Illinois | Northern Illinois
Fox RiverMarge Cline Whitewater Course
Short downtown Yorkville whitewater-play and bypass course around Glen D. Palmer Dam, with public access at both ends, a walk-back lap option, and a direct Yorkville gauge.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Use Marge Cline Whitewater Course for short Fox River laps around the Glen D. Palmer Dam bypass. Score it off USGS 05551580 with a conservative 250 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on crowding, feature shape, and high-water push before committing.
Access map
Put-in
Marge Cline Whitewater Course put-in / upstream launchThe city says the course is open-use and identifies an east-end boat launch plus a designated downstream portage point west of the Route 47 bridge on the south bank next to the Yorkville Parks and Recreation building.
Take-out
Marge Cline Whitewater Course take-out / downstream portageThis is a whitewater play park rather than a downstream Fox River float. Normal use is repeated laps with the on-site concrete walk-back path, not a one-way river trip.
Road shuttle
No road shuttle is needed for normal laps. Use downtown Yorkville or Riverfront Park parking, launch at the course put-in, and walk the concrete path back upstream between laps or exit at the designated downstream portage.
Additional access notes
- American Whitewater maps exact put-in and take-out points for the same reach, but use current city signs and the obvious portage layout on arrival because warm-weather crowds, tubers, and events can change how the park feels on the day.
- Most public parking is in nearby municipal lots rather than directly beside the chute. Carry boats accordingly and use only the city lots that allow the needed parking duration.
More route and safety guidance
- Use the designated downstream portage and take-out west of the Route 47 bridge on the south bank; do not improvise lines around the Glen D. Palmer Dam area.
- Higher or rising water makes the short course pushier and more consequential, especially for novice whitewater paddlers or crowded warm-weather sessions.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Fox River at Yorkville, IL. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Fox River at Yorkville, IL |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Yorkville / Marge Cline Whitewater Course flow range |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Gauge check during route review · June 22, 2026USGS 05551580 at 3,360 cfs / 13.58 ft
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.
- Conservative low-water floor250 cfs minimum-only
Current American Whitewater flow data for the exact Yorkville reach exposes a 250-5,000 cfs runnable envelope. Paddle Today uses only the 250 cfs floor and does not infer a preferred or upper scoring band from that envelope alone.
- Official route shapeAbout 0.23 mi / 1,100-foot bypass chute
The City of Yorkville describes the Marge Cline course as a free open-use 1,100-foot bypass chute at Bicentennial Riverfront Park with portage points at both ends and about six feet of drop across the facility.
- Exact public access coordinates41.643002, -88.445 to 41.641998, -88.443001
American Whitewater's current map page for the Yorkville reach exposes exact Put In and Take Out coordinates. The city page independently confirms the east-end boat launch and the designated downstream portage west of the Route 47 bridge on the south bank next to the Parks and Recreation building.
- Public park accessRiverfront Park boat launch and course access
The current Riverfront Park page still identifies Riverfront Park at 131 E Hydraulic Ave as home to the course and lists a public boat launch among the park features.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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