Calumet Area Water Trails - Beaubien Woods to Calumet Park Boat Launch

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Skill level: Expert (because of heavy barge traffic and large motor craft)

Length: Approximately 11 miles

Directions: Put-in at the launch ramp at Beaubien Woods Forest Preserve, owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, south of 130th Street, between the I-94 Bishop Ford Highway and Altgeld Gardens. For a slightly shorter trip, put-in at the Riverside Marina, 13601 South Calhoun, at the dead end of 136th Street, on the east side of the river. Pass through the O'Brien Locks at about 134th Street. Approximately 6 miles north are dry-docks on the right bank, just before passing under the enormous Chicago Skyway Bridge. The mouth of the river at Lake Michigan is about 1.5 miles downstream. Check the weather and waves before entering the lake. The take-out, at the Calumet Park boat ramp, is approximately 0.5 miles south of the mouth of the river.

Notes: While most paddlers look for river trips away from urban areas, the Calumet River and the O'Brien Locks provide access to views of a giant industrial complex. The colossal sculpture of cranes, factories, huge conveyor belts, and ocean-going ships display interesting scenery along the Calumet River.

Always check United States Geological Survey (USGS) water data before your trip.

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