Boat Ramps Nearby

Kayak & canoe launches in Illinois

We list 46 kayak launches in 30 towns across Illinois. Most are low docks, sandy put-ins or ramp edges you can use without a trailer.

Chicago 10

Cherry Valley 2

Decatur 2

Des Plaines 2

Gurnee 2

Libertyville 2

Vernon Hills 2

Wadsworth 2

Algonquin 1

Belvidere 1

Broadview 1

East Dubuque 1

Evanston 1

Glenview 1

Joliet 1

Kingston 1

Lincoln 1

Long Lake 1

Maywood 1

Morton Grove 1

Northbrook 1

Oak Brook 1

Oregon 1

Oswego 1

Plano 1

Riverside 1

Rockford 1

Schiller Park 1

West Dundee 1

Winnetka 1

Illustration: a paddler in a life jacket stepping from a low dock into a kayak
Illustration, not a photo of a specific place in Illinois

Kayak & canoe launches by city in Illinois

Kayak & canoe launches in Illinois: questions and answers

How many kayak launches are in Illinois?

We list 46 kayak launches in Illinois, most of them around Chicago (10), Cherry Valley (2), Decatur (2) and Des Plaines (2).

Which lakes and rivers have kayak launches in Illinois?

Among others Des Plaines River, North Branch Chicago River, Fox River, Kishwaukee River North Branch and Kishwaukee River South Branch.

Do kayaks need to be registered in Illinois?

Check with the Illinois boating agency. Many states don't register non-motorized kayaks, but some require a permit at state launches or an invasive species sticker.

Do you need a life jacket to kayak in Illinois?

Yes. Federal rules require a wearable, Coast Guard approved life jacket for every person on a kayak or canoe, and children under 13 must wear it unless the state sets another age.

Are there free kayak launches in Illinois?

5 of the 46 are marked free in the map data, including Lower Dam Canoe Access, Massey Marina Boat Ramp and Lake Charles Park Canoe Launch.

Other states

Guide: How to launch a kayak or canoe · All boat ramps in Illinois