Fox

Before putting on, some boaters may hike upstream to look at the dam above this reach. Depending on which gates of the dam are open (and how much), a couple powerful waves may exist in the outflow.

Boaters who think about putting-in up here to try some surfs on those waves should be aware that they are formed by piles of flat rocks which look almost like large slabs of broken concrete. Extreme caution is advised!

Be aware that doing so would violate the mandate (which exists on nearly every dam on the Fox River) to be no nearer than 500' from the dam. That distance is very nearly at the gated put-in.

Before proceeding further, we should note that this run has significant areas which are walled-in, fenced-in, private property, and braided channels. Getting out of the river is not an option through the first half of this section! Swims (out of boat experiences) will be somewhat difficult to recover swimmer and gear, find a place to get ashore, and reunite boaters with their gear.

Right in front of the Middle School is Ten Boat Wave (TBW). (The photo shows this area at non-boatable flow.) A smooth, glassy wave (when well formed, usually at moderate, two-gate flows: 3000-5000 cfs) appears you could have ten people surfing at once. Short play boats may have difficulty staying on this wave at some levels. A short cylindrical cement pier (with manhole cover) forms a minor eddy (at low/moderate flows) toward the left shore/wall. Boaters may be able to attain and regain the wave from here, but it will take some effort and skill. At levels above 'one-gate' (above ~2500 cfs), this manhole will become submerged and provide no refuge. In general, this wave does not have a steep enough face for anything but straight-on front surfing.

At about 1.5 gates (~3750 cfs), a breaking wave (Wall Wave) can form against the concrete wall on surfer's left (river-right). Tricky eddy service along this wall is possible at some flows.

At the Island Street bridge (at Oak Street), pass just to the left of the river-right bridge-pier to drop into Island Street Wave (ISW), which allows surfs and spins at nearly all boatable flows. It is advisable for other boaters in your group to attempt to eddy-out alongside or behind the bridge-pier to wait their turn on the wave, though there isn't likely room for more than a couple boats, and they'll have a major stuggle to maintain the eddy at 2-gates or better (~4000+ cfs). On the wave, river-left/surfers-right becomes an outstanding 'western style' surf experience as levels push somewhere over 5,000 cfs, while river-right/surfers-left provides a great carving surf. At lower flows it may be possible to regain (up the middle, from below) as long as you don't flush down too far. More often, this will be catch-on-the-fly, one-shot play. When you flush off ISW, you may look for the waves center-river which can be difficult to catch, but worth the effort.

Otherwise, a pair of smooth waves ( Wall Wave II) at river-right and below (pretty much against the right wall) may have eddy service at lower flows.

For repeat attempts/play on these upper features, a second metal-grate access is just downstream (and just upstream of the railroad). Use it to get out, carry back up to the put in, and try again for play on these features. At low-to-moderate flows, it may also be possible to carry-up instream along the river-right wall for repeat attempts at ISW.

Swiftwater trips over shallow rubble far channel-left, at some levels creating some minor features which are out of the strongest flow and may have at least enough eddy for repeat play, if so inclined. The trouble is, from those features, it's a hard ferry across to the right of this channel for the next pair of wave/holes, Goose Ledges(in honor of the Canada Geese which regularly watch the action from the river-left bank/wall). The upper is the more well-formed, and may allow surfs and spins. (Both have no eddies, and will be catch-on-the-fly.)

The leftmost section of the bridge has a small pocket-wave immediately downstream, while the second-from-the-left section has a better wave/hole on it's right side immediately under the bridge. Eddy service may be minimal, so if you and your friends all want to have a shot at it, it may be best to attemp to 'queue' upstream waiting to take turns (though that may not be easy to do). A small river-left shoreline eddy (immediately below the bridge) may make repeat play possible for some.

-- OR --

Tight river-right, immediately upstream of the bridge, surf a juicy hole, catch the eddy behind the bridge pier, and stage for Pancake Wave 100' downstream. Again, it may be nearly impossible for multiple boaters to queue up for this wave, so any who catch it may have to plan on being dropped in on by anyone subsequently hoping to ride this feature, which will be a 'one-and-done' (for any who can catch it at all).

