Des Plaines River
Cook / Will Co. · 95 mi · Class Riffles
2,190CFS/ 4.86 ft
Above Optimal→Stable
Optimal: 300–1200 CFS · USGS #05532500
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Difficulty
Optimal
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Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Des Plaines River Trail · Lake County Forest Preserves
The Des Plaines River flows through the western Chicago suburbs and the vast forest preserves of Cook and Will counties. Once heavily polluted, decades of restoration have revived the river into a viable urban paddling corridor. The Des Plaines River Trail and surrounding forest preserves offer green refuge in one of the most densely populated areas of the Midwest.
Trip sections
Libertyville to Wheeling — 15 mi, Lake County preserves, flatwater
Dam No. 4 to Riverside — 20 mi, Cook County forest preserves
Isle a la Cache to Channahon — 15 mi, Will County, I&M Canal corridor
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.