Kishwaukee River in Illinois

Trip Overview

Put in at Rt. 23/Main Street in Sycamore and paddled to Genoa. Took six hours with moderate paddling effort.

Pretty shallow in many spots. Very secluded and winding section. Several low pedestrian bridges that could become hazards in high water. One collapsed concrete bridge that required a portage south of Russell Woods FP- could also become a strainer hazard in faster water- stay to left bank here!

Saw wood ducks, great blue heron, snapping turtles, and had a pair of deer break through the brush ten feet from us and run down river for 50 yards.

Accommodations:

None; bring drinking water and a lunch.

Fees:

Hope not...

Directions:

Rt. 23 in Sycamore is a busy street with steep embankments. Would advise putting in off of Brickville Rd. south of Maplewood Rd. (although this seems to be private property) or maybe even further upstream near Sycamore Golf Course.

Resources:

County map