Looking downstream from below Elm Street, you will see the far-left portion of the lower dam on this reach. Even though the river has been split by an island, this channel is quite wide. Anyone missing a roll or swimming in this midsection ('PART II', either channel) will be swept toward the dam, which (below this left channel) varies from about four to seven feet in height and lands hard on bedrock (no cushion, and little-to-no boil). Rescue of a swimmer is most likely to be by grabbing onto another boater's kayak and aggressively swimming and paddling to the island (channel-right shore) or to river-left shore.

While there is plenty of distance to the dam, do not be too cavalier about any flips or swims here! Be aggressive (as a swimmer and as a rescuer) to get boater and gear into an eddy and secure on shore as quickly as possible! If you are swept past the end of the island (as a swimmer, or as a boater-with-swimmer-in-tow), there is much stronger current, and risk of being swept over the dam. In such a case, it is likely best to emphatically tell the swimmer to let go (if/when passing over the dam is imminent)! Both have a better chance of less injury if they can get some distance between them. A swimmer who has gotten too close to the dam may have little choice or effect on where they flush over, but a reasonably skilled boater (without swimmer clinging on) should attempt a more controlled launch and landing off the dam into the shallow bedrock below. (Best option is to make your way as far right as possible in this area before dropping over, to minimize the drop/height. Failing that ... whether you launch a solid boof or grunge over and pencil and piton, get ready for a hard hit. And, then, do your best to look for and continue to support the battered and bruised swimmer.)

Those who have finished playing the features in this channel (without swimmers) should then head toward the island (far to channel-right). Immediately at the end of the island, hang a right and paddle 'upstream' (it's really across the width of the river, but it's against the flow which is being diverted parallel to the dam below). Stay as close to the island as possible (paddling around and under branches and brush from shore) to stay out of the strongest flow. As you get to the other side of the island, you will be in the outflow of the right-channel, and will need to turn your bow more 'upstream' to those currents to ferry across to beach at a public access area. From there, you can carry up to run (most of) the right channel (described below in 'option B'), or proceed to one of the options to pass over the lower dam.

To run the right channel, you'll carry up to Elm Street. You then have three options.

Option 1) At low-to-moderate flows, it may be easiest not to cross the railing up at Elm Street, but rather find a place to go down to the water. Make your way along shore to a cement 'hip' under the bridge. From there, you can carefully walk a bit further upriver in the water (feeling carefully with your feet for rocks, lest you stub your toes or trip). There should be enough eddy (and possibly some rocks in the water to 'anchor' your boat upon) to mount up, peel out, and run whichever route you have chosen under the bridge ('The Trolls', as described below).

Option 2) Cross over the Elm Street railing, cross the street and (VERY CAREFULLY) cross over the precarious railing on that side. Carry upstream on the grassy shore, looking for a spot with enough eddy that looks decent to get down to, get into your boat, and head to the Trolls. (NOTE: I would strongly recommend against getting in your boat up on the lawn to 'seal launch' unless you are exceptionally good at 'butt-hopping' your boat off shore to land a 'boof'. This area is shallow at virtually all boatable flows, so anything which is not a boof will be a piton!)

Option 3) Cross over the first railing carry north on Elm Street to the island, then carry upstream (west) on the island. Unfortunately, there is a 'sea-wall' surrounding the island, protecting it from the flows, and fairly shallow and rocky waters surrounding. You will most likely have to place your boat atop the wall (likely parallel with it, rather than perpendicular as would be more normal), enter your boat, and then 'butt-hop' your boat off the wall, landing a sideways 'boof' (likely on a brace-stroke to stay upright). From here, you'll have a few minor set-up waves in the brief channel before getting to the Trolls.

At moderate and higher flows, it is STRONGLY recommended to scout this area before putting on anywhere above (especially if you are thinking of skipping the left-channel features to just come down this right channel). While there are routes at virtually all runnable flows, you should have a good 'visual' on this to know where you want (and don't want) to be!

The (southern-more) Elm Street road bridge has three bridge piers, creating four 'tunnels', each of which has (potentially) playble features that I like to call The Four Trolls:

'FatheR' Troll/FRumpy (Far-Right) - a well-defined (more abrupt) ledge, hidden well back under the bridge. At 'two-gates', this is a great surf and flat-spin spot.

'MotheR' Troll(Middle-Right)/GRumpy (Center-Right) - somewhat less of a ledge, creating a hole which may be playable at some flows. (You know one of them has to be the 'grumpy' old troll!)

