Illinois River Near Tahlequah (with pictures from Sat.)

[Drooba]

I first learned of canoeing by going to the Illinois in the early '80's when I was a teenager. Never considered anything else until much later. So I try to get over there every year at least once.

It's full of renters and whiskey critters just like me and my friends were back in the day. Still, as close as it is and as and as reliable as the water levels holds up when alot of others are dry, I am surprised that I haven't ever run into any River Valley ACC folks over there. From here the Elk River in MO and the Illinois are the two most reliable mildwater floats. My last experience on the Elk was WAY TOO MUCH TRAFFIC! Literally side-to-side and bumper-to-bumper in places. The Spring River is Great but it's a long drive from Ft. Smith.

Here's a link to my Webshots from our float Saturday. I have also attempted a poll so we'll see if that gets any responses.

-Drue

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/565021966sUYMtE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GN YAKN]

I head over there fairly often as I have family living the the Quah.

Have boated on the Illinois like Drue for many years beginning in the early 70's when my Dad introduced my brother and I to boating.

The party atmosphere on the weekends gets downright out-of-hand. However, weekdays are wonderful.

I have used the river for instruction many times as it is nice easy class I moving water. It is also, as demonstrated by your photos, a great place to teach people about strainers.

There are numerous trees in the water that the Scenic River Commission doesn't or won't remove from the river. Not sure if it is due to its "scenic" designation or if it is because they are fish habitat, or, maybe because the river goes through a lot of private property. Most all of them are avoidable with minimum awareness and boat control. Something a high percentage of the renters seem to lack.

Stop by the Scenic River Commission and purchase a $1 arm band if you take your own boats. This is a fee they charge for private boats. I always have to ask them to put my money towards the purchase of a chainsaw and a come-along

[WoolyJR1]

What is a minimum level that the Illinois can be floated. Also what is the best section to do a 4-8 mile float. Never been there before, but if it is like the Spring and has water right now, I might be game. Just something to get wet in and play a little in moving water.

[Cowper]

I floated it many weekends, including both "off season" and "summer", during the 80's and 90's, as my wife was visiting her mother and father during their last years. They lived outside of Tahlequah, less than a mile from the river.

Sadly, leading up to my last float, a number of things came together to sour my taste for the river. My canoe was a green ABS Blue Hole, lost among the alumi-cans. The color green is apparently associated with "rangers" and "authority figures", but since I had no uniform and no gun I was subjected to verbal abuse of varying degrees on multiple trips, just for existing and being "different". On one trip, my wife was insulted by those who felt her hair was shorter than a woman's hair should be. Following a release of what was most likely chicken manure or a holding pond for chicken wastes, I found my gear was smelling bad at the end of each trip for several weekends in a row. On another trip, some of the other floaters thought it was funny when they saw me snatching cans out of the river - so they responded by yelling insults and unloading several dozen of their own empties into the river near where I was working. There were other incidents I'd rather not relate in this public forum.

I might go back to the Illinois, but I gave it a "no" vote for now because it is so low on my priority list that it might be several more years before it really happens.

[Owl]

JR:

I 've never paddled the Illinois below 3' and that would be my personal minimum although you probably could go as low as 2.5'. Gauge link here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ok/nwis/uv?07196500" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AHPS here: http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrogra ... ,1,1,1,1,1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are a number of public access points allowing for trips of different lengths. Floater's guide here: http://www.oklahomascenicrivers.net/fil ... _guide.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Last Saturday the level was 3.4' and we paddled 13.8 miles. I was in my DIesel (the only WW boat I saw on the river). That sounds kind of far but we stopped a bunch, swam, etc. It was a really good arm workout but I'd do it again.

[Drooba]

I felt like the 13.8 was more than I would purposely set out for again at that level and in that heat. We can get out and swim and take pictures on a 9 mile float.

Asks The Owl, "What else would you be doing?"
Answers I, "Getting some rest."



I did a much shorter and faster float in the first week of May at nearly 5 feet and we should have gone further - oh well. At that time of year we were nearly alone on the river.

And she's still a scenic river. Nice bluffs, healthy bushes.

-Drue

[GN YAKN]

I like the section from Round Hollow to Peavine, personally. Only about 4 miles and further upstream where the crowds aren't quite so thick. Watch out for the trips that go around Sparrowhawk Mtn. That is about a 12 mile trip with no intermediate take out points.

Here is a link to a map that has most of the access points listed:

http://www.oklahomascenicrivers.net/fil ... de_map.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was amused at some of Cowper's experiences and not too suprised by the others. I get some pretty funny looks over there, too. People cannot believe that someone would actually wear a PFD on the river!

They really freak when you put on a helmet. And everyone asks you, "Wurdya rent that thang?"

Everyone wants to see the Eskimo roll and they will glady fork over cold beers for a quick demonstration!!!!

Diamond Head resort hosts some pretty good live music shows on Holiday weekends. I spent the 4th of July there and had a blast. Will probably head back next year.