Floating the Illinois River in Arkansas: Amazing Summer Fun

Updated: April 2024

Floating the Illinois River has become a routine summer activity for us. Although we have become accustomed to the route and flow of the river, we usually find ourselves surprised by some other aspect of the trip.

Read on for the inside scoop on the Illinois River (in Arkansas). Stay tuned for our awesome unexpected surprise!

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About the Illinois River

The Illinois River is a 145-mile-long tributary of the Arkansas River in Arkansas and Oklahoma. 45% of the square mileage of the Illinois River watershed is located within western Arkansas.

The spring-fed river rises in the Ozark Mountains in the northwest corner of Arkansas. The stream flows through a portion of the Ozark National Forest and enters Benton County.

The stream leaves Arkansas at the southwest corner of Benton County and enters Lake Frances in Oklahoma.

The river has not been without controversy. There have been environmental issues plaguing the Illinois River through recent years, regarding river policy and pollution. A few articles about this are linked below…

Additional Information: “River heals as a lawsuit against Big Poultry looms”, MSN. Krause, Robert. “Illinois River.” The Encyclopedia of Arkansas. March 2023. “Illinois River Oklahoma.” Wikipedia

Prep for Floating the Illinois River

Preparations for floating the Illinois River include checking the weather, and river levels and deciding access + landing locations. River levels are posted at USGS (U.S. Geological Survey).

For our floats, we often follow the Siloam Springs Kayak Park’s lead. If river levels are too high, the kayak park will be closed. This is important if you use the kayak park as an access point or landing point.

The Siloam Springs Kayak Park (19253 Fisher Ford Road, Siloam Springs, AR) is open from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (if river levels are acceptable) and is free.

There is ample parking but it does get crowded during the summer, especially on weekends.

The park has two engineered rapids class I to II, a family swimming area, a small climbing boulder, a picnic area, a changing area, an accessible riverbank, and porta potties.

**UPDATE as of the 2023 season: Due to the crowded weekends, there is now a $10 charge (per vehicle) for parking at the Kayak Park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (May 19 through Labor Day). You can still drop off or pick up your kayak for free (as long as you aren’t parking in a spot and staying). Monday through Thursday remains free. Once the parking lot is full, no more will be admitted.

“The two best reasons to buy a kayak rather than just renting are sunsets and sunrises.”

Thomas P. Jones

Another access or landing point to explore soon will be WOKA Whitewater Park. The Grand River Dam Authority and the City of Siloam Springs are currently building a new 30-acre whitewater park on the Oklahoma and Arkansas border, scheduled to open this year.

**UPDATE WOKA has since opened (late fall of 2023). We hope to explore it in early 2024 and bring the results here. According to their site, they have 8 low-hazard whitewater features, seasonal rentals, shop and concessions, and shaded viewing. Changing facilities and restrooms are on-site and mountain bike trails are nearby. Lifejackets, whitewater helmets, and secure footwear are required. Parking is $10 (cashless facility). Boards, tubes, and kayaks are available to rent by the hour.

Floating the Illinois River

Our access point for this float is Chamber Springs Access (behind Riverside Fireworks, down Chamber Springs Rd).

CHECK OUT ALL ILLINOIS RIVER ACCESS POINTS HERE

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This can be a rough drive down the poorly kept dirt road, but cars can manage at a slow pace. The available small ramp allows easy river access to load kayaks for floating the Illinois River.

This section of the Illinois River is calm for most of the float. Some areas will require a small amount of paddling. In lower water levels/flow, more paddling will be required. The rapids are minimal, seeming more like a quick float than actual rapids.

The biggest obstacle you will come across while floating the Illinois River is the multiple trees that have fallen into the river. So. Many. Trees. We spent a good amount of our time working our way around trees.

We were never forced to drag the kayaks across the land because of barriers. At times we had to slow down to assess the best route through the trees.

At one point (pictured above), we had to pull over and get a better view of the obstacle to decide if we could safely kayak around the tree. We managed to get around the tree with no issues.

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At another point, the water current drug me toward a downed tree lying across the river, and required hard paddling to avoid being swept into it (an alternate route is available in this area).

Other than those 2 spots, it is pretty smooth sailing while floating the Illinois River. Including a 30-minute lunch break and a couple of quick explorations, this trip took us 5 hours.

My pre-teen has been floating the Illinois River with us many times over the past few years, and will proudly tell you he is the only one who has not flipped his kayak in this river.

With kids, I advise an adult going through obstructions first to assess the best route and pull of the current before allowing kids to kayak through (which is probably the reason my son hasn’t tipped yet). And, of course, always have a PDF on children.

Surprise on the Illinois River

Most often when floating the Illinois River we spot geese, snakes, and eagles. On this particular float, we were lucky enough to spot 3 eagles at fairly close range.

There were 2 guarded eagle’s nests that we spotted alongside the river on this day. The first nest had, what we assumed, was both a male and female eagle who appeared to take turns guarding the nest.

We decided to set up lunch on a small rock island in the river for some eagle-watching while we ate. The highlight of this trip (and my entire week), was the mama eagle coming out of the nest to perch and watch us eat lunch.

And even more stunning, it flew right at us when I held my sandwich up in the air for the offering. We managed to catch this crazy moment on video.

“Kayaking is the answer. Who cares what the question is.”

author unknown

MORE KAYAKING QUOTES

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO FLOAT THE ILLINOIS?

CAN YOU SWIM IN THE ILLINOIS RIVER?

She passed up the sandwich but later dove down to catch a fish next to us, and then fly it back to her babies.

We could tell there was movement in the nest, but never got a good visual of the babies. (See the eagle pics and videos below!)

Eagle Images + Videos

@brandi_youre.a.fine.girl

I really thought she was about to take a sandwich out of my hand 😳🤣🤣 #sunrises2sunsets #eagle #eagles #wildlife #animals #arkansas #kayak #kayaking #smileyadventures #baldeagle #baldeagle

♬ original sound – Brandi @Sunrises2Sunsets.net

My favorite part of floating the Illinois River is checking up on these eagles. On subsequent floats, I have caught glimpses of baby eagle heads popping up over the edge of the nest.

Final Thoughts on Floating the Illinois River

Floating the Illinois River is an excellent activity for you, your friends, and/or your family. With the slow pace of the river and the variety of wildlife, you won’t be disappointed.

Sunshine or rain, you’re guaranteed a good time. And (fingers crossed) you may spot an eagle or 2!

FLOATING THE ILLINOIS RIVER IN OKLAHOMA

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ANYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KAYAKING

ALL ABOUT KAYAKING ARKANSAS

Will you be floating on the Illinois River this summer? Send me a message!

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