Illinois | Northeastern Illinois
Blackberry CreekJaycee Pond Park to River Road
A documented 0.34-mile Blackberry Creek training reach from public Jaycee Pond Park to the River Road bridge in Yorkville, with three rock-arch drops and a bridge ledge.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Plan as a short, technical training run with scouting, a safety boat/rescue plan, and a conservative flow check.
Access map
Put-in
Jaycee Pond Park public accessJaycee Pond Park is public, but downstream take-out access and bridge conditions must be confirmed immediately before use.
Take-out
River Road bridge take-outDo not run the bridge ledge or rock features without a current scouting and rescue plan.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Jaycee Pond Park is public, but downstream take-out access and bridge conditions must be confirmed immediately before use.
- Do not run the bridge ledge or rock features without a current scouting and rescue plan.
Watch for
- Rock-arch drops
- River Road bridge ledge
- low water and exposed rock
- rapid rise/debris
- changing park and take-out access
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Blackberry Creek near Yorkville, IL. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampWeather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Blackberry Creek near Yorkville, IL |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 70 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Blackberry Creek trip reports |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named route corridorJaycee Pond Park to River Road; approximately 0.34 mile
American Whitewater documents the reach, access points, feature sequence, and Class II rating.
- Gauge check recorded during route reviewUSGS 05551700; approximately 70 cfs observed and 250 cfs trip reports
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Public accessJaycee Pond Park, 410 West Center Street, Yorkville
The City of Yorkville identifies the park and adjacent Blackberry Creek natural area.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
More in Illinois
All 12 routesNearby routes within 75 miles
Quick answers
Blackberry Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Jaycee Pond Park to River Road route on the Blackberry Creek?
Paddle Today watches Blackberry Creek near Yorkville, IL and uses 70 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does the Jaycee Pond Park to River Road route on the Blackberry Creek start and end?
This route starts at Jaycee Pond Park public access and ends at River Road bridge take-out, Approximately 0.34 river miles on the water.
Is the Jaycee Pond Park to River Road route on the Blackberry Creek suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.