Des Plaines

ACCESS ISSUE: Today, March 1, 2021, a police officer was waiting for me at the Division Street (abandoned bridge) take-out, which is located on Will County (IL) Forest Preserve District property, and is categorized as a Nature Preserve. The officer informed me, as a Nature Preserve, general access is not allowed; one must stay on the designated trail. Thus, this is NOT an access point for the Des Plaines. She did not ticket me, but informed me that 'they' (by whom I assume she meant the IDNR Conservation Police) were cracking down. I interpreted this to mean tickets will start being issued at some point.

There is signage that designates the area a Nature Preserve, but nothing that says 'stay on designated trail' or the like. The closest are a couple of small (9' x 14') yellowed, rusty signs that say the land is owned and managed by Will County Forest preserve District and governed by Forest Preserve Ordinance #124.

I reviewed Ordinance #124. Chapter IV, SECTION 2 states, 'WATERCRAFT. No PERSON shall bring into, attempt to launch or use, or navigate any WATERCRAFT upon the WATERS, except at designated areas' or by obtaining permission. Since the area is NOT designated as a boat launch, it is NOT an authorized access point. The Ordinance also discusses not disturbing the land, plant life and animals, which is what the officer told me: Tromping through the Preserve causes erosion and disturbs the plants and animals there.

I assume this means one will need to paddle the the Joliet Briggs Street access discussed in the description for this river, and should plan accordingly. If I find better/alternate access point I will update this post. Dan