Class I-II Little Calumet River, IL

Between the confluence with the Cal-Sag Channel and mouth of the river at Lake Michigan, industrial traffic, concrete and steel vertical bulkhead walls, and powered boats make this stretch a place for expert paddlers. However, the O’Brien Locks at 134th Street, Lake Calumet, and the monumental, hulking, and rusting relics of the river’s industrial past, create a unique experience in this section. The Little Calumet Boat Launch and the boat ramp in Beaubien Woods create the water trail on this stretch.

Few people realize that Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by a series of waterways, including The Little Calumet River. The river flows through several south-side Chicago neighborhoods and 180 years of African American history—sites and figures whose impact remains with us today.

(Source: Openlands)

For More Information Visit:

Paddle Northeastern Illinois - Openlands

The African American Heritage Water Trail - Openlands