Directions: The Route 60 canoe launch is located just south of Route 60 (Townline Road), approximately 0.2 miles east of Milwaukee Avenue in Vernon Hills. Allison Woods Canoe Ramp, located just west of Milwaukee Avenue and 1/2 mile south of Palatine Road in Mt. Prospect, is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
Notes: This trip can be shortened by using an alternate take-out at either Rivershire Park, on Londonderry Lane in Lincolnshire, or Dam 1 Woods at the intersection of Hintz Road and Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling.
There were historically three dams between Route 60 and Allison Woods (Ryerson Dam, Wright Woods Dam, and Dam #1). These have all been removed, but watch for rubble at low water levels. Please respect the privacy of riparian landowners by not landing on private property.
Always check United States Geological Survey (USGS) water data before your trip.
1 thought on “Route 60 to Allison Woods”
Completed this stretch of river in two parts September of 2023. Used the Rivershire park launch to split the legs. Nice launch, a little distance down to the river but nothing major maybe 100 feet. Limited parking and no facilites at this launch site. Some minor logjams between route 60 and Rivershire. Between Rivershire and Allison woods there are some pretty shallow stretches so I would not recommend it during low water times. Both are beautiful paddles with great scenery, amazing birding, and plenty of turtles and other water-loving creatures.
It is pretty easy to do a bike loop with both these trips. The Rivershire park launch is not right on the des plaines river trail but it is less than a mile away and through very quiet suburban streets.
For Allison Woods to Rivershire, you can access the Cook County trail system (orange trail) on Winkelman road just past the hotel, maybe a quarter mile from the launch. It is not super well marked but visible on google maps. That will take you all the way to the county line (lake cook road) where it becomes the des plaines river trail.