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Can you swim in the Illinois River? Chill Summer Days…
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Can you swim in the Illinois River in Arkansas and Oklahoma?
Yes! Of course. Whether you choose to swim at one of the access points or kayak the Illinois River in Arkansas or Oklahoma, you will encounter many people enjoying the beautiful river on any given day.
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Table of Contents
Swim in the Illinois River
I address this question because it popped up on one of my Google “related searches” and the first answer snippet answered, “It is not advised.” I disagree with that and am putting a better answer out there!
I have spent many hours on the Illinois River and always enjoy playing in the water.
But. It is a river. And like any river, it is “living” in the sense that it moves and changes. A river can be powerful and always requires caution. A properly fitted PFD is advised for maximum safety in the water.
Always check river levels before going to a river. High waters after a good rainfall can be dangerous. If the water is muddy, that means debris has been stirred up, and you can’t see what’s beneath the water.
To search water levels visit the United States Geological Survey National Water Dashboard to search by zipcode.
Another concern floating around is the water quality of the Illinois River. While there have been issues in the past with water quality due to poultry runoff, conservation efforts have been put into place. Organizations, such as The Illinois River Watershed Partnership, Save the Illinois River, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission have efforts in place to restore and protect the river.
Access Points to Swim in the Illinois
If you choose not to swim in the Illinois River, then you are missing out on some amazing scenery and chill summer days! If you are ready to take a plunge into the beautiful river, here’s what you need to know…
There are multiple access points along the Illinois River in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Most of the Illinois River resides in Oklahoma, so there are more access points and outfitters on that side (and more rules).
In Arkansas, there are just a few free public access points for swimming and floating.
Illinois River Access Points
all public access points with map locations!
To swim in the Illinois River in Arkansas, the most used access point in Arkansas is the Siloam Springs Kayak Park. There is plenty of space to set up for the day and enjoy the river.
Due to the weekends getting crowded, restrictions were put into place.
Mondays through Thursdays, parking at the kayak park is free. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day require a $10 parking fee.
Once the parking lot is full, no one else is allowed to enter. However, they will let you drive in to launch or load a kayak or canoe (as long as you don’t try to park in a parking space).
Chamber Springs public access is another popular area to swim in the Illinois River in Arkansas. The parking lot tends to get overcrowded on weekends, but there is room along the river bank to spread out and enjoy the swim.
Oklahoma has multiple free public access points that can be used to swim in the Illinois River. Check out Illinois River Access Points. Take a look at the link to get an idea of what each access point is like, where it is, and a picture of the area.
Edmondston Public Access is the largest and most populated access point but is spread out with great swimming opportunities.
Swim in the Illinois River While Kayaking
My favorite way to swim in the Illinois River is on kayaking rest breaks. This allows you to find more secluded swimming holes along the river.
If you are new to kayaking, check out Is Kayaking Hard? and Arkansas Kayaking Adventure to determine if kayaking on the Illinois River is right for you.
If you decide to swim in the Illinois River, check out Illinois River Access Points to decide where to swim.
If you decide to kayak, read Floating the Illinois River in Arkansas and Floating The Illinois River in Oklahoma to decide which side you will be floating on.
Float the Illinois in Arkansas
What to expect on this beautiful adventure.
Float the Illinois in Oklahoma
And then plan your float with How much does it cost to float the Illinois River?
Additional resources are found at 20 Best Kayaking Accessories under $20 and The Best Dry Bag.
For all the information you need to float on the Illinois River (access points with links, outfitters with links, outfitter price comparisons, all points on the river with float/river miles in between each point, and river rules), check out The Illinois River Complete Float Guide.
float guide
Illinois River
Everything you need to plan your Illinois River float!
I love the idea of finding more secluded spots to swim while kayaking! This sounds so fun. Thank you for sharing!
These ideas are great! Hope I can put them to practise one day 🙂
I love swimming! Being able to enjoy a swim on a kayak river trip makes me even want to try kayaking more!