Illinois whitewater - Des Plaines, Will County Will county, Fishnet Rapids section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS I-II     4 miles   About the gate at Isle a Cache in Romeoville: I can't verify what time it's locked, but I would not advise driving around the gate if it requires going through the grass. I used to leave my truck there and return for it later. One time the gate was locked when we got back, and I drove around the gate. A week or so later, the same thing happened. We got back and the gate was locked, but this time there was a note on the truck that said ''Your license number has been recorded. If this vehicle is not here when the gate is unlocked in the morning, you will     be ticketed''. I had to leave the truck there until after work the following day. So now, if I'm planning on not returning for the truck until late, after unloading the gear, I park the truck at the bar located about 1/4 mile west, and I walk back to Isle a Cache. Says Brian Put-in is 135th street in Romeoville. Park and put in at the Isle de Cashe Museum parking lot. Great location and easy put in. I think they lock the parking lot gate at 5:00pm so don't get trapped in. I think you can drive around the gate if necessary. Don't take-out at the 167th /Division Street as the directions here say. It's a difficult take-out. Plus there is 2.0 miles of river left to enjoy. Keep going to Joliet and get out on the north side Ruby Street in Joliet. Ruby has small boat ramp and shade trees. Nice spot. You can also leave a shuttle vehicle   here. Wait for higher than normal water to make this run. Otherwise you will drag a lot of bottom especially at the Route 7 high bridge at Lockport. Soon after you put in be careful at the concrete low height gravel pit bridge. Debris gets caught here and the passage is narrow or nonexistant. You don't want to get trapped. In 2007 there was just one opening to the left side. You can inspect this before going by taking the road that goes east from Romeoville High School on route 53. It's a private gravel pit road but I doubt anyone will care. The biggest rapids are just before and at the old Division Street bridge. But they are just fun not dangerous. In a couple of places the river forks. Its usually best to go right. At the fork below Division street...go left unless you have exta high water. This is really a fun little run. Lots of wild life....deer, ducks, geese, turtles, and carpzilla. Also before you run it drive east on Division Street from Route 53 just so you can see the rapids before you run them. This also gives you an idea of where you are as you come downstream. Before you get out at Ruby street go under the railroad bridge to the east and go up the historic old Lockport canal. You will be going back north. This is where the mules used to pull the barges. There is interesting stone work along the way. You can easily make it up to the first lock about 1/2 a mile. Finally, this trip could be dangerous in very high run-off. There could be suck holes around bridge pillars. You could be caught by debris jams in forks or at bridges. There could also be low clearance under that first bridge. So scout it before you run it. Be sure to have a good PFD and wear it. Remember this is Real America not Great America. You're on your own. I like the real high water the best. E-mail me if you have questions bbfalk@aol.com Says Bruce Falk The Fishnet Rapids stretch of Des Plaines in Will County is 4 miles long and has been rated as a class I-II section by American Whitewater. The average Illinois whitewater rafting or kayaking river tends to be a bit easier to master than those in other states, so if you're not from around here don't forget that rivers here are less demanding. If you're coming from Chicago-Naperville-Joliet it's not a long drive at all to the starting location, if you're not familiar with the area there's a road map further down the page. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking this is an area with not too many other rivers for that. And of course, there are campgrounds nearby. The natural beauty of Will County and the cool fresh water are reasons enough to come here and paddle. This section is long enough to enjoy a good non stop paddle, good for a one day paddling trip. If you'll be staying in a hotel you're in luck, lodging is available very near the river, but do book a room before you come because it is a very popular destination. There are no other stretches to paddle along Des Plaines than the Fishnet Rapids stretch. Getting some good exercise and just hanging out with mother nature are great attractions for lots of people. Briefly about the general area: Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor