The Chicago River has transformed over the years, especially in the mid-2000s when the project to rework the Chicago River waterfront by adding a 25-foot-wide pedestrian space called the Chicago Riverwalk. The plans to expand this river walk are ever evolving creating one of the most visited parts of the city since its 6 blocks 1.25-mile opened in 2016. The Chicago River’s urban canyon has created world-famous architectural tours that complement the variety of other architectural tours offered throughout the city via walking, buses, or even segway. With the Chicago Riverwalk filling in with businesses and events, you can easily find food, drinks, and river cruises and use the space to launch your paddle board.
Now imagine paddling through not only one of the most interesting and historic rivers but one that towers over you, and gives you a new perspective. The Chicago River might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about a weekend Standup Paddleboard (SUP) or Kayak, but with dozens of kayak tours, and SUP Yoga offered from spring to fall you might want to see what you are missing out on.
Chicago River Launch Spots
There are only a few locations where you can launch your paddle board from downtown for access to the Chicago River. There are a few nicer locations a few miles up and down the river, both with free or cheaper parking.
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Ogden Slip
Almost hidden compared to the riverwalk Ogden Slip has a nice place to launch with a short paddle to get on the river. The Ogden Slip launch is just south of East Illinois Street on N McClurg Court. You will see an overlook to the slip and a set of stairs on each, take the steps down to the launch platform.
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Chicago Riverwalk
The only public entrance to the Chicago River downtown is located just west of the Clark Street bridge on the riverwalk you will see stairs leading down to the water.
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Wild Mile
One of the newer launches is The World’s First-Ever Floating Eco-Park – Wild Mile. The flagship project of Urban River. It’s located behind the Lincoln Park REI and across from Goose Island. The launch is open year-round and about a 2.2-mile paddle downriver to the Riverwalk launch.
- The parking around this area is street parking and free which means it’s very limited. The good news is it’s only stores nearby meaning mornings the parking is relatively empty and easy to find a close location. The launch is located right around the corner and down the ramp; the easiest access on this list.
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Ping Tom Memorial Park
This location has both Kayak rentals but also a public launch. REI hosts a Kayak and Paddle Board rental location about 2.3 miles south of the Chicago Riverwalk launch location. As you paddle north it’s only about one mile before you start to reach the buildings, closer than paddling south from Wild Mile. While the paddle might get you to the towering jungle quicker it’s not as easy to access. The corner of West 19th and South Wells Street provides the only access over the train tracks into the park. While there is free street parking available, it is a neighborhood with apartments on both sides causing there to be limited close street parking. You can park on Wentworth Ave which is paid via Park Chicago. Dropping your paddle board off at the entrance before parking is going to be your best option. From the entrance to the launch, it’s about a 0.2-mile walk.
Chicago River Launch & Rental Location Map
What to Bring Paddle Boarding
Depending on the weather conditions what you should bring will change. Chicago is known as The Windy City but doesn’t even reach the top 10 in the states. Even tho it might not be the windiest it still gets cold and has a climate of its own. Here is a list of items to bring and optional based on weather beyond your paddleboard or kayak and paddle. Chicago also has a provided list of
Must Bring
- Life Jacket
- Whistle
- Paddle Board Leash
- Waterbottle
Should Bring
- Drybag/Deck Bag
- Phone Case
- Marine Radio (Channel 16)
- Tow Line
- Water Shoes
- Snacks
Weather Dependent
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Wetsuit/Drysuit – When the combined air and water temperatures are less than 120 degrees
- Gloves
- Wetsuit Booties
- Navigational lights for at night
River Conditions
The Chicago River is an outflow for the Combined Sewer Overflows (COS) with several outflow locations along the main downtown stretch of the river. The City of Chicago has a created map of the COS locations. One of the locations is right in the middle of the Wild Mile and has signage posted. Another location is close to the Riverwalk Launch Point as well. You can click on the locations and see if the location is monitored or not. For all the monitored locations the city also provides a map by date of the COS events.
H2Now Chicago provides real-time Chicago River water monitoring during the warmer months. While you should always be careful to check the river quality there has been a large improvement over the last several years with the river being safer most of the time, but still not clean enough to swim in. In 2012, the River was approved for general and recreational usage in eight segments by the U.S. EPA.
Even as the river has gotten cleaner and UV light is used to help with bacteria levels try to avoid contact with the water and disinfect with soap after paddling.
Chicago River Recreation Map (H2Now Chicago)
Paddle The St. Patrick’s Day River Dying
While it’s becoming controversial to continue the tradition of dying the Chicago River green for St. Patrick’s Day the tradition is still alive and well. Paddling the river is a little more complicated on St. Patrick’s Day for a few reasons; the first one is that the Riverwalk is closed. This means you have to access the river from either the north or the south, both of the launch points listed above, the Wild Mile and Tom Ping Memorial Park are open and available, each a little over a 2-mile paddle. River is also not open to kayakers or paddle borders until a little after 11 AM so having a marine radio to know when the river is open is helpful.
Free Architecture Tours
If you decide to paddle downtown on the Chicago River you can slowly and carefully follow one of the multiple boat tours always happening, especially during the summer months. Remember this is an active river so be aware of your surroundings at all times and unlike other rivers, you don’t always have the right away. Larger vessels may not have room to maneuver and stay to the right and outside of the channel. As the river has high seawalls, curves, and bends don’t assume they can see you. Remember to start early and follow the rules of the river. always, create a Float Plan.
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