Cty Rd just NW of Hwy 178 to Oglesby Cutoff (Cty 23) (7.7 miles) (Wildcat Canyon)Class II-III
7.7 Miles
Avg Gradient 7 fpm
Surfing Wildcat
Surfing Wildcat Photo of Brian Aho by Erik Johnson taken Winter 2004 @ 4 feet Gauge Information
Vermilion
River DescriptionThe Vermilion River in LaSalle County (there are two Vermilion's in Illinois) is a nice class II-III whitewater river in Northern Illinois. The early going on river runs through Matthiessen State Park. Downstream, quite a bit of the other property is owned by a private cement company. StreamTeam Status: verified
Last Updated: 2008-10-09 07:50:44
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The USGS gauge referred to (at Leonore) is about 8 miles upstream of the put-in. It lists drainage area of 1251 square miles, which is only 2-3% less drainage area than at the put-in (and former gauge site) at Lowell. Thus, (other than for the lead/lag time associated with the intervening distance), the gauge at Leonore should generally be quite accurate for determining levels in the whitewater reach described here.
The suggested minimum (500 cfs) reflects the fact that the river is quite broad, so many areas will become quite a scrape below this level.
The suggested maximum (4,000 cfs) is set only to indicate levels above the 'norm'. Somewhere around this level some features will wash out (including Wildcat, normally the biggest drop on the river!), while others just get AWESOME! Thus, many boaters will thrill to see this river 'go purple'.
Most boaters historically have referred to a gauge painted on the bridge at (above) the put-in. There are approximations of the correlation of the Lowell bridge gauge to the USGS Lenore gauge at http://www.rivers-end.org/vermilion/ and http://www.wpr.pair.com/vermilion/
There was a USGS gauge at the Lowell bridge for forty years (1931-1971). While the nature of the overall watershed most certainly has likely changed somewhat in the interim (due to increased urbanization) and climate shifts may have some effect, the following analysis from that data period should still have some relevance.
| Gauge/flow analysis (based on USGS data, 1931-1971, at Lowell) | |
| Drainage area at gauge | 1,278 sq.mi. |
| All time minimum daily mean flow | 5 cfs (Feb.1-5, 1961; Dec.21-24, 1963) |
| 90% of time flow exceeds | 11 cfs |
| 10% of time flow exceeds | 3,050 cfs |
| All time maximum daily mean flow | 25,600 cfs (1958.07.15) |
| 10/90 ratio ('flashy-ness') (under 3 is quite steady, over 10 is quite 'flashy') |
277 |
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Based upon USGS historical data and the listed 'recommended minimum' level, Note: some of those days may be winter, when ice would preclude safe paddling. |
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VERMILION RIVER NEAR LEONORE, IL [ IL ] |
Current Conditions
Station Graphs |
| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| State | River Name/Section | Class | Level | Rel. Level | Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL | Bailey Creek— N2300 Rd to Vermilion River (0.5-1.5 miles) | I-II(IV) | 4.58 ft* | low | 10/11 7:45 | |
| IL | Vermilion— Cty Rd just NW of Hwy 178 to Oglesby Cutoff (Cty 23) (7.7 miles) | II-III | 520 cfs | med | 10/11 7:45 |
| AW Gauge ID: | 2494 |
| USGS Station: | 05555300 |
| HUC: | 07130002 |
| Latitude: | 41.2083 |
| Longitude: | -88.9308 |
| Class: | -1 |
User Comments |
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2008-04-12 12:42:12 (182 days ago)
Long ago I remember driving down 675th rd and parking at a dirt parking lot on top of a cliff. Hiking my Response down to the Wild Cat for some park and play, before it was called such a thing. With no trouble! Those days have long since passed with the erection of the big steel gate at the intersection of 675th rd and 23rd rd. 675th road (even though it as shown as a public road on most maps) is now closed to the public. Hiking back to Bailey Falls with a boat in your hand is a big no no, if you step on dry land. Though if you are on a Dirt bike it is O.K.!? For people that have paddled the Vermillion for several years, it is well known we are NOT WELCOME down stream of the putin. We have been blocked from having a public putin downstream of the Hwy 23 Bridge. Even though there is a large public park southwest of the bridge. We have been ticketed for parking our vehicles along the public right of way near the bridge. We are viewed as hoodlums, litter bugs, crazy hippies, and the serge of the earth among other things. I also had my first shoulder injury on the Wild Cat. But I washed up on river right and was able to walk up to the model airplane field for a rescue. I is sad that I have only paddled the Vermillion once in 5 years when I learned to kayak on this river. I would much rather drive 5 hours to Wisconsin than drive 2 hours to the vermillion just because of the hospitality of the people. Edit
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2007-08-27 10:16:36 (411 days ago)
BEWARE: Watch out for the "landowner" that lives on river left of Wildcat Rapids!!! As of 8/26/2007 he drives a newer red Ford F-150 with Illinois plates 58 565 K. He is not a fan of kayakers and will do anything to try and have you arrested. The story goes my paddling group was at wildcat when one of our party injured their shoulder. About 150 feet below wildcat, a trail goes up the cliff wall, where we drug our injured partner's boat up to and had him wait there. When the rest of us finished the river, we went to go get him when we encountered one of the "landowners" who have an easement on the Mining Companies land. We were chewed out for being there and told to get the hell out or be arrested. We had to call Illinois State Police and an ambulance to retreive our injured partner. After that, we went to the put-in to get one of our vehicles when THIS TRUCK PULLS UP. The man inside told us that if we were seen on that road again we would be arrested. This guy doesn't care about anyone using the river and will try to get anyone in a kayak arrested for trespassing on the mine's land. Watch out for him and if possible, give him some kayaker justice. Happy Paddling. Edit
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Put-in | II |    |
| 0.7 | S-Turn | II | |
| 1.2 | Hole in the Rock | II | |
| 1.7 | The Cliff | I | |
| 4.0 | Wildcat | III | |
| 4.3 | Bailey Creek |  | |
| 5.0 | Railroad | I | |
| 5.8 | The Dam | II |  |
| 5.9 | The Narrows | II | |
| 6.0 | Side Creek | | |
| 7.7 | Take-out |  |
Carry down from the road by the rafting outfitters. Either put-in right there, or carry upstream a bit to put in near the highway bridge to catch some additional playwaves.
A couple of large tables of rock channel water between them. A funky wave forms here.
The river encounters a tall cliff face and deflects to the left. At the end of the cliff, a fine eddy and deep water allow great bow stalls and stern squirts.
This is (usually) the highlight of the run. At levels from minimums (500 or below) to medium flows (1500 - 2000 cfs or more) there is a nice lead-in to a big hole. Eddy service usually allows repeat play (though can be challenging to regain at some levels. Shallow rocks in the outflow may be brutal.
This area completely washes out somewhere up in the 4000-6000 cfs range.
When flows are right, a pleasant diversion is to carry up this side creek to run a grungy falls. See the full description of Bailey Creek
A small wave forms here. Some fine rocks on shore are often used as a lunch stop.
An old dam has a broken notch to river right. At low-to-moderate flows, this may bear scouting. At high flows, relatively little sign of the dam may be seen.
A bend and a narrowing in the river form some compression waves. As flows increase, thise build nicely into a great rollercoaster ride. And, one can paddle up the inside of the bend to regain all the way up to the first wave!
Another pleasant diversion (after all the action on the run) is to paddle up a side canyon to view a tall waterfall in a sandstone grotto.
It's a fair climb up and out of the river to the roadside where your shuttle vehicles may be parked.
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