Ayers Landing Canoe Rentals

This could be the most miserable collection of individuals you might ever come across. I called well ahead and made reservations for my annual guys trip and, when we arrived, they had no record of my call. When I made the reservation I was very clear that I planned to bring my pop up camper as I have done in years past. When we got there, they made me park it by the office and then drive into town and buy a new tent. I have 2 tents at home and would have brought one if they had bothered to let me know they changed their rules. Their stretch of the river is beautiful, but there are other operators in the area. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere

So much fun! The canoe rental is $ 50 a canoe, and they drop you off at either the 6 mile or 12 mile entry point and you float back down to your car. We had 5 canoes in our group, so we tied them all together and floated as a group. I can’t wait to do it again!

We usually go to Ayers 2 – 4 times a year. We park a vehicle, pay the landing fee cause we use our own boats and we pay to camp the night. It’s been a tradition of ours for about 4+ years… and my boyfriend has been coming here even longer. All the staff knows our names. We’re always clean and quiet… we even clean up after some of the other campers. But this last memorial day weekend… After paying for camping and getting settled, we were told we can’t camp there anymore. Because we don’t rent their boats. We are taking up space in the field where other paying customers should be camping! Excuse me?! First of all… we paid to land, and we paid to camp… and the last three times we camped… they were lucky we camped… cause they only had like 3 other tents! After all the stories, the smiles, the honesty, and the fun… they have lost a large group of some of the most respectful 30 year old outdoor enthusiasts they could ever ask to pay to stay at that dump. They can keep the 2 am bloody screaming fights that tend to break out over holiday weekends… I was getting tired of no one ever doing anything about the violent drunks that camp there.

Fast and smooth service. Great canoes great scenic views. 1 canoe for $ 50 or you can rent a kayak for $ 40. Regardless if it’s the 6 mile or 12 mile canoe the price is still the same. We had a great time

This was the best part of our camping trip by far. We spent the day before hiking and camping at Starved Rock and then headed to Ayer’s Landing in the morning. It was just my boyfriend and I so we got one canoe which I believe was around $ 50. We did the 12 mile float, and they take you by bus 12 miles up the river, drop you off, and you canoe back to the landing and your car. It was so peaceful and pretty on the Fox River, with only a few other people on the river that we saw. I would canoe again here in a heartbeat!

About as easy as renting a canoe gets. You give these guys $ 50 bucks, they drop you off at the entry point. Canoe down a 6 or 12 mile route and you end up back where you start. Canoes are all decent quality and you get included life jackets.
Only slight negative was amount of loud (drunk) people on the river, but I sound like a debbie downer even writing that. Just wanted to throw that out there for any families or anyone looking for a quiet trip down the river.
A+ overall and will probably come back again!

I love Ayers Landing! This year was our 2^nd year going. Our group had so much fun the last time we went, we had to set up another outing. For $ 50 a canoe ($ 25 a person) you get an all day, fun, relaxing experience. We always try to get a large group together, this year we were a group of 12, so we tied 6 canoes together and just enjoyed the scenery while floating down the river. The only negative I will have to say about this experience, is the water is horribly disgusting, and avoid getting into it at all costs. Other than that, I absolutely love coming here, we have never had any bad experience with this outing. I suggest it for anyone who enjoys outdoors activities, who can stomach a yucky brown water, and doesn’t mind stopping at creeks and small islands to pee in the bushes. I can’t wait to go back again!

Not exactly really easy to find beacuse of some missing road signs due to construction and GPS having no connection — but if you’re attentive to the numbered roads — you’ll be ok. Basically a floating party. Buses left close enough to on time and the crowd was of mild size, hearty temper and very very thirsty. Plenty of places to stop, chill and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Water was a dark green soupy type of affair but not too fightening. Boats were in great shape and the kayak made for a nice variation during the trip. We saw heron, frogs, turtles, plenty of huge turkey vultures, druken twentysomethings and nothing but smiles. My toddler had a great time and despite the fairly wasted crowd — everyone was very friendly and polite. I would gladly return — but save some energy for the amazingly dull ride home through the corn — or what passes as corn this summer. If you’re coming from Chicago — you’ll be on local roads for about 30 miles — they move fast — but not exactly the most memorable landscapes apart from the river area. i loved how laid back the place was and the facilities we well maintained.

