Immerse Yourself in Nature’s Beauty

One of the most immersive ways to experience the beauty of our rivers and the healing benefits of nature is to canoe with Friends of the Chicago River. No paddling experience is necessary. Friends’ trusty canoe guides will help everyone safely load in and out of the canoes, answer questions about the river along the way, and serve as safety monitors on the water. Register now for paddles in September and October.

See Events Page for Details

  • Introduction to Paddling - September 13 at 10 a.m. - Learn the joys of paddling! Friends welcome beginners on all our paddles but this event is geared towards those who would like to learn with other beginners.
  • Canoe and Clean – Saturday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. From your canoe, remove litter directly from the Chicago River and its banks. Departs from Park 571 in the Bridgeport neighborhood.
  • World Migratory Bird Day Paddles – at two locations: Saturday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the North Branch of the Chicago River and on the Little Calumet River. Seek out migrant warblers, waterfowl, swallows, and much more on World Migratory Bird Day. Experts from Chicago Ornithological Society will join us to help with identification and keeping our bird lists.
  • Moonlight Paddle – Saturday, October 11, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. This is an exclusive after-hours sunset and moonlit excursion through the Skokie Lagoons. The Forest Preserves does not typically permit night paddling, so this is a special opportunity to experience the lagoons at night.
  • Hispanic Heritage Paddle (Remo por la Herencia Hispana) - Saturday, October 18 / 18 de octubre en sábado from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Powderhorn Lake. FREE - in partnership with the Forest Preserves of Cook County. GRATIS - en colaboración con Forest Preserves of Cook County Celebrated mid-September to mid-October, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, to celebrate the heritage, history, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic Americans during a period that includes the independence days of several countries. Audubon Great Lakes will join us to offer bilingual birding on the paddle.
  • El Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana se celebra de mediados de septiembre a mediados de octubre para celebrar el legado, la historia, las tradiciones y la diversidad cultural de los hispanoamericanos durante un período que incluye los días de la independencia de varios países. Audubon Great Lakes se unirá a nosotros para ofrecer observación de aves bilingüe en el remo.

We look forward to paddling with you.