Best Kayak Spots in Illinois
318 kayak spots compared · avg 4.4★ · updated October 2026
What kayak spots cost in Illinois
318 listings do not publish a rate. Most kayak spots that withhold pricing quote on enquiry, so calling is usually faster than filling in a form.
Confirmed across Illinois: 318 of 318 have launch and 307 of 318 have boat ramp. Anything not listed simply has not been verified yet.
Chicago River is the highest-rated, at 4.9★ from 1800 Google reviews.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Pricing, features, and ratings for the top 12 kayak spots in Illinois.
| Name | Rating | Admission | Launch | Boat Ramp | Parking | Fishing | Crabbing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago River | 4.9★(1800) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| Urban Kayaks | 4.9★(1800) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| Lake Katherine | 4.8★(3500) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| Lake Katherine | 4.8★(3500) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| Chicago River | 4.8★(1400) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| Skokie Lagoons | 4.7★(4100) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| The Wild Mile | 4.7★(463) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| Ping Tom Boat Launch | 4.6★(4000) | Free | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | View → |
| Ping Tom Boat Launch | 4.6★(4000) | Free | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | View → |
| Boat Launch | 4.6★(31) | Free | ✓ | — | — | — | — | View → |
| Park No. 571 Boat Launch | 4.5★(332) | Free | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | View → |
| Park No. 571 Boat Launch | 4.5★(332) | Free | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | View → |
All Kayak Spots in Illinois
Chicago River
4.9★ · 1800 reviews
Urban Kayaks
4.9★ · 1800 reviews
Lake Katherine
4.8★ · 3500 reviews
Lake Katherine
4.8★ · 3500 reviews
Chicago River
4.8★ · 1400 reviews
Skokie Lagoons
4.7★ · 4100 reviews
The Wild Mile
4.7★ · 463 reviews
Ping Tom Boat Launch
4.6★ · 4000 reviews
Ping Tom Boat Launch
4.6★ · 4000 reviews
Boat Launch
4.6★ · 31 reviews
Park No. 571 Boat Launch
4.5★ · 332 reviews
Park No. 571 Boat Launch
4.5★ · 332 reviews
Kayak Chicago Montrose Beach
4.5★ · 15 reviews
Lake Sedgewick
4.1★ · 49 reviews
Stone Park North Chicago River Kayak Launch
3.5★ · 13 reviews
River Park Canoe Launch
3.5★ · 2 reviews
River Park Canoe Launch
3.5★ · 2 reviews
Marine Point Boat Launch
Lower Stump Lake
Canoe
Allen Branch Boat Ramp
Allen Branch Boat Ramp
Oakwood Bottoms Ramp
Liver Pool Access
Liver Pool Access
Red'sLanding Backwaters
Carbondale Reservoir
Carbondale Reservoir
Higginsville Bridge Access
Dabb's Access
Liberty Street
Liberty Street
North Nanson
Waltonville
Kickapoo Bridge Access
Long Lake
Griggsville Ldg Access
Griggsville Ldg Access
Possum Pond
Emerald Pond Lake Access
Lake Murphysboro
Harrisburg Lake
Heron Lake
Illinois River
Pearl Boat Ramp
Horseshoe Lake Boat Ramp
Horseshoe Lake
Lost Lake
Murphysboro
Turner Hollow Access
Turner Hollow
Red's Landing-River
Great Rivers
Piasa Creek
Lake Murphysboro
Pine Lake
Pine Lake
Sandusky Creek
Sandy Creek
Tamalco Access Area
Turkey Bayou
Low Water Access
Low water
Russell C. Davidson Memorial Boat Ramp
Prairie Pond Access
Golconda Marina ramp
Golconda Marina ramp
Camel Access
Pleasant Hill Access
Boulder Lake
Lake Glendale
Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch
River Mile 73.3 - Trout Park
Canoe
Busse Lake South Boat Launch
Busse Lake South Boat Launch
Busse Lake Boat Launch
Cedar Lake
Whispering Willow Boat Ramp
Lake Mingo
River Mile 75.9 - Downtown West Dundee
Pier
Shuh Shuh Gah Canoe Launch
Kinkaid Lake
Kinkaid Lake
Allen Branch Boat Ramp
South Bonnie Access
Beaver Dam
Big Bend Lake Boat Launch
Big Bend Lake Boat Launch
Boulder Lake
Addison Creek Confluence Canoe Launch
Oakwood Bottoms Ramp
Rock River
Cheney Creek Boat Ramp
Clear Lake
Rock River
High Water Ramp
Copperas Creek Boat Launch
Copperas Creek Boat Launch
Irving Park Rd. Picnic Area Canoe Landing
Sanganois Boat Launch
Browning Ldg Boat Launch
Long Lake Car-Top Boat Launch
North Nanson
Page Park
Glades-Backwater
Dam No. 2 Woods Canoe Landing
Lacon Public Access
Long Lake
Lake Glenn Shoals
Rock River-Hennepin Canal
Heron Lake
Heron Lake
Holiday Lake
Holiday Lake
Kampsville
Pearl Boat Ramp
Murphysboro
River Mile 75.2 - South End Park
Murphysboro
High Water
