Vermillion River Rafting, Illinois, United States

4worldmusician 5:00 PM Jul 4, 2014

Pleasant afternoon in Illinois "whitewater"
I've done rafting all around the country--I can't in good faith call this "whitewater" rafting or state that this is a Class III river. There are a few really nice (and short) drops along the way that gave some excitement to the trip, but this is the exact sort of whitewater you would expect in Illinois. Pretty flat. With this said, we had a nice time on the Vermillion. There are several nice pull outs upon which many people were taking a quick dip and there is a lot of wildlife along the way. The owners of Vermillion River Rafting are a retired couple who are very affable and welcoming. We went on a busy day, and they were still happy to talk about the river and their business on it for the last 17 years. You will drop off your group and then park your car at the end of the river run on the Oglesby bridge over the Vermillion. They will then drive you back to the rafting base and after short directions, send you off on the river. Great day and nice people!

4wshn4fshn2018 5:00 PM Jun 9, 2019

No other place like it in Illinois
First off, I want to clarify this report of my last trip was May 2018, not July 2018, as this was limited by Tripadvisor's click menu. This matters as typically better rafting conditions are typically in the spring when more frequent rains generally provide better rafting conditions. Paddle craft venues on rivers do live and die with water levels. Too much can pose dangers, too low and the river might require too much walking the water craft, which also has it's dangers with slick boulders, etc. It's a good idea to read their website, then look up Water Watch on the USGS website. Keep in mind water levels do constantly change, Vermillion River Rafting is a very unique "thing to do" here in the flatland state of Illinois. In fact, I believe it is the only place in Illinois to have an actual whitewater venue, save for the short manmade rapid on the Fox River in Yorkville. The trip itself takes about 3 hours when allowing for short breaks. Many parties can make a longer trip out of it when stopping for picnicing, short swims and such along the way. First off, the scenery on the trip is gorgeous, unlike most of the rest of Illinois. The setting is in a deep river valley covered with bountiful hardwoods and occasional limestone bluffs. Soon, the lack of development along the river corridor is apparent. I believe along the entire 9 mile float, the only developments you will pass by besides the cement plant (just one 300 yard section), a couple of bridges and 2 or 3 farmhouses. In one section, you can float underneath a limestone cliff. Another unique feature is the change in geology along the way, which is noticed initially at Wildcat rapids. Many days, a few vultures can be seen in the skies high above, riding the thermals coming off the bluffs. Occasionally, an eagle or a hawk will be spotted doing the same. Blue herons will be seen here and there in the shallows looking for a fish meal. The only sounds you may hear is the sound of laughing water in the frequent riffles if you are so lucky to go when there's no people nearby, otherwise it will include the sound of rafting and kayaking parties having fun. The only true "whitewater", if you will is Wildcat Rapids, the cement factory dam slide, and the fun straight section about a quarter mile below the dam slide. For the uninitiated, just remember to stay tight to the right side at Wildcat and the dam. I have used Vermillion River Rafting for over 15 years and never had a problem. This is a family run operation, and one can expect larger crowds on the weekends during the spring and early summer. During the week, the crowd is much less to almost non-existent. When you keep in mind that their operation is all weather dependent and conditions can change rapidly, it pays to give them a call before you come out to make sure they are operating. Many times, they will have to close down after mid-July, but it depends on conditions. As far as a "beginner's" river, well, I would say that specifically for whitewater rafting, it is. But that said, you should have at least one person that is familiar with watercraft paddling basic skills. If you have questions on that, ask the staff. Though I haven't experienced it, I see some reviews saying they're rude. However, I have seen it the other way around with some of the groups and parties that come through. Enjoy, it's a great time and it's a nice, easy day trip from the Chicagoland area.