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    Vermilion River Adventures

    5.0 (1 review)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Vermilion River Adventures Rafting/Kayaking Photos

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    2 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Vermilion River Adventures

    Kayak Starved Rock

    Kayak Starved Rock

    4.3(112 reviews)
    35.0 mi

    I have mixed feelings about this kayak tour company. I signed up because although I'm a very…read morecapable and seasoned kayaker, I didn't know this river and I like learning about the ecosystems and local wildlife. For this reason I like having tour guides. Going up the river was fine. Coming back went a bit sour. I went as slow as I was capable of paddling or not paddling, but apparently it was too fast for the preference of our tour guide. I was barely touching the water with my paddle. I have no idea how I could have gone any slower. It wasn't humanly possible. After shouting at me several times, he took to chasing me down and ramming my kayak so it'd spin in circles. Would I rent a kayak here and kayak the river alone? Yes. Would I personally use a tour guide here? No I wouldn't. Would I recommend? If you're a family with little kids or a drunk sorority house, absolutely. If you know what you're doing, just go it alone. You'll probably enjoy it more. Edit: If the tour guide had concerns for group safety, he could have said so. Although ramming my kayak with his seems to be a bit of a conflict as far as my safety goes. It was an unprofessional approach when he could have simply explained why he needed me to slow down

    It almost seemed like a dream. From the very start, cruising through a large patch of lotus plants,…read moreit felt otherworldly. Very peaceful, going at our own pace. Enjoyed the cliff walls of Buffalo Rock and the shallow waters of some side passages. We paddled for 5 hours, covering 8 miles total. After we were done we headed to charming, historic downtown Utica for drinks and dinner at Skoog's Pub & Grill in North Utica, IL. I was impressed with the logistics and operation of the kayaking experience, from the guide* to the equipment and online booking process. *Full disclosure, the guide was my twin sister, but I am being objective...seriously.

    Photos
    Kayak Starved Rock
    Kayak Starved Rock
    Kayak Starved Rock

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    Vermillion River Rafting

    Vermillion River Rafting

    2.3(44 reviews)
    33.1 mi

    The water level and rapids was perfect today for my first time experiencing whitewater rafting…read more We arrived a little after 9am, we made reservations ahead of time and there was a couple of big groups checking in ahead of us. The process was quick, check in, sign waiver forms, get your paddle, life vest and helmet and you're ready to go. Before we got in the water we got some instructions how to go down the main rapids: Wildcat Falls, Lone Star Dam and the Narrows. The Wildcat falls, go towards the right of the river, aim center of the two giant boulders and go down left. Most people went way right down it and got stuck at the bottom boulder and some fell in the water. We manage to go down successfully after watching a few rafters. The Lone Star Dam, stay close to the right side to go down it. The rest of the dam has a under tow that can be really dangerous and can pin you down specially if you go down sideways. The Narrows, make sure to hit it straight on and just ride the rapids. That was my favorite section. Yes, this can be dangerous. Just follow the instructions, ask a lot of questions and know your ability. Their is no guide on the raft with you. Tips before going. -Make sure to watch the safety video first, link provided on their website. -Make sure to check the water level and speed at the US coastguard link provided on their website as well. -Lastly know your ability or skills/experience paddling/kayaking/rafting. -I also watched a few YouTube videos to have an idea of the areas mentioned above. -They only accept cash or check. Today, 6/8/19, the water level was 8 feet deep and flowrate of 1500. Classified as Class 3. There was a huge group of boys scouts out the same time we did it and everyone got through it safely and had fun.

    I went white water rafting yesterday and it is seriously beautiful! So much wildlife, nature and…read morethe path is very nice you can even see a waterfall at the end, it is dangerous if you don't know what you're doing or go alone but go in a group and research before you do this activity you will be fine. It is kind of sad that there is garbage every now and then left on land, people ruining the nature but still beautiful for the most part. As other reviews state, avoid the dam area , paddle to the right.

    Photos
    Vermillion River Rafting - Look at all that nature!

    Look at all that nature!

    Vermillion River Rafting - Wildcat falls, how we got through that day without a hitch. We aimed center where the water was running smooth.

    Wildcat falls, how we got through that day without a hitch. We aimed center where the water was running smooth.

    Vermillion River Rafting - Wildcat Falls

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    Wildcat Falls

    Reed's Canoe Trips

    Reed's Canoe Trips

    4.4(22 reviews)
    43.6 mi

    I've been going to Reeds for canoeing over the span of 30 years. I can honestly say that this…read morerental was the easiest and most organized. The woman at the desk was so friendly and helpful. Reeds website spells out everything very clearly, and you're able to fill out the release at home, so it saves everyone time at the counter. Gone are the days of hot, old school buses. One was a newer model, and another, a van, was air conditioned. The drivers wore masks, which I appreciated. When we got to the drop-off site, the canoes were ready and waiting for us. When we got to the pickup site, the men helped us get our canoes up, and loaded them up. There were a few more of us than there was room on the bus, but the shuttle showed up a minute later, and took 4 of us back, without making us wait for more people to fill it up. More about the trip: we did the easy trip (#2) on a beautiful day without paddling much. We didn't really find many places to pull over to stop on the short trip, but I think there are more on the longer trips. Be prepared to hear some highway noise at some parts, and on Saturdays, plenty of lawnmowers since the shores are lined with homes. It didn't affect the experience too much. The canoeing was exactly as described: not too high and not too low. There were a couple motorized watercraft, but they slowed down when they saw canoers. One small suggestion I'd make: offer the seating pads ($1) at reservation time, or even better, just build it into the price. I don't think anyone is going to quibble about a dollar or two added to a $63 rental, and it would eliminate that extra transaction. Thanks again, Reeds. We'll be back!