'Teenage(r) Troll'/CLumpy (Center-Left) - this ledge/hole has a decidedly mercurial nature. Most of the time, it looks rather surly/gnarly, but looks can be deceiving. I have had some fine rides in here at some flows, but more often ... you're likely better off just leaving it alone!

'Baby Troll'/Lumpy (Leftmost) - flat/unsurfable at low flows (one gate), becomes a smooth surfable wave at moderate flows (two gates), and a fast wave (better for longer hulls) at higher flows. At four gates and higher, this may be the only reasonable route, avoiding the other options. (From any of the other choices, it would be hard to avoid a total disaster of going into the Uniform Gnarly Hydraulic downstream.)

(OK, I'll be the first to admit the names are really stupid/corny, but I needed something to differentiate the features, and this was what I came up with.)

There are adequate eddies across the whole river (again, at 'two-gates', plus or minus) to allow repeat play at each wave that you find workable, as well as allowing play across all four of these waves (as long as you are aggressive, in control, and upright)!

Utmost caution is urged (especially at two-gates and higher) because of what lies downstream (as will be described below).

The main flow of this channel (downstream of 'The Trolls') slides down shallow bedrock, then drops over a short ledge which forms a Uniform Gnarly Hydraulic (UGH!) which should be avoided by most boaters at almost all levels.

The right-most side (furthest-right-side of photo above, midground/center up/down frame) may be runnable (even minor playable) at some flows, but always scout from the new public access along here before putting on, to know whether this is reasonable or not! The lower dam (mentioned by the warning signs above the railroad bridge) is not far downstream. (The 'superstructure' on the dam, mentioned elsewhere in the description, is visible in the distance center-frame.) Anyone who ends up swimming here will be swept toward that lower dam, and will be largely at the mercy of where the currents take them to spill over the dam.

The other option (below The Trolls, at two-gates or higher) is to avoid UGH altogether using a route far left (center-foreground toward frame-left), down a series of waves over shallow rocky debris then spilling over a short ledge. With enough water, a few diagonal waves and holes may allow surfs before you spill into the slackwater below.

As previously mentioned, there is a landing below on the right shore of this channel, just before meeting the currents sweeping from right-to-left across river by the lower dam. You can use this landing to make multiple runs of The Trolls, or (when ready) continue with PART III of the run.

After having whatever fun you care to have on the center-section routes, a crucial decision must be made of how and where to run the lower dam to get to the third section of this run. This dam can be among the most fun and yet the most potentially dangerous parts of the run. All boaters (or at least one or more experienced boaters in your group) should have a firm visual impression of what they will need to do to successfully negotiate this area. Done correctly, it can be a piece of cake; done incorrectly it could really ruin your day (and cause significant scramble for your rescuers)!

While technically, it is not a true 'class IV' drop, it is the reason for that rating in the listing, so less experienced paddlers are aware of the potentially serious hazard it represents. There are quite a number of options which may be done by reasonably skilled boaters, with adequate caution, awareness of flows, and at least one guide-paddler having prior familiarity with this run. The only way for novice boaters to safely, thoroughly, and properly scout these routes is at lower flows ('one-gate' levels: less than 3000 cfs). At higher flows, these routes should be done only in the company of someone well-familiar with this section. It is highly recommended all first-time-on-this-run-boaters (on the water without a very experienced-with-this-run boater) take a close look from shore (before putting on the water) by walking up to the dam from within Thousand Islands Environmental Center before running any part of this dam.

A) Far Right (Thousand Islands Channel) (the only option(s) which lead to the far right channel below, nearest the Thousand Islands Environmental Center building): At some flows, the center of this rightmost section of the dam can be run, dropping about 2' onto slab, sheeting the flow horizontally 10'(+/-) into a shallow wave/hole. Even at flows up to three-gates (6200 cfs), the water sheets so shallow and swiftly (across the bedrock below the dam) that you will almost certainly feel and hear the boat impact on the bedrock. While it will sound nasty, it is unlikely to cause meaningful damage (to boat or body). However, being off center (especially to the left, but potentially to either side!) will drop you into a uniform boil. At higher water levels (mostly above 3-gates/7000 cfs), the entire width will increasingly become a uniform low-head-dam/boiling hole. In all instances, it will be very difficult to judge (in your boat when on the river upstream) just where it is potentially 'safe' to drop over. Therefore the recommended route is either tight to the right shore, or well to the left where trees dot small islands immediately below the dam. In either of these locations, the flow off the dam spills onto a series of shallow ledges, where one can quite safely bobble down. If you run the left side of this part of the dam, generally the flow should allow boat-scouting to pick a line in the clear spaces between tree-filled small islands.