AMAZING!!!
Knew we were in for a treat when our group (MUGWUMP! ~ Yes, we are the annoying people yelling it both day and night! ;p) ~ organized a canoe/​camping trip for us all to meet up.
The scenery, was absolutely amazing! That was a given. Starved Rock, and the area around, was and will always be one of my favorite areas to explore. It’s beauty never grows old!
We did get caught in a storm and had to beach up, wait it out… but waiting wasn’t such an inconvenience when you have beautiful cliffs around you… also seen a Fawn come up to the edge of the River to drink in the storm — where was my camera?!! Couldn’t have been more then 5 months old… old enough to be on his own, but sure his Mom wasn’t too far behind.
Really was happy that the trip itself was not rushed. Drive you to the canoe, even put up with our rowdy selves — driver was a peach, taking our group picture too! Showed us the canoes, what they were marked with, where the twine was… and you’re on your own.
Nobody there barking out orders.
Didn’t get much rain this year, but the water flowed pretty smooth. Got stuck a few times. especially AFTER the storm! Kept going around in circles!
Camping, is extremely laid back.
Will give them they have a very creepy house at the corner of the lot. Texas Chainsaw meets Freddy — really wanted to take some better pictures of the place!
Primitive. But bathrooms are super clean and kept in great shape. Even after a busy weekend.
The icing on the cake for me however was the beach, and spending time up there at night watching the huge moon and cloud formations. There’s people that live on the beach that had an awesome setup… guy would jam out his guitar — pretty awesome btw! Sounded good! — had a fire, and was just out there enjoying the night. Was probably my favorite spot… just taking in the scenery and jamming out — unknowingly to our neighbors ;) ~
Really Really loved this place. Super laid back. No uptight snobs barking orders. Pretty much do what you want — upon reason of course. The area surrounding the campground is very pretty and secluded. Feels like you’re a world away — until you see the fireworks through the trees during Riverfest (hey! Bonus!!)
There was talk about holding next years Mugwump at Ayers as well — hope they do! Not too far to drive, an awesome escape from reality for a while… we’ll be back either way! ~

we where just there we had 15 people in our party .but when we booked our trip they failed to tell us the river was low so before u leave call them to make sure the river has enough water otherwise you will paddle and hit every sand bar their is and it is not pleasent… good luck otherwise pretty cool place

This place is the best. Super laid back family run operation only 90 minutes from Chicago. They don’t care how much booze you bring on the trip, which is a really good thing for our group! It’s really affordable, I want to say like $ 45 per canoe for a 12-​mile day trip. After they drive you 12 miles up the river (yes, in a short bus, see pics) you just take your time canoeing back to where you started.
Camping is $ 5 per person over night, which is great b/​c it’s in a huge open area with fire pits so it can accomodate just about any sized group. Last time we were there a local guy stopped by the site and sold us some firewood which was super convenient.
If you’re looking for a one or two-​day canoe trip from Chicago, this is your place.

Go with friends every year sometimes twice and it is a blast. They make it very easy to have fun. My friends and I all tie up the canoes together (with the rope they provide) and float down the river having a good olé’ time! We bring coolers and snacks and everything you would want to have a good time for the day!

I love Ayers Landing for how cheap and totally non-​pain in the ass it is. For the overnight trip its $ 85 per canoe for a 24 mile ride down the river, which is far more scenic than its middle of farmland Illinois location would lead you to believe. You can put 2 or 3 people in the giant metal canoe and load them up with pretty much all the food, beer and equipment you can possibly need for 2 days out in the wild.
There are no forms to fill out, no obnoxious self appointed river experts telling you how to canoe and camp. In fact Ayers Landing is so laid back the little old dude driving the bus to the drop off point didn’t really know where he was taking us until another employee told him. When we got to the river they unloaded the boats, life vests and paddles, told us «have fun and stay dry» and took off.
You can camp on any of the islands you come across along the way to continue your wilderness debauchery before sleeping under the stars.
The second day there are some good places to cliff jump which I couldn’t find my last time out but it was also cold and rainy so motivation was low.

This place is AWESOME! Ayers Landing rents canoes in Wedron, IL (right near Ottawa) and is about a two hour drive from the Evanston area. This place utilizes a branch of the Fox river and I have made it a yearly trip for myself and roughly 15 + friends every August. First of all, you can bring all the booze you want to this place (just no glass bottles, be kind to the environment!) ISecondly, t’s hoppin’ with people on summer weekends but not overcrowded at all. Thirdly, very affordable prices… for an all day 12 mile ca-​brewing trip, you pay $ 45/​canoe (and that’s divided into 2 – 3 peeps). The owner and employees are very friendly and accomodating (coming from Chicago, this place is definitely a bit ‘country’ and I love it!). They also have facilities and a small store on the premises that sells some food and other essentials.
For the 12 mile trip, they bus you down to a starting point and you canoe back to Ayers… it can take anywhere from 4 – 7 hours to finish the trip, and there are cool spots to stop off at along the way, such as places to cliff dive and whatnot. The water level fluctuates, and the first year I went I had to get out and push a few times… last year there were some fast rapids due to all the extra flooding… but this year the level will be ‘just right’…how do I know this? I called the über-​friendly owner and gots all the info. If you are looking for a fantastic summer day-​getaway with all your buddies that is not far from Chicago, this is the place to go! (many other places in IL will NOT allow you to drink-​while-​canoeing, so this place is a hidden gem!)