Chicago River is the most well-known river dyed on St. Patrick’s Day with several other cities trying to copy not only the color but the experience. Many cities have tried only a handful have succeeded with Chicago being the first successful river dying in 1962 one year after Savannah, Georgia’s coloring washed away due to the fast-moving tide in 1961. Vegetable-based orange dye that turns green when mixed into the river has been a tradition of Plumbers Local Union 130.

With St. Patrick’s Day taking place in the middle of March the weather is always unpredictable but generally on the colder side. This creates a unique experience for those who are willing to venture out, those who are willing to bear the cold weather and get out on the water. With only a couple of providers offering kayak tours and the riverwalk closed it limited the experience. Let’s go over how to enjoy the experience the most.

Chicago River Access on St. Patrick’s Day

The city of Chicago closes the Chica­go River­walk on Friday at 11 PM and it doesn’t open again until Sunday at 6 AM. This limits the access points we can use to get on the river. Paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes are also restricted from the water as the dye is getting spread starting at 10 am on Saturday.  Our closest downtown launch points get pushed back to Wild Mile in Chicago’s Lincoln Park or Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chicago’s Chinatown.

• Wild Mile

  Located along the North Branch Canal, Wild Mile is on the east side of Goose Island. The launch is about a 2.2-mile paddle downriver to where the river is dyed. Street Parking is free but limited. With only stores nearby it should be easy to find a spot in the mornings. The launch is located right around the corner and down the ramp; the easiest access on this list.
  

• Ping Tom Memorial Park

  Located about 2.3 miles south of the river-dying location it is harder to access. From the entrance to the launch, it’s about 1/5 of a mile walk. Access to the park is at the corner of West 19th and South Wells Street where there is free street parking but limited as it is residential.  Just east is Wentworth Ave which is paid via Park Chicago. Dropping your paddle board or Kayak off at the entrance before parking is going to be your best option.
  

What to Bring Paddle Boarding on St. Patrick’s Day

March in Chicago is on the colder side for the area with average temps in the 30’s or 40’s and water temps generally in the mid to upper 30’s. This is a day to be on your game. Pay attention to the traffic and listen to the radio.

Must Bring

• Whistle
• Coiled SUP  Leash
• Waterbottle
• Marine Radio (Channel 16)
• Drybag/Deck Bag
• Tow Line
• Hat
• Towel
• Change of clothes

Should Bring

• Waterproof Phone Case
• Snacks
• Sunglasses – The buildings reflections can get bright
• Hand Warmers

What to Wear Paddle Boarding on St. Patrick’s Day

What you wear matters. You are paddling but also preparing for falling in. Wearing winter clothes will keep you warm but will weigh you down and keep you cold if you fall in. The boat traffic will be unpredictable, so being prepared is important.  Body heat can be lost 20 times faster in water than in air.

Must Wear

• Life Jacket
• Warm Baselayer – synthetic activewear; no cotton or jeans
• Wetsuit/Drysuit – When the combined air and water temperatures are less than 120 degrees
  • 5+ mm wetsuit thickness preferably hooded
  • The colder it is the thicker the wetsuit you will need to stay comfortable – wetsuit work best when wet
  • Drysuits keep you dry, base layers keep you warm.
• Neoprene Gloves – Keep your hands warm and dry, a base layer of wool helps.
• Wetsuit Booties – Protect your feet, they will get wet; booties that are 5-7 mm thick

Should Wear

• Wool socks
• Buff or neck gaiter
• Wetsuit Socks – If not wearing booties
• Wind-blocking layers over top of the wetsuit (paddle jacket/rain pants)
• Base layer leggings + top under a drysuit

Chicago River Radio Frequency

While on the river with boat traffic, you should always be aware of your surroundings, this means having an ear to other boat communication. All boats communicate via VHF radio on dedicated channels. The most common on the Chicago River you should listen to are channels 13 and 16. There are other channels or other river activity for you to be aware of.

• CPD Marine “switch to”: Ch. 11 (156.550)
• Chicago Bridge Operations: Ch. 12 (156.600)
• Sightseeing boats: Ch. 13 (156.650)
• Emergency channel: Channel 16 (156.800) (tour boats and others use it to self-announce departure from docks; approaching certain bridges and river locations.
• Chicago’s First Lady boats asking Mercury dock permission to depart: Channel 18 (156.900)

Have Fun & Be Safe

If planning your trip is too much some tours will take you down to the river for about $75 to experience the river from a different perspective. However you see the river this St. Patrick’s Day be safe and follow the rules in place on and off the river.

Map of the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade Route

The Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country and lasts about 2 hours.

Important times and locations

• Dyeing  starts at 10 am
• The dying takes about 45 minutes starting at 10 am
• The river opens about 11 am after the horn (listen on the radio also)
• The color lasts for at least a day, but sometimes two to three days if there’s no wind or rain.
• A quarter mile of the waterway is dyed from State Street to Columbus Drive.
• The Lower Chicago River Walk will be closed from Friday at 11 pm to Sunday at 6 am.

Kayak Tours

There are a few companies like Kayak Chicago that offer guided tours. They have a boat and guides in the water directing the group and helping those that need it. Since everything is provided this is a great option for those with less experience or no equipment but still want to experience it.

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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.

• 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.

• 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.
  

• 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.
  

• 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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