Ferson Creek, Illinois, US
|
|
St.Charles: Burr Road to Leroy Oaks Forest Preserve (4.8 miles)
| Usual Difficulty |
I-II (varies with level) |
| Length |
4.8 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
10 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
10 fpm |
Final Drop
Final DropPhoto taken 05/22/09 @ low runnable level
Gauge Information
| Name |
Range |
Difficulty |
Updated |
Level |
|
FERSON CREEK NEAR ST. CHARLES, IL
|
|
usgs-05551200 |
70 - 600 cfs
|
I |
00h43m |
36
cfs
(rc= -0.4 ) |
Too low. Gauge (51.7 sq.mi. drainage) is a quarter-mile downstream of listed take-out (at alternate take-out), thus accurately portrays actual flows in reach. |
River Description
Quick Facts:
Location: Northeast IL, about 3.5 miles NW of St.Charles, between Elgin & Aurora.
Shuttle Length: 3.8 miles. (See details in "Directions" Tab.)
Character: Flatwater punctuated by a number of weir/dam drops. Starts in Royal Hawk CC (golf
course), enters woods, and threads backyards of estate homes.
Drainage: 52 sq.mi. (at gauge site immediately downstream of take-out).
Put-in is approximately 745' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 710' elevation.
Thus total elevation change is approximately 35'.
General Overview
This reach consists of flatwater punctuated by a number of weir/dam drops. Do not be deceived or
discouraged by the low gradient! The drops will definitely get your attention and merit your
trip! The early going winds through Royal Hawk Country Club (golf course), before entering
heavily wooded area, then threads through backyards of estate homes. Caution: at moderate-to-high
flows, some (many) of the weir/dams will become quite 'sticky', and merit scouting and possibly
portaging!
Notes:
Shoulders on Bolcum Road (around the put-in as suggested by a user) are virtually non-existent.
All property in the vicinity appears to be privately owned. It would seem necessary to get
permission to leave a vehicle on some private property to use this location. Alternate put-in
access (as listed) further upstream has (at least minimally parkable) shoulders. It adds largely
uneventful length to the run, though you may have to deal with additional deadfall and snags in
this additional early going.
For early season runs, the listed take-out may not be accessible (due to the park gates still
being closed). Alternate take-out is available by continuing 0.2 mile downstream to S.Randall
Road. Parking at a church at the top of the hill nearby (Crane Road) has generally not been a
problem. This does make for a bit of a hike up, but probably no worse than you normally have at
the listed take-out. So, in fact, many folks may prefer this take-out, especially since it is so
easy to identify from the river. (At least one group of paddlers has blown by their intended
take-out in the park and ended up down to this take-out anyway!)
Richard DeGroat provides:
Unfortunately there is a lot of blowdown, but all in all, a great place for an intermediate
paddler (or novice, if with a more experienced paddler) to practice. There are several
"drops" which at different levels become interesting. Beginner/novice paddlers should
be very cautious due to numerous strainers present. Be prepared to portage!
Google Maps has excellent resolution aerials of this reach. We highly recommend going to the
"Map" tab, clicking 'Satellite', double clicking near (not on, but near) the put-in
location icon, zooming to the maximum resolution (without losing image), and doing a 'virtual
tour' to 'walk' down the reach. (Though it can be a bit difficult following the creek in the
wooded portion of the run.)
A fine map/photo-tour of this run exists on Bing.com.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2010-06-21 13:34:51
User Comments
my buddy had never been before. I hopped in my play boat and put him in my RPM. The creek had many
down trees and strainers, but I found it kind of fun. We only had to portage 3 or 4 times with only
one major portage. The only dangerous spot was a little after entering the woods, you go through a
little class one rapid that is pretty shallow, but surfable, then a little further down you hear
some real water and there is a little walk bridge over the top. Stop before the bridge on river
left and portage past the bridge around the right side of the pond and drop back into the river
where you see easy access. You can go onto the bridge and see why I said to portage. The last drop
was really big for what I was expecting (I mean we are in the suburbs). I would love to go to some
of these rich people's homes and ask for access to some of the play holes also. Lastly, check the
take out at the park, we did not and thought there was a bridge and missed it. We paddled to
randall road and had to hitchhike back to the park from there. Overall, I loved it! Edit
cfs. Edit
Northern Illinois" Edit
in St. Charles (right after the biggest drop on the creek, about a 5' footer). Edit