B) Right of cement superstructure: It may be possible (for some boater, at some flow) to drop over the dam near a short vertical cement pillar (where the dam actually abuts the island), a good distance to the right of the only significant superstructure sticking up from the otherwise uniform lip of the dam. This puts you into a VERY narrow channel (with water boiling back toward the dam trying to flip you into it), which then widens to sheet across a shallow ledge before dropping off into a fairly shallow pool. Downstream of this area is often blocked by a tree/logs. In general there are far more fun options available, so (along with the difficulty/danger of this route) it is very strongly recommended NOT to use this route!

C) Left of cement superstructure (Infant Falls Channel): At many water levels, it is possible to drop over the dam a good distance to the left from the aforementioned superstructure. Specifically (at least as of 2015/16), there is a large tree which has fallen (from the island downstream of the dam) to lay across the dam, very fortuitously positioned almost precisely where the flow divides left and right of the island below. Drop to the right of the large downed tree, (ready to 'punch' the recirculation below!) and then thread through a couple trees (upright, and leaning across) in the flow, to a sweet ~4' boof ( Infant Falls) into a deep aerated pool. This puts you into an otherwise quite generally uninteresting channel (possibly one tame beginner-surfable wave). You can beach at the left, and carry up the island to 'do laps' on the falls, or launch into the 'Mystery Wave' channel (by putting in at the other side of the large tree fallen across the dam). Optionally, another choice (after running Infant Falls) is to beach at channel-right, carry up (over a pretty decent sized hill/hump on the island) to the cement pillar (as described in option B above), where you should be able to relaunch above the island/dam, where you can paddle along the dam (past the 'superstructure') to run the dam at this same spot (item (C)), or another spot.

D) Right-side access to the 'Hidden Channel': Drop over the dam just to the left of the large tree on the island which lies to the left of the significant superstructure (as described in B and C above). This has significantly less difficulty/danger than some of the other options, but should still not be taken lightly. Water pours down sloped bedrock alongside the dam (with no real significant ledges or features) then twists downstream into the 'Hidden' or 'Mystery' Channel. (See description in Part III below.)

NOTICE: As of 2015/16, a tree has fallen from the island below so that its branches block part of this flow! While it is possible to 'walk the plank'/'thread the needle' between the branches and the boil from the dam, this is best done by launching from the island (after running Infant Falls) so you can scout before committing to this line!

E) Left-side access to the 'Hidden Channel' While one could drop over the dam in the next stretch to the left, there is generally little to recommend doing so. (It tends to have much more boil back into the dam than the prior access mentioned.)

F) Far left (Mill Channel): At all but the lower flows, it may be difficult to readily determine where the divide-point is between water heading to the right (option E above) versus heading to the left. At the divide-point, there will be very little 'drop' over the dam, but there will nearly always be significant boil to contend with. The further left you go (across this final, left-most part of the dam), the taller the dam/drop is, and the harder the landing would be (as it will land shallow and sheet away in the highest sections). If one were to drop over where it is a relatively short drop, you would be met with water spreading wider and wider (sheeting shallower and shallower) across the sloping bedrock, then jumping off a short (~3') ledge onto a fairly shallow landing. This puts you into the far-left channel (as described further below in Part III). Again, given the other options which are either themselves much more fun and/or put you into channels which have better (best) play, this is an option least likely to be taken nor recommended.

=============== END OF OPTIONS FOR RUNNING LOWER DAM ===============

Brief slackwater below the lower dam leads to another short wall/dam in this river-right channel. (This may be rather difficult to spot from in your boat until you are quite close!) The left section of the wall/dam (left-of-center) is broken out, creating a bit of a chute (and a possible wave below). These left-side chutes may provide some surfs and vertical possibilities (stalls/squirts/enders), but care should be taken not to get into the uniform part of the hydraulic formed by existing sections of the wall/dam (unless you want to practice sticky-hole escape-techniques).

