2023 Challenge #4: Whatever Floats Your Boat

Taylor Lake at Wildlife Prairie Park

So…what floats your boat in the Illinois River Valley? ?

Late summer and early autumn offer incredibly beautiful paddling opportunities in the American Midwest. In an extraordinarily biodiverse ecosystem like ours, there are countless parks, groups and clubs where you can float away into the sunset (or sunrise, or anything in between) and uncover stunning views from the waters of the Illinois River Valley.

For our fourth challenge of 2023, we ask you to join us on the water. Whether it’s kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding or going all out on a riverboat or yacht, we challenge you to float three different waters of the Illinois River Valley before winter hits.

Throw on your lifejacket, grab a water bottle and some sunscreen, and remember to share photos of your adventures on the water. We are excited to see and hear which waters of our amazing river valley you love the most. Be sure to tag us and use #rivervalleyoutdoors to share your adventures and let us know: which sparkling body of water floats your boat above all others?

From lakes and creeks to rivers and reservoirs, we have it all here. 

However, If you’re new to paddling (or you’re a veteran and have many favorites), it can be tough to decide where to start. Allow us to guide you onto a few of our favorite Illinois River Vally waters.

But first…whether you’re on the River, a lake or a smaller waterway:

New to paddling? Here are a few of our favorite spots to rent kayaks, canoes or paddle boards:

1. Eureka Lake — Eureka, IL

2. Wildlife Prairie Park — Edwards, IL

3. Camp Wokanda — Mossville, IL

4. Carl Spindler Marina and Campground — East Peoria, IL

5. Moraine View State Recreation Area — Le Roy, IL

6. Spring Lake Park — Macomb, IL

Ready to hit the water…but not sure where to start?

Mackinaw River Paddlers is a local canoeing and kayaking club that offers outings year-round throughout the Midwest.

Wildlife Prairie Park offers seven lakes for kayaking. They have inexpensive day passes and new kayak rentals available for 2023.

 Prairie State Canoeists is a group of canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts who plan trips throughout the Midwest and beyond. 

Banner Marsh is a 4,300+ acre marsh about 25 miles southwest of Peoria with tons of options for canoes, kayaks and paddle boards.

…and below are several local Kayaking/Paddling/Canoeing groups you can join on Facebook — simply search them by name and click join.

1. Central Illinois Kayaking/Floating

2. Friends of Kickapoo Creek

3. Mackinaw Canoe Club

4. Central Illinois Paddling Meetup Group

5. Central Illinois Kayak/Canoe

6. Illinois Valley Kayaking

7. Central Illinois Kayaking on the Spoon River

8. Illinois Valley Kayaking

9. Central Illinois Kayaking Squad

10. Paddling Banner Marsh

11. Lincoln Heritage Water Trail Association

12. Solo Canoe

13. Crew 309

Now for the master list of the best places to paddle in Central Illinois (courtesy of LocalOpal.org):

Anderson Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area (Astoria)

Argyle Lake State Park (Colchester)

Banner Marsh State Fish & Wildlife Area (Banner/Canton)

Barto Landing (Spring Valley)

Bowen Lake Park (Washington)

Buffalo Prairie Pheasant Habitat Area (Victoria)

Camp Wokanda (Chillicothe)

Canton Lake (Canton)

Carl Spindler Campground & Marina (East Peoria)

Charter Oak Park (Peoria)

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge (Havana)

Chinquapin Bluffs Land & Water Reserve (Carlock)

Comlara Park & Evergreen Lake (Hudson)

Cooper Park North (East Peoria)

Cooper Park South (East Peoria)

Cutright Community Park & Chillicothe Courtesy Boat Dock & Ramp (Chillicothe)

Detweiller Harbor Park (Peoria)

Detweiller Riverside (Peoria)

Dixon Waterfowl Refuge (Hennepin)

Don Burch Boat Dock & Picnic Area (Creve Coeur)

Donnelley & DePue State Fish & Wildlife Areas (DePue)

Double T State Fish & Wildlife Area (Canton)

Edward R. Madigan State Fish & Wildlife Area (Lincoln)

Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge (Lewistown)

Emiquon Preserve (Lewistown)

Fulton County Camping & Recreation Area (Canton)

Greater Peoria Canoe & Kayak Trail
(Henry, Lacon, Chillicothe, Peoria Heights, East Peoria, Creve Coeur, Pekin)

Hennepin Canal State Trail (multiple towns)

Hennepin Landing & Boat Launch (Hennepin)

Henry Marina & Riverfront Park (Henry)

Hormel Ponds (Bureau Junction)

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish And Wildlife Area (Chandlerville)

Ken Russell T Lake (Victoria)

Kickapoo Creek Park (Lincoln)

Lacon Marina (Lacon)

Lake Bloomington Park (Hudson)

Lake Eureka Park (Eureka)

Lake Storey Park (Galesburg)

Lakeshore Park (DePue)

Lakeland Park (Canton)

Letcher Basin Land & Water Reserve (Secor)

Lincoln Heritage Water Trail (Athens, Petersburg)

Lincoln Park (Galesburg)

Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site (Petersburg)

Liverpool Riverfront & Levee (Liverpool)

Mackinaw River Canoe Club Launch (Carlock)

Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area with DNR Canoe Landing (Mackinaw)

Macomb Spring Lake Park (Macomb)

Marshall State Fish & Wildlife Area (Chillicothe, Lacon, Sparland)

Mautino State Fish & Wildlife Area (Buda)

Mendenhall Park & Public Boat Launch (Bartonville)

Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge (Meredosia)

Merwin Nature Preserve (Lexington)

Moraine View State Recreation Area (LeRoy)

Pekin Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area (Pekin)

Pekin Riverfront & Miller Parks (Pekin)

Poplar Lane Park (Peoria Heights)

Putnam County Conservation District Lake Senachwine (Putnam)

Reed City (Hollis Park) Lake (Mapleton)

Rice Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area (Canton)

Riverfront Park (Havana)

Riverside Park (London Mills)

Sanganois State Fish & Wildlife Area (Chandlerville)

Schuy-Rush Park (Rushville)

Shore Acres Park (Chillicothe)

Snakeden Hollow State Fish & Wildlife Area (Victoria)

Spring Bay Park (Spring Bay)

Spring Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area (Manito)

Sweeney Woods Preserve (Lexington)

Victoria Pheasant Habitat Area (Victoria)

Walnut Park District's Ross Nature Preserve (Walnut)

Waterworks Park (Henry)

Wildlife Prairie Park (Hanna City)

Woodford State Fish & Wildlife Area (Lowpoint)

P.S. Are you big on adventure, a great swimmer, and both a paddler and a pedaler?

Perhaps bike rafting could be your next adventure: this involves biking to a waterway, blowing up a little raft, paddling with your bike attached, and then reversing everything when you are ready to hit land again. Check out the following previews of what bike rafting looks like in the River Valley:

Happy floating!