Directions: Enter Columbia Woods Forest Preserve on the west side of Willow Springs Road just north of the Des Plaines River in Willow Springs.
A shorter trip can be had by taking out or putting in 2.7 miles downstream at the Knollwood Boat Ramp
The take-out is on river left under the Lemont Road Bridge. There is limited parking here and paddlers will need to carry their boats around a low wall near the intersection of Old Lemont Road and the Centennial Trail.
Note: Approximately one mile upstream of Lemont Road on river right is the Old Borrow Pit. Now a haven for water fowl, the riverside quarry was used to mine the landfill that was then barged up the river and out into the lake to create Lincoln Park.
Use caution when approaching and passing the railroad bridge just past the Old Borrow Pit. Debris piled up between the broken abutments of the old railroad bridge and rebar in the channels between the abutments make passing through hazardous in low and/or fast water.
