Friends of the Fox River offers guided canoe trips

The Friends of the Fox River will conduct a series of canoe trips on five different sections of the Fox River from spring through late fall.

These trips will explore the river and its relationship with the land that creates it, and special natural areas along the Fox River.

Get to know the Fox River from the river's point of view!

Each month's trip will be on a different section of the river from Algonquin in the spring down to Oswego in the fall.

Trip details vary depending on the trip and weather. For most trips, participants meet at the "put-in" at 9 a.m. Trips usually end around noon to early afternoon.

You will receive an email with complete information for your trip following your registration.

Tour fees are for a guided and interpreted trip. These trips support the work of Friends of the Fox River to preserve, restore, and protect the Fox River watershed's resources by connecting people with nature through education, research, restoration, and advocacy.

Trip fees are $25; $20 for members, students and seniors; or $10 for children, age 6 to 12.

Canoe trips continue on the second and fourth Sunday of each month (except Trip 8 on Sept. 17) until the last trip on Oct. 29. Experienced canoe guides will lead each trip. Trip fees are per person and include canoe, gear, a pre-trip paddling skills and safety review, and a few stories about the river, its history, its heroes, and what's going on with the river today.

To sign up, visit friendsofthefoxriver.org.

River Trip 2 will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at Cornish Park in Algonquin. They will head to Fox River Shores Forest Preserve Boat Ramp, about 3.5 miles. This season's first river trip starts out easy with the shortest trip of the series. After a brief paddling skills review and safety talk, they will put in from Cornish Park. They will start out paddling in shallow water with occasional riffles as they pass by riverfront homes on Algonquin's south side. The bluffs of Buffalo Park will rise up on the right bank and fall away as they pass the ancient river terrace that is now the Brunner Family Forest Preserve. The trip will end at Fox River Shores Forest Preserve boat ramp where they will help load the boats and gear.

On July 9 and 23, the trips will begin at Carpentersville Dam and head to Voyageurs Landing in Elgin.

On Aug. 13 and 27, the trips will begin at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve boat ramp in South Elgin and head to Ferson Creek Park in St. Charles.

On Sept. 10 and 17, the trips will begin at Glenwood Park Forest Preserve in Batavia Township and head to Illinois Avenue in Aurora.

On Oct. 8 and 22, the trips will begin in Montgomery and head to Saw Wee Kee Park in Oswego.