Vermilion, Illinois, US

Hwy 178 to Ed Hand Hwy. (7.7 miles) *** ACCESS ISSUE *** (Wildcat Canyon)

Surfing Wildcat

Surfing Wildcat
Photo of Brian Aho by Erik Johnson taken 01/15/04 @ 4 feet

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
VERMILION RIVER NEAR LEONORE, IL
usgs-05555300	500 - 10000 cfs	I-II(III)	00h25m	609 cfs (rc= 0.0 )
	Reasonable beginner/intermediate level. Gauge(1251 sq.mi. drainage) is a ways upstream. Drainage at put-in is 1278 sq.mi., only ~2% more, so listed flow should be quite accurate for this reach.

River Description

!!! Warning !!! - River Access Closed - See comments- 4/13/09

!!! Warning !!! - See comments about rockslide at wildcat - 4/13/09

Quick Facts:

Location: NorthCentral IL, about 4 miles SE of Oglesby (near Starved Rock SP and Matthiessen SP).
Shuttle Length: 5.6 miles. (See details in "Directions" Tab.)
Character: Very scenic rural stream. High bluffs in places. Wide open rapids (with exception of Wildcat).
Drainage: 1278 sq.mi. (at former gauge site at put-in).

Put-in is approximately 510' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 450' elevation.
Thus total elevation change is approximately 60'.

General Overview

The Vermilion River in LaSalle County (there are two Vermilion's in Illinois) is a class II-III whitewater river in North-Central Illinois. We have often seen this (erroneously) characterized as the 'only' whitewater in Illinois. In fact, there are numerous others, but this is certainly the most well known and likely the largest watershed and longest whitewater stretch. As such, it has the most boatable days of any natural whiteater in the state, allowing a commercial rafting business to be viable.

The early part of the reach runs through Matthiessen State Park. Downstream, quite a bit of the property is owned by a private cement company (Buzzi-Unicem). Large bluffs and a 'canyon' (by Illinois standards) surround quite a bit of this run, making it quite scenic.

The Vermilion is wide, and when running at better levels (over 1000 cfs) becomes quite pushy in places. However, the fact that it is very 'pool/drop' (you have at least a half mile between rapids) makes it (at most levels) an excellent place for beginning whitewater boaters and commercial (and private) rafters.

Put-in access is at a commercial rafting outfitters (be respectful of their property and their customers). Many private boaters will carry a quarter-mile or so upstream to put in upstream of the highway bridge to play a fine series of waves and holes which exist up there. (In winter months, this area may often be free enough of ice that it can offer some 'park-and-play' opportunities.)

There are two places of potential concern (particularly for novice boaters). The first is Wildcat. A landslide (Spring, 2009) has made the right shore unstable at this location and has dumped trees and huge rocks in the river. Scouting should be considered mandatory, especially since additional slumping of this shore is likely for the next few years each spring and after heavy rains. Because of the unstable conditions on the right shore and private property issues on the left shore, scouting/portaging should be done quickly. The left shore is safer, but boaters should stay close to the water and minimize their presence there to avoid landowner confrontations.

The second area to be cautious is at the cement factory where there is a low head dam with a broken-out 'notch' on the right side. Scouting and possibly portaging the low head dam is highly recommended for novice paddlers at low-to-moderate flows (under 1500 cfs or so). (At higher flows, this short dam is increasingly swallowed up, creating chaotic waves, or (higher yet) nothing more than a riffle! Due to a rafting death (and subsequent lawsuit), the river was closed to trespass mid-summer, 2009 and all of 2010. As of November 29, 2010, an agreement has been reached which will re-open this stretch of river once the IDNR has the chance to make suitable modifications to the dam (to reduce its potential danger) and to upgrade warning signs and marker buoys.

There is a hand painted boater's gauge at the Lowell put-in that most folks use to describe the level. A conversion chart from USGS flow information is at http://www.wpr.pair.com/vermilion/

Additional info on the Vermilion may be found at http://www.rivers-end.org/vermilion/

Also, 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.

Notes:
Some years back there were major issues with parking at the takeout. A parking ban (which had been discussed and in place for a short time) appears to have been rescinded. A suitable alternative (more permanent solution) was sought, but (to our knowledge) no action was taken. In light of past problems, please be sure to be courteous with everyone you encounter when at this take-out. Be careful parking (don't impede traffic while maneuvering to park, or while accessing your vehicle). Be respectful while changing (don't get too naked in public). Remember that even just a random transgression, on a rare basis, may be enough to cause someone to complain and re-open the problems for everyone else! It is an unfortunate truth that we are all likely to be thought of as being as bad as the few worst offenders among us. Unfortunately, it takes dozens of 'compensating acts of good faith' to offset one transgression, and it is pretty tough to come up with anything which will be seen (noticed) by any number of people as an act of good faith.