is a magnificent location near Des Plaines. Des Plaines gets a typical amount of annual rain; the month with most of the rain is July while February is commonly the driest month. Summertime at Des Plaines arrives with high temperatures in the 80's. For the period of the dark hours of summer temperatures drop down into the 60's. All through the winter this place gets highs in the 20's while the cold winter nights at Des Plaines are in the 10's. Des Plaines, Fishnet Rapids road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked. QUICK STATS AW Class: I-II Length: 4 miles Average Gradient: 7 fpm    Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 41.6403 Longitude: -88.07151 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 41.5819 Longitude: -88.07181 Paddler input for Des Plaines, Illinois: To inspect for log jams beneath the gravel pit access bridge directly east of Romeoville High School, you are allowed to drive up to, but not ACROSS the bridge, according to a security gaurd at the gravel pit. To check for log jams, I'd park BEFORE the bridge, and get out and walk across the bridge, looking over the railing. Also, there's a spot where you can walk up to the river edge. Facing east, it will be on your right, before the bridge. I'm uploading a photo dated April 12, 2002. It's a view of that bridge, taken from the water, looking southwest. - Brian Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Input Submission Guidelines Current weather conditions at Des Plaines, Illinois Local climate location: WHEATON 6 miles away RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river. Super 8 Motel - Romeoville/Bolingbrook/I-55 N, Romeoville 3 miles away The Super 8 Romeoville is conveniently located off I-55 exit 267 on the Heritage Corridor. We are located just 40 miles south of downtown Chicago, 30 miles from O Hare Airport and 20 miles from Midway... Ramada Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook 4 miles away The Ramada Bolingbrook, IL is located right off I-55 and Exit 267, approximately 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, IL. The Ramada Bolingbrook, IL is located with 7 miles of many attractions, includin... La Quinta Inn Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook 4 miles away Come see why the La Quinta Inn Bolingbrook is the best value alternative in the Southwest Suburbs. La Quinta Bolingbrook offers Free Bright Side BreakfastTM, plus a...   All Illinois Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Illinois. Books about whitewater paddling on Des Plaines, Illinois List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Des Plaines, Illinois. Find a whitewater outfitter in Illinois Whitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info. Outdoors Recreation Near Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin, the metro area neareast to Des Plaines. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.       These outdoors activities are available near Des Plaines.   Whitewater Near Des Plaines: Fox River, DuPage/Kane County , 21 miles away, Class I-II(IV) - 0.05 miles long (Batavia Dam)   Ski Areas Near Des Plaines: Four Lakes, Illinois , 9 miles away, 100 vertical feet Villa Olivia, Illinois , 23 miles away, 180 vertical feet Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park, Illinois , 32 miles away, 180 vertical feet Wilmot mountain, Wisconsin , 47 miles away, 260 vertical feet Grand Geneva, Wisconsin , 56 miles away, 211 vertical feet Alpine Valley, Wisconsin , 63 miles away, 388 vertical feet Highlands of Olympia, Wisconsin , 81 miles away, 205 vertical feet Little Switzerland, Wisconsin , 90 miles away, 200 vertical feet Sunburst, Wisconsin , 98 miles away, 225 vertical feet   Hotels Near Des Plaines: Super 8 Motel - Romeoville/Bolingbrook/I-55 N, Romeoville , 3 miles away Ramada Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook , 4 miles away La Quinta Inn Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook , 4 miles away Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites BOLINGBROOK, Bolingbrook , 4 miles away Hampton Inn Suites Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook , 4 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Des Plaines: Martin Campground-joliet, Joliet, 6 miles away Paul and Mary's Raceway Camping, Manhattan, 8 miles away Empress Rv Resort, Joliet, 9 miles away   National Parks Near Des Plaines: Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, Lockport - IL , 4 miles away   Golf Courses Near Des Plaines: Prairie Bluff Public Golf Club, Joliet , 2 miles away Big Run Golf Club, Lockport , 3 miles away Broken Arrow Golf Club, Lockport , 4 miles away   Lakes Near Des Plaines