Sterling, Illinois Micropolitan Area Local whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information. If whitewater paddling is your thing and you're in Sterling, Illinois you may have to drive some distance to get to some decent whitewater. The whitewater stretches nearby are listed below for your convenience. All the whitewater is pretty far away as you can see so you'd better plan for a long drive. Spending some time picking the right whitewater stretch will make you paddling trip more enjoyable. HIGH QUALITY TOPO MAP, CLICK HERE Important Whitewater Safety Information Whitewater paddling spots near Sterling, Illinois: Whitewater 50 to 75 miles from Sterling, Illinois Bailey Creek, Illinois, N2300 Road to Vermilion River, 66 miles away, class I-II(IV), 1.5 miles long. Cedar Creek, Illinois, Cedar Creek Road to Peru Bottom Road, 60 miles away, class I-II(IV), 5.9 miles long. Little Vermilion River, Illinois, N3179 Road to IandM Canal, 61 miles away, class I-II(III), 6.5 miles long. Spring Creek, Illinois, 1600N Road to Rail Road bridge above Illinois River confluence, 55 miles away, class I-II, 6.2 miles long. Tomahawk Creek, Illinois, Troy Grove Blacktop to Little Vermilion, 62 miles away, class II, 2.8 miles long. Vermilion River, Illinois, NW of Highway 178 to Oglesby Cutoff, 67 miles away, class II-III, 7.7 miles long. Little Platte River, Wisconsin, Old Lancaster Road to Stumptown Road, 65 miles away, class II(III), 5.4 miles long. Whitewater 75 to 100 miles from Sterling, Illinois Covel Creek, Illinois, E.18th Road to Highway 71, 78 miles away, class II, 6.5 miles long. Sangamon, Illinois, Playspot in Petersburg, 92 miles away, class III, 0.1 miles long. Baraboo River, Wisconsin, Highway 12 to Highway 113, 87 miles away, class I(II), 4.5 miles long. Skillet Creek, Wisconsin, Gasser Road, 86 miles away, class III-IV, 1.8 miles long. Turtle Creek, Wisconsin, Shopiere, 83 miles away, class I, 4.7 miles long. Wisconsin River, Wisconsin, Prairie du Sac, 80 miles away, class II, 0.1 miles long. Whitewater 100 to 125 miles from Sterling, Illinois Fox River, Illinois, Batavia Dam, 112 miles away, class I-II(IV), 0.05 miles long. Cedar River, Iowa, Kepler State Park, 109 miles away, class III, 0.1 miles long. White River, Wisconsin, Lake Geneva to Lyons, 117 miles away, class I-II, 2 miles long. Whitewater 125 to 150 miles from Sterling, Illinois Bear Creek, Illinois, CR900E to Highway 96, 130 miles away, class I-II, 4.5 miles long. Cedar Creek, Illinois, Parker Heights Entrance at 5th St to Bob Bangart Park, 140 miles away, class II-IV, 1 miles long. Des Plaines, Illinois, Fishnet Rapids, 128 miles away, class I-II, 4 miles long. Fall Creek, Illinois, End of Gorge Trail to Parking Lot, 140 miles away, class I-IV, 2 miles long. Black River, Wisconsin, to Neillsville, 149 miles away, class I-II, 7.6 miles long. Black River, Wisconsin, Neillsville to Lake Arbutus, 145 miles away, class I-III, 12.5 miles long. Black River, Wisconsin, Hatfield Dam to Power Plant, 142 miles away, class II-III(IV), 3.2 miles long. Black River - East Fork, Wisconsin, City Point to Black River Forest Campground, 138 miles away, class II, 23.8 miles long. Dickey Creek, Wisconsin, to Bottom Road, 140 miles away, class -blank-, 2 miles long. Halls Creek, Wisconsin, Trow Lake Dam to Black River, 144 miles away, class I-II, 9.7 miles long. Honey Creek, Wisconsin, Honey Creek Parkway to Menomonee River, 148 miles away, class II-III+, 1.6 miles long. Menominee River, Wisconsin, Main Street bridge to next bridge, 145 miles away, class II-III, 0.4 miles long. Menominee River, Wisconsin, Underwood Creek to 43rd and Monarch, 148 miles away, class II-III, 4.8 miles long. Morrison Creek, Wisconsin, South Cemetery Road to Bottom Road landing, 141 miles away, class I-II, 5.3 miles long. Pewaukee River, Wisconsin, Pewaukee to Waukesha, 135 miles away, class I-II, 1.6 miles long. Robinson Creek, Wisconsin, Kelly Road to W Pine Hill Road, 137 miles away, class I-II(III), 4.9 miles long. Yellow River, Wisconsin, Little Bull Falls, 137 miles away, class II-III, 6.4 miles long. * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the middle of the river section listed, actual driving distance is longer. Other Outdoors Recreation Nearby: Ski Resorts near Sterling, Illinois: Ski Areas 0 to 50 miles from Sterling, Illinois Chestnut Mountain, Illinois, 45 miles, vertical drop 475 feet Ski Areas 50 to 100 miles from Sterling, Illinois Sundown Mountain, Michigan, 69 miles, vertical drop 475 feet Devils Head, Wisconsin, 84 miles, vertical drop 500 feet Tyrol Basin, Wisconsin, 64 miles, vertical drop 300 feet Cascade Mountain, Wisconsin, 95 miles, vertical drop 460 feet Christmas Mountain, Wisconsin, 99 miles, vertical drop 250 feet Ski Snowstar, Illinois, 58 miles, vertical drop 262 feet Ski Areas 100 to 150 miles from Sterling, Illinois Sunburst, Wisconsin, 148 miles, vertical drop 214 feet Highlands of Olympia, Wisconsin, 121 miles, vertical drop 205 feet Little Switzerland, Wisconsin, 139 miles, vertical drop 200 feet Alpine Valley, Wisconsin, 117 miles, vertical drop 388 feet Grand Geneva, Wisconsin, 111 miles, vertical drop 211 feet Wilmot mountain, Wisconsin, 125 miles, vertical drop 260 feet Mount La Crosse, Wisconsin, 137 miles, vertical drop 516 feet Nordic Mountain, Wisconsin, 119 miles, vertical drop 265 feet Villa Olivia, Illinois, 122 miles, vertical drop 180 feet Four Lakes, Illinois, 128 miles, vertical drop 100 feet * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the ski areas listed, actual driving distance is longer. National Parks near Sterling, Illinois: National Parks 0 to 100 miles from Sterling, Illinois Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 73 miles North Country National Scenic Trail, 73 miles National Parks 100 to 200 miles from Sterling, Illinois Effigy Mounds National Monument, 112 miles Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, 133 miles National Parks 200 to 300 miles from Sterling, Illinois Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, 248 miles Grand Portage National Monument, 288 miles Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 200 miles Isle Royale National Park, 270 miles Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 269 miles Ozark National Scenic River, 272 miles Saint Croix National Scenic River, 258 miles * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the parks listed, actual driving distance is longer. Important Outdoors Safety Information       Go to Illinois Rivers