Canoeing suburban lakes, rivers a sweet summer pastime
Noted outdoor enthusiast Henry David Thoreau once remarked: “Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing.”
Many local residents believe in canoeing as well, taking advantage of the lakes and rivers in the Northwest suburbs.
Ken Michaels, owner of the South Elgin Canoe Shack for 22 years, stresses the simple joys to be found paddling a canoe on a nice summer day.
“Come on out, relax, forget your problems and have a good time,” he said.
But remember, paddling on any forest preserve lake requires an Illinois Department of Natural Resources water usage stamp. Pick one up at participating sporting goods stores such as Sports Authority and Dick's Sporting Goods.
Here's where you can rent and launch canoes and kayaks.
Canoe rentals
Cook County Forest Preserve
Rental fee: $15 per hour or $35 for eight hours
Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rented canoes or rowboats must be returned by 7:30 p.m.
Information: (708) 361-0460 or www.fpdcc.com
Locations:
• Busse Reservoir, Higgins Road and I-290, Elk Grove Village
For rent: Only canoes. You can also launch your own canoes, kayaks, rowboats and sailboats from the ramps in the Main Lake and South Pool.
• Maple Lake, Wolf Road and 95th Street, Willow Springs
For rent: Rowboats. Only rental boats are allowed in Maple Lake.
• Tampier Lake, 131st Street, west of Wolf Road, Orland Park
For rent: Only canoes. You can also launch your own canoes, kayaks and rowboats from the boat ramp off the main parking lot.
Du Page Forest Preserve
Rental fees: $10 per hour or $50 per day. You can also purchase yearly permits for $35 for DuPage County residents and $45 for out-of-county paddlers.
Information: (630) 933-7248 or dupageforest.com
• Herrick Lake, Butterfield Road, Wheaton
For rent: Canoes, kayaks and rowboats.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekends. The last boat rentals are at 5:30 p.m.
• Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve, Winfield and Butterfield roads in Warrenville
For rent: Canoes, kayaks and rowboats.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays (last boat rental at 5:30 p.m.) and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekends (last boat rental at 4:30 p.m.)
Lake County Forest Preserve
• Independence Grove, 16400 Buckley Road, Libertyville
For rent: Canoes, kayaks and tandem kayaks. Only rental boats are allowed in Independence Grove.
Rental fees: Canoes are $8 per hour and $4 for each additional hour; kayaks are $10 per hour and $5 for each additional hour; tandem kayaks are $12 per hour and $6 for each additional hour.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to sunset
Information: Paddling lessons are also offered by Independence Grove. Call (847) 968-3499 or go to www.lcfpd.org for details.
Launch sites
Des Plaines River
Locations:
• Captain Daniel Wright Woods Canoe Launch, Route 60 east of Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville
• Gowe Park, McClure Avenue in Gurnee
• Independence Grove Canoe Launch, 16400 Buckley Road, Libertyville
• Oak Spring Road Canoe Launch, Oak Spring Road west of Saint Mary's Road in Libertyville
• Plank Road Meadow, Ogden and First avenues in Lyons
• Rivershire Park, Londonderry Lane in Lincolnshire
• Sedge Meadow Canoe Launch, East of Route 41 in Wadsworth
• Van Patten Woods Canoe Launch, Russell Road east of Route 41 and west of Green Bay Road (Route 131) in Zion
Cook County Forest Preserve lakes
Information: (800) 870-3666 or www.fpdcc.com
Locations:
• Beck Lake, Central and River Road, Des Plaines
What you can paddle: Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats, electric motorboats.
• Big Bend Lake, East River Road south of Golf Road, Des Plaines
What you can paddle: Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats, electric motorboats.
• Powderhorn Lake, Brainerd Avenue east of Burnham Avenue in Chicago
What you can paddle: Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats, electric motorboats.
• Saganashkee Slough, 107th Street, between Archer Avenue and Willow Springs Road in Palos Hills
What you can paddle: Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, electric motorboats.
DuPage Forest Preserve lakes
Paddling fee: $7 for DuPage County residents, $9 for out-of-county paddlers.
Information: (630) 933-7248 or www.dupageforest.com
Locations:
• Hidden Lake, Route 53 and south of Butterfield Road in Barrington
What you can paddle: Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, inflatables.
• Mallard Lake, Gary Avenue and Schick Road in Hanover Park
What you can paddle: Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, inflatables.
Training in action
Be prepared. It's good advice for Boy Scouts and those who canoe.
Victor Ambroziak and his son Noah fit both categories. And Noah had the importance of being prepared reinforced during his Elgin-based Boy Scout troop's last canoe trip on the Kishwaukee River. His friends' canoe tipped in shallow water and Noah, 15, pulled that canoe onto his own and helped empty the water it took on.
“It was good to have the knowledge,” he said.
Victor, an assistant Scout master, has training in wilderness first aid with the Red Cross, and the West Dundee dad passes safety techniques on to his Scouts.
He stresses that researching and preparing for specific canoe sites is important.
“We don't come out with our kayaks and see what happens,” Victor said.
Steve LaPorte, one of about 20 instructors for the Prairie State Canoeists, emphasizes both safety training and a life jacket when hitting the water.
“I don't think a life jacket takes the place of knowledge,” he said. “I think you need both to be safe.”