Illinois Bayou

Illinois Bayou (Hector to Scottsville) Trip Report

Date Run: June 16, 2026

Gauge: Scottsville
Put-in: 6.66 ft / 496 CFS
Take-out: 6.61 ft / 462 CFS

We ran the Hector to Scottsville section of the Illinois Bayou on June 16, 2026. Water levels were low but still within the runnable range listed on American Whitewater. At this level, the run was very technical and rocky, particularly on the upper section above the Granny Gap confluence. Numerous rocks were hidden just below the surface, requiring constant river reading and careful line selection. Even with attention to boat placement, expect to make contact with rocks at this level.

For recreational paddlers or those with limited moving-water experience, I would recommend the shorter Granny Gap to Scottsville section at similar levels. The additional miles above Granny Gap were runnable but required significantly more maneuvering and line selection due to the low water conditions.

More experienced paddlers who enjoy technical river running and picking precise lines may find the upper section enjoyable despite the lower water. The challenge was less about avoiding major hazards and more about continuously reading the river and choosing the cleanest route through shallow ledges, rock gardens, and hidden obstacles.

The Illinois Bayou is a classic Ozark stream with alternating pools and rapids. In my opinion, this section contains more rapids and ledges than many comparable rivers in the area, with several enjoyable drops becoming more frequent below the Granny Gap confluence. Even at low water, there was enough gradient to keep things interesting throughout the trip.

Based on my experience, I would estimate an ideal level for the Hector to Scottsville run to be around 750 to 800 CFS. I have also paddled the river at approximately 1,300 CFS, where the character of the run changed significantly. At that level the current became faster and more pushy, with larger wave trains and fewer exposed rocks. Recreational paddlers should be aware that open boats may take on significant water at those levels.

We used a sit-on-top hybrid kayak equipped with a rudder and a sit-inside recreational kayak fitted with an aftermarket spray skirt. Even at this level, several wave trains were capable of shipping enough water to swamp an open boat. The spray skirt was helpful throughout the run.

As of June 16, 2026, there was a significant strainer on river left approximately one mile upstream of the Scottsville take-out. The hazard was visible with adequate attention and was not located around a blind bend, but paddlers should keep their eyes open and be prepared to move right. We chose to portage around it.

There are currently no commercial outfitters operating on this section to my knowledge, so paddlers should plan their own shuttle. The Scottsville access receives considerable local recreational use. During our trip there were numerous people swimming and recreating around the take-out area, with some vehicles driven directly onto the gravel bars and river edge.

Overall, the Illinois Bayou is an enjoyable and underrated Ozark run. At approximately 500 CFS, the Hector to Scottsville section was runnable but quite technical. Paddlers looking for a more relaxed experience at similar levels may prefer launching at Granny Gap and floating the lower section to Scottsville. Paddlers who enjoy technical river reading and precise line selection may appreciate the challenge of the full Hector run, even at lower water levels.