Kankakee River Water Trails
Explored by Sieur de La Salle in 1679, the largely rural Kankakee River looks, in some sections, much like it did when he first saw it.
The river, one of the cleanest in the Midwest, begins northwest of South Bend, Indiana, near the Michigan border. Probably the most scenic and least populated section of the Kankakee occurs as it enters Illinois. (This stretch, however, is not addressed in the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails Plan.)Widely used by recreational boaters and fishermen, the Kankakee can occasionally be difficult to paddle at times of low water and requires expert skill at high water and during spring floods. Limited access from the Area 9 boat launch in Kankakee River State Park to Wilmington, Illinois, an approximately eight-mile stretch, may deter less experienced paddlers. Also, the dam in Wilmington requires a developed portage for paddlers to legally launch on the downstream side and continue on to the Kankakee River Boat Launch Area in the Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area.
Largely, however, the Kankakee is an easy float. Many sections of the river are wide and shallow, and its gentle current at normal water levels makes it ideal for novice paddlers.
| Article Index |
|---|
| Kankakee River Water Trails |
| Chippewa Boat Launch to Area 9 Boat Launch |
| Chippewa Boat Launch to Wilmington Dam |
| Wilmington Dam to Des Plaines River Conservation Area Launch |
| All Pages |
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