Online Resources for Paddlers
These links are provided for reference only. The Illinois Paddling Council takes no responsibility for services provided by other organizations. To request being added to these links, email the webmaster.
Water Craft Registration and Water Usage Stamp:
Paddling Safety:
Clubs:
Northern Illinois
- Chicago Whitewater Association
- Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association
- Illini Downstreamers
- Lincoln Park Boat Club
- Prairie State Canoeists
- St. Charles Canoe Club
- Saukenuk Paddlers Canoe & Kayak Club
- StateLine Paddlers
- M2C2- Morris Marathon Canoe Club
- With nearly 20 members, this twenty-year-old club specializes in marathon canoe & kayak racing. The club’s members have held the IPC Junior title for eleven consecutive years and the USCA national junior title for three years. Their major concern is the condition of the I & M Canal where club members organize cleanups and to promote this waterway for paddling. Also in the fall they host an IPC points race on the DuPage River in Channahon. Contact Ben Josefik or Dave Buckley for more information.
Central Illinois
- Mackinaw Canoe Club
- Salt Fork River Runners
- Team Dirt Clod
Southern Illinois
Midwest Paddling Association:
- Indiana Paddlers
- Iowa Whitewater Coalition
- Michigan Canoe Racing Association
- Wisconsin Canoe Racing Association
- Midwest Paddle Racing
Watershed Groups /River/ Conservation Organizations:
- Chicago Wilderness
- Friends of Chicago River
- Friends of the Pecatonica River
- Lincoln Heritage Water Trail Association
- Openlands
- Prairie Rivers Network
- Salt Creek Watershed Network
National Paddling Associations:
- American Canoe Association
- American Dragon Boat Association
- American Whitewater Affiliation
- US Canoe/Kayak Team
- United States Canoe Association
- United States Dragon Boat Association
- Wooden Canoe Heritage Association
General Paddling Information
Paddling.net
A comprehensive website on all paddlesports, events, gear, and clubs.
Playak.com
A global paddling online community.
GORP
General information on outdoor sports.
Haunted by Waters
Tom Lindblade’s video on paddling guiding.
Outdoor Play
Online gear shopping website.
PaddleAway
General area paddling information.
Paddling Fitness
Information on how to paddle, to remain fit, and stay injury free.
Paddling Life
Online paddling magazine.
Rivers-End Midwestern Paddlesport Message Board
National Conservation Groups
- Leave No Trace
- National Parks Service, Rivers & Trails Program
- Nature Conservancy- Illinois Chapter
- Sierra Club- Illinois Chapter
Streamflow / Weather Information
Free Topographical Maps, Aerial Photos
Rentals
DISCLAIMER: This list is provided as a service to the public looking for paddling opportunities. This list is not an endorsement of their services.
| Name and Website | City, State, Zip | Waterway | Phone |
| Ayers Landing | Wedron, IL 60557 | Fox River | 815-434-2233 |
| C&M Canoe Rental | Ottawa, IL 61350 | Fox River | 815-434-6690 or 815-434-6714 |
| Canoe the Kish at Larsen’s Landing | Rockford, IL 61109 | Kishwaukee River | 815-516-9070 |
| Canoe the Vermilion | Streator, IL 61634 | N. Vermilion/Illinois/Fox/I&M Canal | 815-673-3218 |
| Chicago Paddle Rentals | Chicago, IL 60653 | Lake Michigan | 312-924-7994 |
| Chicago River Canoe & Kayak | Chicago IL 60302-2329 | Chicago River/Skokie Lagoons/Busse Woods | 847-414-5883 Lagoon 773-704-2663 Chicago River |
| Fever River Outfitters | Galena, IL 61036 | Galena River | 815-776-9425 |
| Freeport Canoe Company | Freeport, IL | Pecatonica River | 815-541-0869 |
| Geneseo Campground | Geneseo, IL 61254 | Hennepin Canal | 309-944-6465 |
| Kankakee River Canoe Rental | Wilmington, IL | Kankakee | 815-476-2801 |
| Kayak Chicago | Chicago, IL 60622 | Chicago River and Lake MI | 312-852-9258 |
| Kayak Morris | Morris, IL 60450 | Mazon | 630-567-4653 |
| Kishwaukee Canoe | Rockford, IL 61101 | Kishwaukee River(Cherry Valley to New Milford) | (815) 968-0711 |
| Offshore Marine | Veron Hills, IL 60061 | Des Plaines River | 847-283-0400 |
| Reed’s Canoe Trips | Kankakee, IL 60901-2194 | Kankakee River | 815-932-2663 815-939-3119 |
| Rocktown Adventures | Loves Park, IL 61111 | Rock | 630-506-5706 Aurora 815-636-9066 Rockford |
| Rutabaga Paddlesport Shop | Madison, WI 53716 | Various | 608-223-9300 800-472-3353 |
| Schmidt’s Canoeing Service | Elgin, IL 60123 | Fox | 815-968-0711 |
| T.J.’s Bait/Tackle and Canoe Rental | Oregon, IL 61061 | Rock | 815-732-4516 |
| TipACanoe Canoe Rentals | Burlington, WI 53105 | Fox, Nippersink | 262-342-1012 |
| Vermilion River Rafting | Oglesby, IL 61348 | North Vermilion | 815-667-5242 |
| White Crane Rentals | Carbondale, IL 62902 | Cache River | 618-201-4090 |
| Wisconsin River Outings | Boscobel, WI 53805 | Wisconsin River | 608-375-5300 |
