THE
IROQUOIS RIVER
CANOEING OPPORTUNITIES
The Iroquois River is a placid, remote, prairie stream flowing
almost entirely through rural areas of Iroquois and Kankakee Counties.
The river gets its name from the Iroquois Indians, who inhabited
this northern Illinois area. The town of Iroquois, at the extreme
eastern part of the section covered in this report, was the site
of the main Iroquois Indian settlement.
In many places the river is entrenched, and scenic views are limited
to the banks and bridges. In other places, the banks are shallow.
Trees and pasture areas line the stream, and a few scattered sand
bars provide places to stop and stretch. There is an interesting
marsh near the mouth of the stream.
The Iroquois will accommodate any size group and is an ideal stream
for the novice canoeist. Except for some danger from motorboats
in the Kankakee area, the river is safe, and little skill is required
even in high water.
The stream flows about 3 miles per hour in the upper reaches, gradually
decreasing to about 0.5 miles per hour nearer to the mouth, where
the velocity is influenced by the widening of the stream and the
dam that controls the level of the Kankakee River. The depth varies
from 1 to 10 feet, with a few riffles.
The stream can be entered at the town of Iroquois on Route 52 during
periods of high water. During normal water levels, the best place
to put in is at the intersection of Route 1 north of Watseka. Below
this point, the river can be traversed at any time of the year.
There is a public launching site at Watseka at the west end of
Main Street. In addition, there are 6 bridges between Watseka and
Aroma Park, and launchings can be made at any of these sites. There
is a very rocky area just above the last bridge before Aroma Park,
as well as in the Kankakee area, and just below Wilmington. There
is a log jam about 1/4 mile below Watseka. The banks are high and
steep at these access points, and it may be necessary to cross privately-owned
land to get from the stream to the road. Permission must be obtained
from the landowner in these cases.
At Aroma Park there are two public parks at the bridge over the
Kankakee River. These are very near the mouth of the Iroquois.
There is little evidence of sewage pollution, except for drainage
from some septic tanks. An occasional instance of ensilage liquors
and a heavy silt load make up the balance of foreign substances.
There are no public campsites or sources of water or groceries;
therefore, supplies must be carried. Two days should be allowed
for the approximately 36 miles between Watseka and Kankakee.