The center of this short dam creates a wave/hole ( Spin Cycle) which (at low-to-moderate levels) allows effortless surfs and spins as the water sheets thinly across the shallow bedrock and into a mushy foam pile. At higher levels this whole area may become quite sticky and most may do well to avoid it. A viewing platform/pier extends into the river just below, and provides a convenient place to exit. Doing so, however, misses some of the best play waves on this river. Islands split the river into numerous braided channels (hence the name of the area, '1000 Islands'), each having unique features to explore.

Option C above gets you into this drop and channel. Alternatively, paddlers who dropped into the Environmental Center channel (using option A on running the dam) would need to stay as far left as possible, ferry across outflow from this channel, beach and carry up the island to get to this fun little falls. A bit of rolling boil in the narrow transverse channel below the dam, threads through some trees, then quickly leads to a short ledge, Infant Falls. About 50 yards downstream (at good flows) you should find a tame surfing wave (great for beginners), with a couple eddies and no significant ugliness or consequence below. Most paddlers will wish to beach on the left (likely at or below a small outflow channel on the island) to carry up for repeat runs of this sweet little 'boof'.

From options A or B above, staying left in the river, beach your boat, get out and carry across the island. Either put-in alongside the wave or carry up on the island nearly to the base of the dam to run the approach to this wave. Experienced boaters (at moderate flows) may use option D above to drop into this channel from above the dam, skipping both the previously described channels, or doing the multi-combo runs and carries.

Mystery Wave (AKA 'Hidden Channel Wave') can be caught from an eddy just upstream of the wave. Peel out into the strong current, and do your best to stall yourself for a fast ride on a steep-faced wave. Depending on flow, sometimes MW isn't in, but a couple different waves may appear. In all cases, caution is urged, as the outflow runs across much shallow rock (if you are upside-down or out of boat) and pushes straight into islands and trees. At moderate-to-high water levels, those who miss the wave on their first attempt (and those successful, looking for another ride) will need paddle hard to get quickly to channel-left, take-out and carry up for another attempt at these waves. (Eddy service is sometimes available at certain flows.)

As you exit Hidden Channel, stay to the left to connect to the far-left channel. The Mill Wave channel features really come to life at a range of around 6,000 - 10,000 cfs and higher. Water spilling off this part of the dam flows across shallow sloping bedrock, and can form a smorgasbord of surfing opportunities starting on far river-right/surfers-left of this channel, culminating at far river-left/surfers-right with the Mill Wave. Mill Wave has good eddy service and becomes a bigger, better breaking wave at higher levels, but don't forget how shallow the water is. A flip here may mean a close encounter with the flat limestone riverbed.

At higher flows, boaters may wish to carry up the bedrock toward the dam to ferry across to a couple wide upper waves which can provide good surfs. Fair eddy service exists to allow repeat play of these waves, if they are well formed enough to entertain you.

If you have shuttled vehicles downstream to CTH.ZZ, when you are done playing, follow the flow downriver (pick a channel) until the islands give way to wide open river, where you'll paddle to far-right to a landing with zig-zag paved path up to parking for just a few vehicles.

At flows less than 'three gates' (less than 9000 cfs in channel), all channels between the islands downstream will be exceedingly shallow, necessitating 'knuckle-walking' or getting out to carefully drag your boat in some stretches. At the scheduled release flows, I would not recommend the bother! (Though the alternatives described below are not all that much better!)

Some boaters will either:

A) Park at the Nature Center, then use a combination of paddling and portaging (from the far-left Mill Channel) to either get back above the short dam to then paddle to far-right channel to drop into the 'Nature Center Channel', or to just get over to the river-right shore to get out at the Nature Center.

B) Park at Elm Street bridge (on the first big island, near 'the Trolls'), whereby they'll finish their trip by paddle and portage to get above the short dam, then paddle across/up to the landing river-right below 'UGH' (Uniform Gnarly Hydraulic), to then carry back to their vehicle.

I'm sure some (many?) paddlers will find the inconvenience of all this to be a major drawback of the run (again, at least, at flows under 'three gates'/9000cfs). I tend to consider it part of the unique allure of this 'in-town wilderness' run!

ALSO . . . you will often hear gunshots while on the river! Don't be too concerned -- there is a 'Sportsmen's Club' just across the street from our listed take-out.

At the end of all islands, paddle across the river to the far right shore to a landing. For kayakers, this is normally a bit awkward, as it is quite a step up to get from your boat to the raised pier. A serpentine paved path leads up to the parking area with enough space for only a handful of vehicles.