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Des Plaines - a) Wheeling, Dam #1: Bill's Hole (PnP)
Des Plaines, Illinois, US |
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a) Wheeling, Dam #1: Bill's Hole (PnP)
| Usual Difficulty | II (varies with level) |
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Bill surfs at 470 CFS
Bill surfs at 470 CFS
Photo taken February 06 @ 470 cfs
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DES PLAINES RIVER NEAR DES PLAINES, IL | ||||
| usgs-05529000 | 250 - 1400 cfs | II | 00h17m | 292 cfs (rc= 0.1 ) |
Beginner to low-intermediate play level. Gauge (360 sq.mi. drainage) is 3 miles downstream (at dam#2), thus is very accurate for flows at this playspot. |
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River Description
This park and play feature is located on the Des Plaines River in Wheeling, Illinois.
"Bill's Hole" is named afer Bill Kinsella who scouted out the feature and has been
using it for years.
Access is from a Cook County Forest Preserve parking lot located at the intersection of Milwaukee
Avenue and Hintz Road. This is located about halfway between Willow/Palatine Road (to the south)
and Dundee Road (to the north). Both Willow and Dundee road have exits from the nearby Tri-State
Tollway (I-294) located to the east. The feature is accessible and runnable during most of the
year. The forest preserve gates are closed at dusk.
The playspot includes two or three different holes, a wave train suitable for surfing, and deep
eddylines suitable for squirt moves (about 10-12 ft downstream from the dam). The dam is a two
step feature which used to be a ford (low-water vehicle crossing). The river right side of the
dam is broken out, giving a shallow, rocky tongue that is runnable at medium levels. The dam
itself is runnable at most levels (though at low levels, many will want to put in below the dam
to skip the bang and scrape down the concrete).
Signs at the parking lot used to prohibit boating but we are told they have been changed to provide boating regulations. Boaters are encouraged to use the area in a safe and respectful manner to insure continued access to the feature.
| Gauge | Description |
| 150-250 |
Broken up rock at the bottom of the dam divide flow into three main holes. All are sticky enough to side surf any boat and will allow limited play in small boats. The holes are very forgiving and will give novice paddlers a nice class II- learning experience. The river right chute provides a surf wave at the bottom. The eddy lines are well defined and strong, giving squirt opportunities to paddlers. |
| 250-400 |
The holes gain strength. At the upper end of this range, some of the rubble submerges, limiting exit options in the holes. The river-left holes develop deep ends, making exit more difficult. The river-right hole becomes shallower and stickier and starts to develop a sweet spot. Exit at river-right (surfers-left) is still easily achieved. The wave train at river right diminishes, but surf is still obtainable for the trained eye. At this point the feature is a class II-II+ experience. |
| 400-800 |
Good surfs, but not for the faint of heart. At the higher end of this range, the lower step of the dam will be washed out. |
| 800-1100 |
The holes merge into one river-wide hole which gets steep, deep and sticky, with a boil line several feet back. At this level, it is best left for more experienced paddlers (if they even want it) as it is pushing the upper limits of class II and may even be considered class III. |
| 1100-1400 |
The hole flattens out as all hints of the dam are submerged. What remains is a sweet, river-wide glassy breaking wave. |
| 1400+ | Virtually all signs of the dam are washed out: all features are gone. |
Mike & Judy at 950 CFS
About four miles downriver in Mount Prospect lies Dam#2. Chicago Area
Paddling/Fishing Guide suggests that it is "identical" to Dam#1. From a very casual
view of construction and basic form that may be true. However, it most certainly does not apply
to its potential for play. Dam 2 is not a friendly place to be at most flows. The hike
(from the nearest available parking to the dam) is much longer. Once there, at most flows, it is
far more the classic low head dam. The space between the first and second ledges is deep, foamy,
and highly retentive. If you flip there you are in for a scary time. The play value is very
limited, especially considering that Dam 1 is so close by. That said, there may be some levels
(perhaps in the 800-1100 range?) where this dam may actually provide better play than Dam#1.
(Dam#2 is completely obliterated (swamped, flooded) above about 1000-1100 cfs.)
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a) Wheeling, Dam #1: Bill's Hole (PnP), Des Plaines Illinois, US (mobile)