Reed’s Canoe Trips

About an hour out of Chicago is Kankakee. Not the most notable town but one that is worth a trip to if you are interested in canoeing on the Kankakee River.
And if you are interested in canoeing– the Kankakee is a great river to do it on. It is a Class I river– perfect for families and beginners alike, it is clean, and it has a variety of things that keep it interesting like islands, sandbars and in some cases, rapids (okay– so they are little rapids but rapids none the less)
I called ahead and was told the river was high, there was no wait– but that I had to get there by 2 as that was when the last canoes went out. Instructions in hand– I headed south to find this place.
Reeds is interesting unto itself. In addition to renting canoes out of the back garage– they also rent every kind of power tool, small machinery and other things that I didn’t even know what they were for.
The nice woman told us that for 3 people– one of us would have to go in a kayak with the other two in a canoe. Great. We collected our life vests, paddles, made a quick stop in the outhouse (no public indoor restrooms here) and waited for the van to pick us up.
We drove about 20 minutes to the side of the river. Seriously. It was just a muddy section of river without a launch pad of any type. I thought that if the canoe was going to tip– if was going to be here as I sat in the canoe sunk in the mud with the guy pushing us off. But we launched successfully and were quickly on our way.
There are a couple of bars along the river that you can pull up to to have lunch or a beer. But the real pleasure is the scenery along the river. You go around a few islands, navigate where the river gets shallow and you scrape the bottom, and just enjoy a few hours outdoors.
The funny thing is– that this was supposed to be a 3 hour tour. They tell you when you start that you need to look for the railroad trestle bridge as just past that is where you pull out of the water as there is a dam just past that and you don’t want to go over the dam. Well– given how fast the water was moving and we were paddling– we were to that trestle bridge in just over an hour! I was sure that there had to be a mistake– but then you see the sign telling you to get out of the water.
You beach your canoe on another muddy area and wait to be picked up and returned to your car. Given all the muddy launch sites– you may just want to wear some type of footwear that doesn’t get stuck in the mud. My sandals just weren’t doing it and you don’t want to go barefoot.
Canoes cost about $ 52 to rent and the kayak was $ 42 for the 6 mile trip (slightly higher if you do the 12 mile trip) There are several sand bars that you can swim at and plenty of places to pull up to enjoy a lunch or break. Don’t forget to put your cell phone in a plastic baggie as you are going to need it to call for your pick up at the end of the trip.
All in all– a great way to spend an afternoon enjoying some of the sights and wildlife that are on the Kankakee River.

Looking for a fun summertime activity in the great outdoors? Then I definitely recommend giving Reed’s a call to set up an outing on the great Kankakee river either for yourself or for a group of your closest friends.
On the day of your trip, you’ll pull up and leave your car in the parking lot, sign up for either a full or half day excursion and pick out your life jacket and floatation device. From there, you’ll board one of their many buses which will take you to one of two locations (depending on which trip you signed up for) up river. When there, the very helpful staff will unload your canoe for you and pull it on shore. After you’re securely in, they’ll help you shove off and you’re on your way!
These trips are a lot more fun if you’re with a group of people, but still a good time alone or with a friend. Depending on the current, you can control the length of your trip by either by paddling or just floating peacefully down stream… giving your experience a sense of relaxation and tranquility. However, if it’s excitement you’re looking for, the layout of the river will force you summon your nautical spirit as you find yourself navigating your way through and around some islands, rocks and 50′ waterfalls. A challenge, but nothing a little patience and a bit of athletic ability can’t handle. (just kidding about the waterfalls… there are none. I was just seeing if you’re paying attention) Finally, after seeing the bridge they told you about at registration, you’ll come to the end of your trip and pull up on the shore where the staff will be eagerly waiting to help you get out and load your canoe on the trailer. All you have to do is get back on the bus and head back to your car!
A few tips to help your day be more enjoyable:
1) Pay attention to the rainfall amounts in the weeks prior to your trip. Too little rain can cause a shallow river and you’ll be scraping the bottom along your voyage, and too much will create a fast current which can be a little dangerous for the first time explorer.
2) Going with a group? Choose your fellow boaters wisely! Nothing’s worse than getting stuck with someone who complains all the way down the river.
3) Stop off at the VFW bar on the banks of the river mid-​way through your trip. You can grab a bite to eat from their kitchen and have a beer or two at their bar. Great people inside so please, respect them & BEHAVE yourselves!
4) When with a group, pull along side each other and link canoes with your oars. It’s much easier to talk & laugh when you don’t have to shout across the river to each other.
5) Take your time. This experience will go much faster than you may realize, so look around and enjoy the sights while you can. It’s worth it, I assure you!
6) Most importantly, be safe and HAVE FUN!!!