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Explore Trails by Waterway

The Northeastern Illinois water trails system encompasses 10 waterways. These water trails offer a variety of experiences, ranging from creeks that flow through densely wooded forest preserves to the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago as seen from Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The water trails of northeastern Illinois present paddling experiences found few other places in the world.

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Explore by Waterway

Calumet Area Water Trails
Water Trails in Calumet comprise a number of connected natural and man-made waterways, including both rivers and lakes.
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Calumet Area Water Trails

Chicago River Water Trails
The Chicago River is a long, diverse waterway that begins in Lake County.
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Chicago River Water Trails

Des Plaines River Water Trails
The Des Plaines River begins in Racine County, Wisconsin and flows south through Illinois for about 95 miles.
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Des Plaines River Water Trails

DuPage River Water Trails
The DuPage River is a small-to-medium sized stream flowing north to south through DuPage and Will counties and ending at its confluence with the Des Plaines River in Channahon.
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DuPage River Water Trails

Fox River Water Trails
The Fox River presents a number of varied paddling experiences for different skill levels. As the river enters Kendall County below Montgomery, it becomes a large, quiet, and scenic river flowing mostly through farmland.
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Fox River Water Trails

Kankakee River Water Trails
The Kankakee River was designated as a National Water Trail in June 2016 for its entire length, starting at its origin in Indiana, all the way to its confluence with the Des Plaines River in Illinois.
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Kankakee River Water Trails

Kishwaukee River Water Trails
The Kishwaukee is a beautiful river that offers some of the highest quality aquatic habitat in northeast Illinois.
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Kishwaukee River Water Trails

Lake Michigan Water Trails
The Illinois section of the Lake Michigan Water Trail stretches 68 miles from the Indiana border, at Calumet Park on the south side of Chicago, to the Wisconsin border, north of Winthrop Harbor in Lake County.
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Lake Michigan Water Trails

Nippersink Creek Water Trails
The Nippersink Creek, a twenty-three-mile long creek with a 138 square mile watershed, is a major tributary of the Fox River and a safe stream for paddlers of all abilities.
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Nippersink Creek Water Trails

Salt Creek Water Trails
Salt Creek consists of four sections, each offering a distinct paddling experience. Paddling is also available at Busse Lake located at the northern end of the trail in Ned Brown Forest Preserve (Busse Woods).
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Salt Creek Water Trails