe Launch
Put-In: Dam #1 is located on the east side of Milwaukee Ave. at Hintz Road in Wheeling. Put-in just downstream of the dam.

Take-Out: Allison Woods Canoe Launch is located on the west side of Milwaukee Ave. (Route 21) on the south side of the river approximately 1/2 mi. south of Palatine Road in Mt. Prospect.

2.16

Lemont Rd. to Isle a la Cache Canoe Landing
Put-In: Put-in under the Lemont Rd. bridge in Lemont. To get to the unimproved access turn west off of Lemont Road just north of the river and enter Old Lemont Rd. Drive south over the river to Canal Bank Rd. Drive under Lemont Rd. and turn north to park under the Lemont Rd. bridge.

Take-Out: Isle a la Cache is a Will Co. Forest Preserve and Museum located on the south side of Romeo Rd. (135th St.) approximately 1/2 mi. east of Rt. 53 in Romeoville. Access to the canoe landing is at the west end of the west parking lot.

Note: This section of the Lower Des Plaines River between the village of Lemont and the historic island of Isle a la Cache in Romeoville offers several attractions. Wildlife abounds along the shore and in the adjacent riverine wetlands. Along the right bank are several Cook, DuPage and Will County forest preserves and Illinois Nature Preserves. Isle a la Cache was used as a storage place by fur trappers and traders more than 200 years ago. A small history museum on the site interprets the fur trade era and an interesting destination at the end of this trip.

4.87

DuPage, East Branch

Lisle Community Park to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm
Put-In: Lisle Community Park is an unimproved access located on the west side of the river. Enter the small parking lot on the south side of Short Street just west of Rt. 53 in Lisle.

Take-Out: The entrance to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm is located on the north side of Boughton Road at Schmidt Road approximately one mile west of Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. The take-out is located on river left just before the footbridge over the river.

6.50

DuPage, West Branch

Lions Park Canoe Launch to Blackwell FP Canoe Launch
Put-In: Lions Park Canoe Launch is located on the east side of the river on north side of Beecher St. just west of Winfield Rd. in Winfield.

Take-Out: The take-out at the canoe ramp in Blackwell Forest Preserve is located on the east side of the river on the south side of Mack Road just east of Rt. 59 in Warrenville.

4.25

Pioneer Park to Knoch Knolls Park
Put-In: The unimproved access in Pioneer Park is located on the east side of Washington Street between Tamarack Ave. and Clyde Drive in Naperville.

Take-Out: Knoch Knolls Park is located on the south side of Knoch Knolls Road in Naperville. The unimproved take-out is located on river right approximately 160 feet past the footbridge near the south end of the Knoch Knolls Park parking lot.

3.28

DuPage River

Riverside Parkway Canoe Launch to Hammel Woods Forest Preserve dam
Put-In: To access the put-in enter the frontage road on the south side of Caton Farm Rd. just west of I55 in Joliet. Drive approximately 1/4 mi. south to the Canoe Launch entrance on the west side of the frontage road.

Take-Out: The entrance to Hammel Woods Forest Preserve is on the east side of Rt. 59 approximately 0.65 mi. north of Rt. 52 in Shorewood. Drive south on the Hammel Woods access road to the last parking lot. Follow the footpath at the east end of the parking lot across the small footbridge to the take-out just upstream of the dam.

3.50

Fox River

Algonquin dam to Carpentersville dam
Put-In: The put-in is on the west side of the river just downstream of the Algonquin dam in Algonquin. Park in the small parking lot on South Harrison Street one block south of Rt. 62 and carry your boat across the small riverfront park to the unimproved put-in on the bank just downstream of the dam.

Take-Out: The take-out is on river right just upstream of the Carpentersville dam. The small park by the dam is on the east side of N. Lincoln Ave. approximately 1.5 mi. north of Rt. 72 in Carpentersville.

Carpentersville dam to Trout Park Canoe Launch
Put-In: The put-in is on the east side of N. Lincoln Ave. approximately 1.5 mi. north of Rt. 72 in Carpentersville.

Take-Out: The Trout Park Canoe Launch is on river left approximately 600 feet downstream of the Northwest Tollway (I90) bridge. The entrance to Trout Park is on the west side of Duncan Ave. about 1/4 mi. west of Rt. 25 in Elgin.

Jon Duerr Forest Preserve Canoe Launch to St. Charles dam
Put-In: The entrance to the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve Canoe Launch (formerly known as Blackhawk Forest Preserve) is located on south of Route 31 about 1/2 mi. east of McLean Blvd. in South Elgin.

Take-Out: The take-out is on river left in Old Mill Park just upstream of the St. Charles Dam in St. Charles.

Nippersink Creek

Keystone Road Landing to Pioneer Road Landing
Put-In: Access at Keystone Landing is located east of the intersection of Keystone Road and Barnard Mill Road just north of the town of Wonder Lake.

Take-Out: The take-out at Pioneer Landing is on river right. Pioneer Landing is on the south side of the river on the west side of Pioneer Road approximately half way between West Solon Road and Harts Road in McHenry County.

Note: This section of the creek meanders through McHenry County Conservation District's Glacial Park with views of glacial landforms characteristic of McHenry County. In Glacial Park the Conservation District has completed one of the largest stream restoration projects in the country in an effort to enhance aquatic habitats and protect water quality which is considered some of the best in the region. Contact the McHenry County Conservation District at (815) 678-4431 for more information. Download a map of the Nippersink Creek Watertrail (pdf format).

6.50

Pioneer Road Landing to Lyle Thomas Park
Put-In: Pioneer Landing is on the south side of the river, on the west side of Pioneer Road, approximately half way between West Solon Road and Harts Road in McHenry County.

Take-Out: The unimproved take-out is river left. Lyle Thomas Park is on the east side of Blivin St. on the north side of the creek about 1/4 mi. north of Rt. 12 in Spring Grove.

4.35

Lyle Thomas Park to Nippersink Canoe Base
Put-In: Lyle Thomas Park is on the east side of Blivin St. on the north side of the creek about 1/4 mi. north of Rt. 12 in Spring Grove.

Take-Out: The entrance to the Nippersink Canoe Base is located on the north side of Rt. 12 approximately 1/2 mile west of State Park Rd. in Fox Lake. Since the landing on river right is not easily visible from the creek, look for landmarks at the landing before the trip.

4.00