Kayaking · Illinois
Kayaking in Illinois
14 outfitters across Illinois. Ratings, hours, contact details and a map for each, all in one place.
Mapped river miles
13,544 mi
912 named reaches
Rated 4.5+ on Google
12 of 14
Cities
10
Most in Chicago (5)
Best season
Apr to Oct
At a glance
Highest rated on Google
Ranked by Google rating, then by number of reviews, across the 13 of 14 outfitters in Illinois with 10 or more Google reviews.
| Outfitter | City | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Howling Wolfe Canoe & Kayak | North Aurora | 5.0261 Google reviews |
| Kingfisher Kayaking | Urbana | 5.019 Google reviews |
| Urban Kayaks | Chicago | 4.91,881 Google reviews |
| Wateriders -- Chicago River Kayak Tours and Rentals | Chicago | 4.81,399 Google reviews |
| Ayers Landing Canoes, Tubes and Kayaks | Wedron | 4.8329 Google reviews |
| Kayak Starved Rock | Ottawa | 4.8158 Google reviews |
| Kayak Chicago | Chicago | 4.7476 Google reviews |
| Chicago River Canoe and Kayak | Winnetka | 4.7184 Google reviews |
Operators
Kayaking operators
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Rivers
Rivers and streams to paddle in Illinois
- Named rivers and streams mapped in Illinois
- 13,544 mi
- River reaches
- 912
- Reaches with a USGS flow gauge
- 175
Rivers with the most mapped miles
- Mississippi River638 mi
- Sugar Creek292 mi
- Illinois River273 mi
- Sangamon River239 mi
- Little Wabash River225 mi
Source: USGS National Hydrography Dataset. Miles count the named river reaches on our map, not every river in the state.
Flow gauges: U.S. Geological Survey. Flood stages and forecasts: NOAA National Weather Service.
Resources
More to explore in Kayaking
Hand-picked videos and free guides from the community to help you plan your next trip.
Videos worth watching
Hand-picked clips, sorted by what you do.
Kayaking | How to Paddle a Kayak || REI
REI
Kayaking | How to Get in Your Kayak || REI
REI
Kayaking on Lakes – Everything You Need to Know
PaddleTV
Kayaking on Rivers | Paddling for Beginners
PaddleTV
Top 10 Kayaking Tips to Level Up Your Paddling
PaddleTV
How to Train for Kayaking || REI
REI
Guides worth reading
Trip briefs, prep checklists, and how-tos. Free to read.
Free tools
