Elgin: Eagle Heights Park to Fox River (4 miles) *** Access Issues ***

Quick Facts: Location: Elgin, IL. Shuttle Length: 2.4 miles/7 minutes *Click here for shuttle route* Character: In town run, through wooded parks, past homes, and finishing on a college campus. Drainage area: approximately 38.9 square miles (at gauge at Big Timber Road). Put-in elevation is approximately 795'. Take-out elevation is approximately 710'. Thus total elevation change is approximately 85'. Information (lat, lng, elev, total drop, run length, shuttle length) adjusted and/or verified from best manual extrapolation of online data (via maps.google.com, distance measuring tool, and other resources). 2009.03.10 Richard DeGroat (Sugar Grove) and Andy Smith (Hinckley) provide (2009-03-14): *Not a bad little creek at all for the beginner boater at a low level (around 100 cfs) and the intermediate paddler at a higher level (200 cfs plus). The day we ran it it was rather low but still enjoyable (112 cfs). A couple of strainers that hopefully at higher levels would be overcome with water (always scout if inexperienced with river reading). From the old dam at the park down to Judson College is where the creek really comes alive. Can't wait to paddle it at around 275 cfs. which I think will be an ideal level.* We have no specific info on viable put-in location, shuttle information, drops or features. We encourage additional input from any knowledgeable paddler. There are reports that Judson College (and its security personnel) are likely to take issue with boaters being on this stream. DO NOT GO ASHORE WITHIN COLLEGE PROPERTY!