Illinois River: Ottawa to Starved Rock and Back

On a unusually warm November day, I took a 17.5 mile trip down and back up the Illinois river, starting and ending in Ottawa, I paddled the 8 miles down to Starved Rock, came back up around Sheehan island to see Buffalo Rock, camped for the night, then came back the next morning. 

Going down and up the Illinois River at that spot is relatively easy. There is a very slow current, with the wind balancing it out. You have to watch out for speedboats, as their wake can cause issues for a small kayak. I typically don't do this stretch over the summer, because there are a lot more speedboats between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Again, it's  about a 17.5 mile trip if you take the scenic route around Sheehan island. 8 miles one way. There's overnight parking available in Ottawa, at the lot by the bridge on the north side of the river. I put my boat by the river, then park in a lot a little bit north of there to stay out of the way. Ottawa has a 48 hour parking rule, so you can leave cars there for an overnight. 

It's a very scenic area. You get to see two state parks and a ton of rock formations. There's a decent amount of wildlife. Plenty of seagulls, the occasional bald eagle, and flocks of pelicans. As long as it's not during the height of summer drunk speedboating season, it's a fun trip for most kayakers. Not the easiest paddle, but feasible if you have taken steps beyond being a beginner.