Dupage River
The DuPage River is a 28.3-mile-long (45.5 km) tributary of the Des Plaines River in the U.S. state of Illinois.
The river begins as two individual streams. The West Branch of the DuPage River, 35.0 miles (56.3 km) long, starts in Schaumburg at Campanelli Park in Cook County and continues southward through the entire county of DuPage, including the towns of Bartlett, Wheaton, Warrenville, Winfield and Naperville (including through its riverwalk). The East Branch of the DuPage River, 25.0 miles (40.2 km) long, begins in Bloomingdale and flows southward through Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Woodridge, parts of Naperville and parts of Bolingbrook. The two branches meet at a spot between Naperville and Bolingbrook. The combined DuPage River continues southward from that point, through Plainfield and then west of Joliet, before finally meeting the Des Plaines River.
The Dupage river flows between 1-4 MPH, averaging 2. The gradient for the entire trip averages 5.5 feet.
In terms of boating:
-The Dupage river has plenty of parking access/put ins/take outs
- The river level is consistently low
-There are few islands and dams
-The DuPage river is potentially the most narrow river in the Chicagoland area
-It can have shallow spots to portage through
-It is too small for large power boats or barges
-Deadfalls in smaller sections can be an issue
The river begins as two individual streams. The West Branch of the DuPage River, 35.0 miles (56.3 km) long, starts in Schaumburg at Campanelli Park in Cook County and continues southward through the entire county of DuPage, including the towns of Bartlett, Wheaton, Warrenville, Winfield and Naperville (including through its riverwalk). The East Branch of the DuPage River, 25.0 miles (40.2 km) long, begins in Bloomingdale and flows southward through Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Woodridge, parts of Naperville and parts of Bolingbrook. The two branches meet at a spot between Naperville and Bolingbrook. The combined DuPage River continues southward from that point, through Plainfield and then west of Joliet, before finally meeting the Des Plaines River.
The Dupage river flows between 1-4 MPH, averaging 2. The gradient for the entire trip averages 5.5 feet.
In terms of boating:
-The Dupage river has plenty of parking access/put ins/take outs
- The river level is consistently low
-There are few islands and dams
-The DuPage river is potentially the most narrow river in the Chicagoland area
-It can have shallow spots to portage through
-It is too small for large power boats or barges
-Deadfalls in smaller sections can be an issue
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Dams and Portaging
Fawell Dam, Naperville
Large earthen floodgate with a small green building on top (outhouse sized). Portage to river right. Running through the flood gates is not recommended, but possible.
Hammel Woods, Shorewood
100 feet north of U.S. 52 Bridge
Portage river right and around, via clearly marked path. Short portage.
Channahon Dam, Channahon
300 yards south of Illinois Route 6 Bridge. Built by the WPA to replace the aging Bridge Street Dam constructed in 1847 for the I&M Canal.
Portage river left at stairs in front of of lock #6. Up a small hill then down some stairs. Very short, but challenging with slopes.
Depth Charts
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This gauge is located in downtown Naperville, on the Western Branch.
Flood Stage: 8' Action Stage: 7' Scrape Stage: Under 4.5' |
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This gauge is located on the Eastern branch, far before the merge.
Flood Stage: 14.5' Action Stage: 14' Scrape Stage: Under 8' |
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This gauge is located at the dam at shorewood. It's an indicator of Plainfield on south, as well as what's to come in the rapids section in Shorewood.
Flood Stage: 6.5' Action Stage: 6' Scrape Stage: Under 2.5' |
Full Trip Notes
Merge to Riverview Park: 7.7 miles
From the merge of the east and west branches to Riverview park in Plainfield, right by Rt. 59 and Naper-Plainfield roads.
This portion is shallow at points, particularly up by the merge. There is not much flow to this spot. While there are a few curves in nature, the majority of this stretch runs parallel to Naper-Plainfield road. Houses line a decent portion of the shoreline. There are not many campsites on this stretch, although it does have a few decent parking and takeout points.
Points of Interest in this stretch: Dupage River Island 7, Dupage River Island 8, Rt. 59 by Boughton, Dupage River Island 9, Hassert Road Intersect, 119th Street, 135th/Eaton Preserve, Dupage River Island 10/Riverview Park
Riverview Park to Hammel Woods: 9.5 Miles
This portion of the river is where you really start to hit the wilderness. While you pass under a few major roads, once you get out of downtown Plainfield, nature kicks in pretty quick. The current picks up here for stretches, but then starts to slow again as you approach 59/55. The last segment is 2.5 miles of Hammel Woods.
Points of interest: Electric Park, Renwick Road, Dupage River Island 11, Farmer's Penninsula, Rt. 59 Intersect, Canton Farm Road, Rt. 55 Parallel, Black Rd/Hammel Woods
Hammel Woods to End (dump into Des Plaines River): 12 Miles
This Section of the river passes through a couple of small towns and neighborhoods briefly, but is solid wilderness between those spots. After passing Dam 4 and getting out of shorewood, there are a couple of small neighborhoods. Past that is route 80, after which full wilderness hits. The first segment past the highway features a 1 mile stretch of rapids, class 2 at worst. Past the rapids is a open lake area, that drains back into the dupage river through 3 streams. The leftmost stream is the easiest to pass, as the other two have shallow water or fallen trees blocking the path. After the lake comes more neighborhoods, then Channahon State Park. After a short but hilly portage, you run another mile and a half to the end, Four Rivers forest preserve.
Points of Interest: Dam 4, Island 13, Rt. 80 Intersect, Rapids, Lake, Minooka Road, Rt. 6, Dam 5, Channahon St. Park
From the merge of the east and west branches to Riverview park in Plainfield, right by Rt. 59 and Naper-Plainfield roads.
This portion is shallow at points, particularly up by the merge. There is not much flow to this spot. While there are a few curves in nature, the majority of this stretch runs parallel to Naper-Plainfield road. Houses line a decent portion of the shoreline. There are not many campsites on this stretch, although it does have a few decent parking and takeout points.
Points of Interest in this stretch: Dupage River Island 7, Dupage River Island 8, Rt. 59 by Boughton, Dupage River Island 9, Hassert Road Intersect, 119th Street, 135th/Eaton Preserve, Dupage River Island 10/Riverview Park
Riverview Park to Hammel Woods: 9.5 Miles
This portion of the river is where you really start to hit the wilderness. While you pass under a few major roads, once you get out of downtown Plainfield, nature kicks in pretty quick. The current picks up here for stretches, but then starts to slow again as you approach 59/55. The last segment is 2.5 miles of Hammel Woods.
Points of interest: Electric Park, Renwick Road, Dupage River Island 11, Farmer's Penninsula, Rt. 59 Intersect, Canton Farm Road, Rt. 55 Parallel, Black Rd/Hammel Woods
Hammel Woods to End (dump into Des Plaines River): 12 Miles
This Section of the river passes through a couple of small towns and neighborhoods briefly, but is solid wilderness between those spots. After passing Dam 4 and getting out of shorewood, there are a couple of small neighborhoods. Past that is route 80, after which full wilderness hits. The first segment past the highway features a 1 mile stretch of rapids, class 2 at worst. Past the rapids is a open lake area, that drains back into the dupage river through 3 streams. The leftmost stream is the easiest to pass, as the other two have shallow water or fallen trees blocking the path. After the lake comes more neighborhoods, then Channahon State Park. After a short but hilly portage, you run another mile and a half to the end, Four Rivers forest preserve.
Points of Interest: Dam 4, Island 13, Rt. 80 Intersect, Rapids, Lake, Minooka Road, Rt. 6, Dam 5, Channahon St. Park
