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An interactive guide to the Northeastern Illinois water trails system, which encompasses 10 waterways, ranging from creeks that flow through densely wooded forest preserves to the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago as seen from Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
Home / Explore the Outdoors / Paddle Illinois
Water Trails in Calumet comprise a number of connected natural and man-made waterways, including both rivers and lakes.
The Chicago River is a long, diverse waterway that begins in Lake County.
The Des Plaines River begins in Racine County, Wisconsin and flows south through Illinois for about 95 miles.
Find safety and rental information, paddling clubs and organizations, and other waterway trails around Illinois.
Most water trail access sites in northeastern Illinois are on publicly owned property held by recreation providers.
Every donation will be matched up to $50,000. That means your gift goes twice as far to protect the natural spaces we cherish close to home.
