Fox (Illinois R. trib.)

Thanks to fellow ACA instructor Jeff B. for providing a good description of the Marge Cline Whitewater Park: 'It is better than 'Better than Nothing.'' This is evidenced by the fact that folks have driven four hours from St. Louis to paddle it. When I asked, they told me it's worth the drive when they have a whitewater jones going and the St. Francis isn't running. Living a mere 30 minutes away, it is a great place for locals like me to practice basic skills. People often drive up to two hours to paddle the run, but those living six hours away may find the trip not worth it.

There has been great debate as to what rating this run is. Using the rating guidance contained on the AW site, I would offer my opinion that it is a Class I+ run. Why? People who intend to simply bomb it still require some corrective strokes to stay in the current. However, the squirrelly eddies and difficult waves may elevate certain features to Class II if attempting to do more than simply bomb the course. I've seen more than one Class IV+ paddler roll back up with a surprised look on their face, as if to say 'what the hell was that?' when they let their guard down.

Being an engineered course it is relatively very safe; however, folks should not forget it is still a wild river and swimmers should exercise due caution (i.e. defensive swimming) if they find themselves out of their boats.

The course begins at 'entrance wave' (none of these are official, but are what I call them) that at low flows can be used for surfing and flat spinning. At flows above around 1200-1500 the wave washes out. It is usually too shallow to do anything vertical. It actually becomes more retentive as flow drops. Just down stream of entrance is an island. River left of the island is 'second wave' which, depending on flow, my allow some flat surfing. On river right of the island is 'play wave', a feature that is playable and changes its dynamics over a wide range of flows. People have been known to throw a loop here, but it takes some effort to find the sweet spot. The left and right flows come together and form into 'middle wave', just upstream of the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the run. The 'middle' is a Class I feature that occasionally offers some surf opportunity if one can catch one of the sweet spots. After the middle another island splits the run. Although the river right channel was supposed to the challenge route, it offers not much for the whitewater paddler. The river left channel also offers little except the opportunity to practice catching eddies. The bottom offers bow stall and stern squirt opportunities.

The Marge Cline course is used by the Chicago Whitewater Association for Beginner I+ courses, and also by private outfitters such as The Yak Shack and Geneva Kayak as a venue for lessons. However, the best use of the course is not as a teaching venue, but as a learning venue: Those who have taken a beginner course and are proficient in self-rescue will find the challenging eddy lines and variations of waves a great place to develop skill and build proficiency. A beginner who takes a few trips to Yorkville, particularly with the assistance of a mentor, will find their skill and confidence rise rapidly.

The run is open year round. Although the river freezes over up and downstream, water flows through the run continuously. Even when flow is so low that no water flows over the accompanying dam, water will flow through the run. As always, paddle with a buddy.