Boating in DuPage County Forest Preserves
Boat, Canoe and Kayak Rentals
Boat, canoe and kayak rentals, as well as bait and vending machines, are available at Blackwell and Herrick Lake forest preserves. Boats with trolling motors are also available at Blackwell. Wheelchair-accessible docks are located at both preserves. Rental areas are open weekends only from the beginning of May through Memorial Day, daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and weekends only from the weekend after Labor Day through the end of September. For more information, call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248.
Federal and state regulations require that watercraft contain one well-fitting personal flotation device for each member on board and that children under 13 wear PFDs when underway in recreational vessels. In addition, all individuals, regardless of age, must wear PFDs when underway in District-rented canoes or kayaks.
Bringing Your Own Watercraft
Private boating is permitted on select lakes with a Forest Preserve District daily or annual permit. Daily and annual private-boating permits may be purchased at the Blackwell Forest Preserve rental area, when open, or at District headquarters at 3 S. 580 Naperville Road in Wheaton, which is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Steel locked boxes are available to collect daily permit fees at Blackwell, West Branch, Mallard Lake and Hidden Lake forest preserves.
Nongasoline-powered watercraft up to 20 feet in length, including boats, canoes, kayaks, and multichambered inflatables with factory-installed hardened floors and transoms, are permitted on the following lakes at these preserves: Silver Lake at Blackwell, Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch, Round Meadow Lake at Hidden Lake and Mallard Lake at Mallard Lake. Sailboats are only permitted on Silver Lake. Silver Lake has a boat ramp; at the other three lakes, boats must be transported on or in a vehicle (no trailers) and carried to the lake.
Free access to the following riverways is available at these preserves: West Branch of the DuPage River at Blackwell or McDowell Grove, East Branch of the DuPage River at Churchill Woods, and Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods off the Graue Mill parking lot downstream of the dam.
Please note that all watercraft must be registered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Federal and state regulations require that watercraft contain one well-fitting PFD for each member on board and that children under 13 wear PFDs when underway in recreational vessels. In addition, District regulations require that all individuals, regardless of age, must wear PFDs when in private canoes and kayaks.
For more information, call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5000, Wheaton, IL 60189-5000
email: forest@dupageforest.com (630) 933-7200 Fax: (630) 933-7204 TTY: (800) 526-0857