Little Vermilion

N3179 Rd to I&M Canal (Canal St/Rockwell Rd, La Salle) (6.5 miles)(Little V)

Difficulty	I-II(III)
Length	6.5 mi
Avg Gradient	17 fpm
Gauge	Big Bureau Creek at Princeton, Il
Flow Rate as of 1 hour	67 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last Updated	March 13, 2025

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: NorthCentral IL, North of LaSalle, running into LaSalle.
Shuttle Length: 6 miles / 12 minutes Click here for shuttle directions

Character: Mostly a 'rural' feel (except as passing under I80, and while alongside massive quarry operation). Mostly open stream, with playwaves and a mini-canyon.

Drainage at put-in: 73.8 sq.mi.
Drainage at take-out: 127 sq.mi. (making a 72% increase)

Put-in is approximately 565' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 450' elevation.
Thus total elevation change is approximately 115', making 17.7 FPM overall.

General Overview

Google Maps has excellent resolution aerials of this reach. We highly recommend going to the 'Map' tab, clicking 'Topo' to change to 'Satellite', zoming in at the icon marking the mini-canyon, and doing a 'virtual tour' to 'walk' down the reach. (There's not a lot to see above the mini-canyon, and satellite resolution fails the first half-mile of the run.)

Please respect privacy of property owner at put-in. Launch close to bridge.

This creek has a bit more substantial watershed than some of the other listed creeks in the area (Bailey, Cedar, Covel, Spring, Tomahawk), so has a better chance of being runnable. When 'up', it makes a fine companion piece for the commonly boated section on the main Vermilion.

Numerous small playwaves, and a class III triple-drop 'canyon' (pushing III+/IV- at high flows). Scouting Canyon Rapids is advisable, as it often has at least one strainer. Be alert for poison ivy on shore. Air quality (and water quality) can be 'iffy', as there is some quarrying and other heavy industry nearby.

River Features

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Triple Drop 'Mini-canyon'

Class: III+Distance: 4.3 mi

Hazard

Get out to scout the mini-canyon from river left. (Watch out for poison ivy!) There are huge boulders in the stream forming three drops in quick succession in just over 0.1 mile here. At high water, this can be a real handful (especially if you are in a playboat rather than a downriver boat or creek boat).

old weir/dam

Class: IIDistance: 4.8 mi

Hazard

Waterfall / Large Drop

A small weir/dam might provide some play at some optimum water levels, but far more times may dish out danger. While never all that much of a drop, the boil line may trap those who do not successfully land a 'boof', keep perpendicular to the current, and paddle out of the boil.

Be prepared to scout and possibly portage. Very strongly advised not to run this unless you have enough people in your group who have throw ropes and experience in swift-water rescue techniques. Extracting a boater (or their boat, recirculating in the boil at the dam) requires equipment (throw ropes), knowledge, and skills to ensure not giving the river another victim!

Take Out

Distance: 6.5 mi

Take Out

Trip Reports

bob heckler - Park and Huck and Hike Option from Rotary Park

Apr 17, 2026

For anyone interested in doing just the Canyon Rapids and if you don't want to do a shuttle, and you don't mind hauling your boat 1.5 miles total, you can put in at the top of Quarry Canyon Rapids and get 1 mile on the river.

Drive to Rotary Park and park by the dog park parking area. Take the path down the hill for about a third of a mile. When the path 'T's' take a right and continue for about a half mile until you get to the Quarry Bridge. Put in here on river right. (.9 mile carry in)

Paddle one mile and take out at the obvious landing on river left. Hike up the gravel road until you get back to the walking path. Go left... A short distance later you will take a right and be going back up the hill you came down earlier. (.5 mile carry out)

Also Rotary Park has a great bathroom/ changing facility that is actually heated.