Old Ramp
Pioneer Landing
Canton Ferry
Tamalco High Water Ramp
Dam No. 2 Woods Canoe Landing
Red's Landing-River
Piasa Creek
Tamalco Access Area
Pinckneyville Reservoir
Pine Lake
Tamalco High Water Ramp
Hamilton Public Boat Ramp
Cedar Creek Boat Launch
Hamilton Public Boat Ramp
Royal Lake
Glen O Jones Lake
Montezuma Ldg Access Area
Henry Marina
Tamalco Access Area
Tamalco High Water Ramp
Kinkaid Lake
Turkey Bayou
Turkey Bayou
Upper Stump Lake
Washington County Lake
Prairie Pond
Washington County Lake
Prairie Pond
Northwestern Woods Canoe Landing
Bunker Hill Access
Lake Shelbyville
Sterlink Lake Boat Launch
Rend Lake
Elizabethtown Boat Launch
Smithland Dam
Smithland Dam
Pounds Hollow Lake
Alton-Woodriver Sportsmens Reservoir
Canoe/Kayak ramp
Camel Access
East Dubuque Ramp
River Mile 73.5 - Voyager Landing Forest Preserve South
Alsip Boat Launch
Massac County SP
Addison Creek Confluence Canoe Launch
Rend Lake
Browning Ldg Boat Launch
Swan Lake
Old Ramp
Horseshoe Lake
Calhoun Point Ramp
Prairie Pond Access
Pioneer Landing
Lake of Egypt
Alton Riverfront
Waltonville
Oak Spring Canoe Launch
Wesseln Lake
Cheney Creek Boat Ramp
Pohman Slough
Ramp 748
Lake Glendale
Bunker Hill Access
Pinckneyville Reservoir
South Nanson
Elizabethtown Boat Launch
Village of Hamburg Boat Ramp
Pinckneyville Reservoir
Pohman Slough
Alton Riverfront
Calhoun Point Ramp
Sanganois Boat Launch
Cockrell Hollow
Clear Lake
Higginsville Bridge Access
Jackie Branch Boat Ramp
Bunker Hill Reservoir Number 2
Lake of Egypt
Alton-Woodriver Sportsmens Reservoir
Putney's Landing
Bedford Ldg Access
Bedford Ldg Access
Wesseln Lake
Grand Marais ramp
Grand Marais ramp
Silver Lake Boat Ramp
River Mile 73.3 - Trout Park
Cox Bridge Access Ramp
Swan Lake
Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake
Whispering Willow Boat Ramp
River Mile 75.9 - Downtown West Dundee
Beck Lake Boat Launch
Prophetstown State Park
Beal Woods
Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake
Sportman's Lake
Horseshoe Lake Boat Ramp
Lost Lake
Bald Knob Marina Boat Launch
Whitley Creek Recreation Area
Marine Point Boat Launch
Massac County SP
Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch
Busse Lake Boat Launch
Lake Mingo
Emerald Pond Lake Access
Village of Hamburg Boat Ramp
East Dubuque Ramp
South Bonnie Access
Sangamon River
Oakwood Bottoms Ramp
Cheney Creek Boat Ramp
Irving Park Rd. Picnic Area Canoe Landing
Long Lake Car-Top Boat Launch
Glades-River
Glades-Backwater
Rock River-Hennepin Canal
Kampsville
Turner Hollow Access
Canton Ferry
Michael Ldg Public Access
Macktown Forest Preserve Boat Ramp
Great Rivers
Cedar Creek Boat Launch
Cedar Creek Boat Launch
Sandy Creek
Montezuma Ldg Access Area
Upper Stump Lake
Washington County Lake
Sterlink Lake Boat Launch
Richard J. Daley Park Boat Launch
Two Rivers North Access
Putney's Landing
Wesseln Lake
Richard J. Daley Park Boat Launch
Pier
Cox Bridge Access Ramp
Possum Pond
Beal Woods
Lost Lake
Macktown Forest Preserve Boat Ramp
Ramp 748
Beaver Dam
Beck Lake Boat Launch
Clear Lake
Boulder Lake
Carbondale Reservoir
Sangamon River
Clear Lake
Beal Woods
Kinny's Ford Access
South Nanson
Kickapoo Bridge Access
Glades-River
Illinois River
River Mile 75.2 - South End Park
Turner Hollow
Hamilton Public Boat Ramp
Glen O Jones Lake
Sandusky Creek
Royal Lake
Cockrell Hollow
Low Water Access
Low water
Northwestern Woods Canoe Landing
Russell C. Davidson Memorial Boat Ramp
New Athens Public Boat Ramp
New Athens Public Boat Ramp
Silver Lake Boat Ramp
Bunker Hill Reservoir Number 2
ONe Horse Gap Lake
Forrest W Wood Access Area
Pleasant Hill Access
Fox River
Michael Ldg Public Access
Jackie Branch Boat Ramp
Oak Spring Canoe Launch
East Dubuque Ramp
Camel Access
Kinny's Ford Access
Dabb's Access
Lower Stump Lake
Cox Bridge Access Ramp
Two Rivers North Access
Canoe/Kayak ramp
Harrisburg Lake
Lake Glenn Shoals
Page Park
ONe Horse Gap Lake
River Mile 73.5 - Voyager Landing Forest Preserve South
Crystal Lake
Lake Murphysboro
Bald Knob Marina Boat Launch
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kayak spots are in Illinois?
Illinois has 318 active kayak spots listed in our directory.
What is the average rating for kayak spots in Illinois?
The average Google rating across kayak spots in Illinois is 4.4 stars.
What is the top-rated kayak spot in Illinois?
Chicago River is currently the highest-rated kayak spot in Illinois.
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