Now that it is summer 2023, it is time to grab that kayak or canoe and check out the Kish. Although the river runs 14 miles through McHenry County, only some of the river is paddleable. The volunteers hope to open the last bit this summer. The most accurate info is on our facebook page Paddle the Kish in Marengo. We also have this website and a YouTube channel of the same name. On the McHenry County portion of the Kish a smaller boat 6-10 feet is preferable due to the many switchbacks and narrow passages.
Siems Park on Highbridge Rd is the uppermost section that is cleared. Paddling from Siems to Hwy 23 should be cleared of treefalls, unless there has been a big storm recently. Here is launch info:
Siems Park is open sunrise to sunset. The gates are locked nightly, so don’t leave your car there too late.
Millstream Rd go under the bridge and take out / put in on the south side. Don’t park on any bridge, but there is a wide shoulder on the southwest side of the bridge.
Deerpass Rd turn left at the fork, and there is a canal on the southeast side of the bridge along the road for easy access. Again, no parking on any bridge. If you are paddling through, make a right turn and go under the north bridge for easier paddling.
Woodbine Launch has about 75 feet of bank for access. Look to your left as you approach and use the backwater (out of the current) for access. No vehicles beyond the boat drop off please! It is a 300 foot walk back to the boat drop off turn around.
Hwy 23 is on the City of Marengo water treatment site. Exit before the bridge and walk outside the fence along 23. Parking is available outside the fence to the left of the driveway, by the No Littering sign. Don’t block the driveway.
DON’T PADDLE West of Hwy 23 to Thorne Rd. There are more than 20 treefalls that need to be removed this summer with no way out.
Thorne Rd. access on the northwest side of the bridge. There is an MCCD parking lot about a block back north where you can park also. The paddle west of Thorne Rd is open and lovely.
County Line Rd Launch is through a pond to your right after you go under the bridge. It is about a block or so across the pond, so don’t lose hope. The launch is on the west side of County Line Rd and parking is on the east side. In summer MCCD usually installs a porta potty.
Boone County usually does a good job of keeping the Kish open for paddling. Don’t park at Epworth Rd, since the resident there has the police tow any parked cars after 30 minutes. After the Red Horse Bend Launch the Kish gets considerably wider, so that a boat of 10 feet or longer is OK.
Feel free to contact Pat Lawlor any time for up-to-date info. patlawlor117@gmail.com 815.715.0592. Happy and SAFE paddling!