Canoe with Friends!
CHICAGO RIVER KNOWLEDGE!
Question: How many miles long is the Chicago River?
Answer: The Chicago River spans 156 miles.
Experience the Beauty of the Chicago River
from a Canoe
Register Now for 2008 Trips!
Why travel afar when you can experience rich wildlife and urban adventure in your own backyard? Friends of the Chicago River offers guided group tours of several sections of the Chicago River. Experienced and knowledgeable river guides, canoe skills, shuttle service (when needed), catered box lunches, and equipment (canoes, paddles, personal flotation devices and dry bags) are provided by Friends of the Chicago River.
Each canoe trip package is approximately a six-hour trip (the Baha’i trip is approximately three hours). Eight experienced canoe docents provide safety instructions, lead each trip, and manage equipment unloading and loading. Friends’ canoe guides are knowledgeable of the ecological, industrial, and cultural history of Chicago and love conversing with our guests about these topics. All canoe guides are trained in first aid and canoe rescue skills.
Click the name of the trip to download the trip description for details about each canoe trip. For further information or to plan a private group trip email Alex Duchak.
Other Canoeing Opportunities with Friends
Chicago Park District Family Canoe Trips
Check out the Chicago Park District for updates on shorter family canoe trips run by Friends.
Plan a Private Canoe Trip
Interested in a corporate event? Have a large private group and want to take them out on the river? Have Friends host your personally-tailored canoe trip modeled after our classic canoe trips. Downloadable forms will be available soon to help you get started on planning your next private event with us! Great for all different types of organizations who wish to experience the Chicago River.
Become a Volunteer Canoe Guide
Interested in becoming a trained canoe guide? Download the Volunteer Canoe Guide Application!
2008 Canoe Season Calendar
July 2008
Sunday, July 20
Downtown Canyons
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost $35 for members, $40 for non-members
Register Now!
August 2008
Saturday, August 2
Loop the Goose
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost $35 for members, $40 for non-members
Register Now!
Sunday, August 10
Downtown Canyons
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost $35 for members, $40 for non-members
Register Now!
Saturday, August 23
Ecology of the River
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Cost $35 for members, $40 for non-members
Register Now!
Saturday, August 30
Baha’i Evening Paddle
4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost $25 for members, $30 for non-members
Register Now!
September 2008
Saturday, September 13
Skokie Lagoons Evening Paddle
5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Cost $35 for members, $40 for non-members
Register Now!
Saturday, September 20
North Branch Trip
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cost $35 for members, $40 for non-members
Register Now!
October 2008
Saturday, October 11
Skokie Lagoons Evening Paddle
5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Cost $35 for members, $40 for non-members
Register Now!
Canoe Trip Meeting Locations
Use the following Google Maps to get specific directions to our trip locations. Refer to the trip descriptions for detailed directions.
Loop the Goose, Downtown Canyons
Skokie Lagoons
Baha’i Evening Paddle
Ecology of the River
Read about our cancellation policy here. (PDF 112KB)
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