Des Plaines River- Wadsworth Road to Independence Grove

Trip Overview

This is a very pleasant downstream paddle of approximately 11.3 miles mostly in secluded areas. I made this trip with one friend, in two 14 foot cedar strip kayaks. After an extended period of heavy rainfall, the foliage is lush and the scenery is varied from open flood plain lagoons with tall prairie grass, to dense mature forest. Wildlife including deer, muskrats, turtles, fish, herons, hawks, ducks, geese, and cormorants are likely to be seen. There was one beaver dam in this stretch of the river, though we did not see a beaver. (More beaver activity is found further downstream, south of this stretch of the river.) The key to making this trip enjoyable is choosing the correct river level. When we went, the river level was 5 feet at Russell and at Gurnee. (7 feet would be flood stage.) At this 5 foot level, most submerged logs and rocks are readily passed over and one very low pedestrian bridge between Gurnee and Independence Grove can just barely be passed beneath. Some narrow areas had currents of 3 knots with eddies and counter-currents near the opposite bank. Most areas had less current, yet enough to shorten the trip considerably. We needed to portage twice. Once was for the dam with many washed up dead trees and limbs at approximately 3/4 mile past the large lagoon a few miles south of Wadsworth Road. You will hear fast running water before you see it. We portaged left (East side) through 5-6 foot tall reeds and grass. The ground was firm muck with a few logs to step over. It was easier than it appeared. The second portage was an impassable logjam a mile or so farther downstream. We went right (West side) through is short stretch of sparse woods and relaunched very easily in a placid side-channel 15 yards or so beyond the obstacle. There were shady spots to pull over for a lunch break or rest stop. On a beautiful sunny day with 80 degree temperatures and a gentle breeze, we encountered no other people on the river throughout the trip.