| An annual favorite is this Illinois River
paddle. We both put-in and take-out at Oak
Flat. The road ends at Oak Flat on a
gravel bar. We put-in and paddle our boats
upriver through the ponds and drag them up
through the riffles.
Your boat should have a leash so that you can
conveniently drag it. Plan to get wet and
wear shoes that will allow you to rock hop while
dragging your boat up through the riffles.
Bring a lunch to eat! This is hard (but
very pleasant) work.
We typically drag up through about 5 riffles
to Indigo Creek where we eat lunch and rest
before the return to Oak Flat. There are
no roads, no trails, no people, no power boats.
This is one of the pure trips. Just you,
your fellow paddlers, and birds and animals and
fish.
To get to Oak Flat travel east on the Rogue
River south bank road toward Agness. Just
after you cross over the Illinois River Bridge
turn right onto Oak Flat Road and travel about 5
miles to the end of the road. Park on the
gravel bar near the river. |
