State routes

Illinois Rivers

Compare 12 tracked Illinois paddle routes with route links, water-level context, difficulty, and access planning details.

11 routes support live scores. 1 planning-only routes provide trip details and source links without a live route score.

Find a route Request a missing Illinois route Browse all routes

12 routes12 rivers8 regions2 beginner routes

Loading supported rivers and route reaches.

End of map

Coverage snapshot

Explore supported Illinois rivers

Scan the highlighted river network from above, then use the route guides and access markers to find a supported reach.

12 route markers0 multi-route rivers2 beginner routes

Supported riverSelected reachAccess-point connectionStrong conditionsGood conditionsWatch closelySkip

Northeastern Illinois 3 Northern Illinois 3 East-Central Illinois 1 Metro-East Illinois 1 North-Central Illinois 1 North-central Illinois 1 Northwest Illinois 1 Southern Illinois 1

Live conditions

Best Illinois routes today

Loading current scores, gauge reads, and weather signals.

--Live

North-central Illinois

Big Bureau Creek

Red Covered Bridge Park to County Road 1150

Hard | Approximately 13 river miles | About 5–8 hours depending on level, scouting, and portage decisions | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Northeastern Illinois

Blackberry Creek

Jaycee Pond Park to River Road

Hard | Approximately 0.34 river miles | About 30–90 minutes including scouting and repeated feature runs | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Northern Illinois

Fox River

Marge Cline Whitewater Course

Moderate | 0.23 mi / about 1,100 ft | Play-park session; laps vary by level and skill | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Northeastern Illinois

Hickory Creek

Pilcher Park to S. Joliet Street

Hard | Approximately 4.2 river miles | About 2–4 hours including scouting and portage decisions | Live score supported

View trip details

Current scores load here when available. You can still open the route links to check details and sources if this update fails.

Best route options

Good starting points in Illinois

Ranked from route metadata, source support, difficulty, and logistics.

Sunset reflects across the Mississippi River backwaters near Weaver, Minnesota.

Illinois routeMetro-East IllinoisMississippi RiverPiasa Harbor to Alton RiverfrontThis guarded Pool 26 water-trail reach follows the documented Piasa Harbor-to-Alton Riverfront itinerary. It is a broad commercial navigation pool, not...

Route facts

Hard | About 7 mi | About 3–5 hr depending on wind, current, stops, and traffic | Live score supportedofficial source support

A wooded Illinois riverbank with calm moving water.

Illinois routeNorthern IllinoisFox RiverMarge Cline Whitewater CourseUse 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...

Route facts

Moderate | 0.23 mi / about 1,100 ft | Play-park session; laps vary by level and skill | Live score supportedmixed source support

A low bridge crosses the Kishwaukee River in a wooded state fish and wildlife area corridor.

Illinois routeNorthern IllinoisKishwaukee RiverHickory Bills Canoe Launch to Distillery Road Conservation AreaLaunch at Hickory Bills Canoe Launch in Belvidere and take out at the Distillery Road Conservation Area canoe launch. This avoids the upstream Belvidere...

Route facts

Easy | About 4.4 mi | About 1.5 hr to 2.5 hr, longer in low water or headwind | Live score supportedcommunity source support

The Pecatonica River runs through wooded banks in Iowa County, Wisconsin.

Illinois routeNorthwest IllinoisPecatonica RiverWes Block Trail Access to Tutty's Crossing TrailheadLaunch at Wes Block Trail Access and take out at Tutty's Crossing for a gentle Pecatonica day entering Freeport. The route is shorter and friendlier tha...

Route facts

Easy | 6.4 mi | About 2 hr 30 min to 4 hr | Planning only · no live scorecommunity source support

The Vermilion River reflects autumn trees and a pale sky along a wooded Illinois riverbank.

Illinois routeNorth-Central IllinoisVermilion RiverLowell to Oglesby Boat LaunchLaunch at the Lowell-side rafting put-in and take out at the Oglesby Vermilion River Boat Launch. The route follows American Whitewater's Wildcat Canyon...

Route facts

Hard | 8.2 mi | About 3 hr to 4 hr for a competent whitewater group | Live score supportedmixed source support

The Middle Fork of the Vermilion River runs through the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve in Illinois.

Illinois routeEast-Central IllinoisMiddle Fork Vermilion RiverKinney's Ford Canoe Access to Kickapoo Bridge AccessThe full Middle Fork Vermilion corridor starts at the named Kinney's Ford access and ends at the Kickapoo Bridge take-out. Kickapoo Adventures documents...

