Vermilion,

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

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

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.

The Vermilion River in LaSalle County (there are two Vermilion's in Illinois) is a class II-III whitewater river in Northern Illinois. The early going runs through Matthiessen State Park. Downstream, quite a bit of the property is owned by a private cement company.

Large bluffs and a 'canyon' (by Illinois standards) surround quite a bit of this run.

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.

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. Keep to the right side at normal flows, and be aware that it has a tendency to collect whole trees. A recent landslide has made the right shore unstable at this location and increased the likelyhood of trees or rocks gathering in wildcat. Scouting should be considered mandatory. 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).

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/

Other Vermilion Websites:
http://www.rivers-end.org/vermilion/
http://www.wpr.pair.com/vermilion/

Notes:
There have been periodic issues with parking at the takeout. A parking ban (which had been discussed and in place for a short time) appears now to have been delayed indefinitely. A suitable alternative (permanent solution) is being worked on. In the meantime, be sure to be courteous when in the area, and be careful at the takeout (parking and changing) so as not to cause any problems.