Route facts

Moderate | About 12.8–13.5 mi | About 6–8 hr for the full corridor, depending on stage, stops, and portages | Live score supportedcommunity source support

Beginner routes

Illinois beginner routes

These routes are tagged easy in the route data. Today's water can still change the call.

Kishwaukee RiverHickory Bills Canoe Launch to Distillery Road Conservation AreaNorthern Illinois | About 4.4 mi Pecatonica RiverWes Block Trail Access to Tutty's Crossing TrailheadNorthwest Illinois | 6.4 mi

Weekend planning

Routes with practical logistics

Use the live weekend board for score-based recommendations.

Big Bureau CreekRed Covered Bridge Park to County Road 1150Approximately 13 river miles | About 5–8 hours depending on level, scouting, and portage decisions Blackberry CreekJaycee Pond Park to River RoadApproximately 0.34 river miles | About 30–90 minutes including scouting and repeated feature runs Hickory CreekPilcher Park to S. Joliet StreetApproximately 4.2 river miles | About 2–4 hours including scouting and portage decisions Kishwaukee RiverHickory Bills Canoe Launch to Distillery Road Conservation AreaAbout 4.4 mi | About 1.5 hr to 2.5 hr, longer in low water or headwind Lusk CreekSaltpeter Cave Crossing to Eddyville Blacktop Road8.1 mi | About 5 hr including wilderness carry-in, scouting, and portage decisions Middle Fork Vermilion RiverKinney's Ford Canoe Access to Kickapoo Bridge AccessAbout 12.8–13.5 mi | About 6–8 hr for the full corridor, depending on stage, stops, and portages

Browse coverage

Rivers and regions

Expand a river or region to browse its routes.

By river

Big Bureau Creek1

Red Covered Bridge Park to County Road 1150

Blackberry Creek1

Jaycee Pond Park to River Road

Fox River1

Marge Cline Whitewater Course

Hickory Creek1

Pilcher Park to S. Joliet Street

Kishwaukee River1

Hickory Bills Canoe Launch to Distillery Road Conservation Area

Lusk Creek1

Saltpeter Cave Crossing to Eddyville Blacktop Road

Middle Fork Vermilion River1

Kinney's Ford Canoe Access to Kickapoo Bridge Access

Mississippi River1

Mississippi River hub Piasa Harbor to Alton Riverfront

Pecatonica River1

Pecatonica River hub Wes Block Trail Access to Tutty's Crossing Trailhead

South Branch Kishwaukee River1

Kingston Park to Irene Road

Vermilion River1

Lowell to Oglesby Boat Launch

West Branch Du Page River1

McDowell Grove to Knoch Knolls Park

By region

East-Central Illinois1

Middle Fork Vermilion River: Kinney's Ford Canoe Access to Kickapoo Bridge Access

Metro-East Illinois1

Mississippi River: Piasa Harbor to Alton Riverfront

North-Central Illinois1

Vermilion River: Lowell to Oglesby Boat Launch

North-central Illinois1

Big Bureau Creek: Red Covered Bridge Park to County Road 1150

Northeastern Illinois3

Blackberry Creek: Jaycee Pond Park to River Road Hickory Creek: Pilcher Park to S. Joliet Street West Branch Du Page River: McDowell Grove to Knoch Knolls Park

Northern Illinois3

Fox River: Marge Cline Whitewater Course Kishwaukee River: Hickory Bills Canoe Launch to Distillery Road Conservation Area South Branch Kishwaukee River: Kingston Park to Irene Road

Northwest Illinois1

Pecatonica River: Wes Block Trail Access to Tutty's Crossing Trailhead

Southern Illinois1

Lusk Creek: Saltpeter Cave Crossing to Eddyville Blacktop Road

Need broader planning context?

Weekend board Explore all routes Request a route

All tracked routes

Every Illinois route on Paddle Today

12 routes with condition and access details.

Showing all 12 routes.

Quick answers

Illinois paddling FAQ

How does Paddle Today choose Illinois paddle routes?

Paddle Today lists source-backed routes with reviewed access and trip information. This page includes 11 routes with live-score support and 1 planning-only routes across 12 rivers. Planning-only routes do not have a live route score.

Are these Illinois river conditions live?

Scored routes show the latest available conditions, subject to data availability. Planning-only routes provide trip information and source links without a live route score. Check update times and missing-data notices, and verify conditions with the linked managers before leaving.

Can I request another Illinois route?

Yes. Use the request form to send the river, reach, access points, and any source links. Requests help prioritize useful additions with verified public access and route evidence.