    Ckg in was no problem. We had 14 in our group, with life jackets, coolers, personal packs, and had…read moreto cram into a van that seats 12 - not a good experience. Arrived at launch 'area' ~ side of the road with @ least a 30 deg. downslope of jagged rocks to the river's edge. Our driver (Dan) off loaded canoes from the trailer rack & we were left to take them down to the river, along with all of our gear! WTF? It wasn't safe for my 62 y.o. self & my 50 y.o. brother didn't need to be manipulating the heavy aluminum canoes (6 of them). Additionally, it wasted a lot of time that we could've been on the water. End of trip wasn't better. Off loaded at a small beach area within a campground. The van/trailer was backed up to beach area, but we had to go ashore about 8 paces before the beach because there we a bunch of kidz playing in the water. Again, our group had to unload our stuff from canoes AND haul them up a berm & over to the trailer (Dan may have moved 1). It was quite obvious he copped an attitude, by his changed demeanor from our interaction with him @ beginning of trip. We had no idea why the change, but didn't imagine it had anything to do with us. Upon returning to the office to ck out, we were told to hang up our 14 life vests (been on a lot of canoe trips & never had to do the staffs' jobs before - smh). As our group was in the lot saying goodbye to one another, one member approached me to say 'I know why Dan was angry when he picked us up. I heard him tell the lady behind the desk that we didn't go ashore at the beach right by his trailer, so he had to haul the canoes over to it.'. SMH We tried this business on the Kankakee River to save us drive time to Tippecanoe River (riverside rentals), which has been our 'go to' for the last few years. We'll be going back to them now & I won't complain about the drive time (lol). MUCH better service (staff puts canoes in & takes them out), $20/canoe cheaper & they're fiberglass so they're lighter), they use a short school bus to transport which provides plenty of room for our group/gear. And, at the end (knowing we're pooped out) they even help us remove our gear from the canoes! Note; the kankakee river route wasn't woodsy (residential) & was often parallel to back roads which were busy with cars/motorcycles - so noisy as well, there were speed boats zooming all over near the beach area where we needed to go ashore, and there weren't ANY good places to stop to stretch or have lunch - too high embankments & MUCK 6" deep (we were told there were plenty of island to stop at - sure, you can stop but you can't access islands). We were also told there was a good current, which was only true in a very few areas where the water was shallow so we didn't appreciate the heavy canoes. All in all it was a lot of work for us & a big disappointment :(

    Photos
    Reed's Canoe Trips
    Reed's Canoe Trips
    Reed's Canoe Trips

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    Kickapoo Adventures

    Kickapoo Adventures

    3.2(16 reviews)
    68.9 mi

    Choose to kayak the Lower Fork River. Peaceful, it wasn't crowded, at all, on a Thursday afternoon…read more Did 8 miles in about 3 hours, leisurely. Ate a late lunch at Kickapoo Adventures Bar & Grill. Great food - great options! Dined outside with a view of the water. Great service. Highly recommend both experiences.

    First and foremost my name is James Clark and I visited Kickapoo Adventures today as of 06/29/2025…read morewith my boyfriend Cale , and I can say it was the worst experience ever. The staff was not helpful at all. First when we get there I paid our $15.00 for Pedal Boat ride, after I paid I was told I needed my ID and sign a wavier, mind you I didn't bring my ID, so we had to drive 30 minutes away to get my ID. So when we got back I spoke with another customer service representative and they told me I DID NOT NEED MY ID. I don't know the name of the older white guy that said that I didn't need my ID, when the lady representative said right after him, we only need 1 ID for the ride and both of us to sign a wavier. Ok so be it, we're here for fun, we've been through enough hoops, let us get on the ride sheesh. We get on and they told us to pedal backwards to get going, so we're off, mind you we only got 30 minutes, when I tell you once we got in the middle of the lake and started to steer the boat either right or left, the boat steering was all out of service. We was trying to go straight and turn either left or right but the boat was going to the right inevitably and has us going in circles upon circles. It got to a point where customers that was on land taking videos of us, and shouted out "you guys are struggling". Of course we were without any help from staff. I called customer service at their establishment and spoke with THE MANAGER NAMED JULIE, forgive me if it's misspelled, however when I spoke to her and let her know our experience today, she completely discredited what I had to say as a first timer customer. I let her know that I paid for my ride and had to travel back to get my ID that wasn't needed, let her know our ride experience, let her know the customer service we experienced, and in the end of our 4 minute call on the company phone number which I hope was recorded, I asked her for a phone number to someone that was higher up then her in the company itself and JULIE HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME THE PERSON ABOVE HER IN KICKAPOO ADVENTURES IS GOD I NEED TO SPEAK TO!!! This is unacceptable and I really hope our conversation was recorded because this was the worst experience ever, especially talking to the manager that's supposed to help and make the customer happy. All we wanted Julie was to know our discomforts within our experience, not even money back or anything, we didn't want anything back we just wanted to let her know our experience and she completely denied any wrongdoing just based off years of service and "no complaints". I'm not saying all this to make people not go however but please be aware of the staff and manager because they don't care. I hope this doesn't get deleted because people need to know experiences there. They only have 20 reviews within 20 years, come on guys the proof is in the pudding. I wish I could've spoke to Tom because apparently his name is on the Web to contact. With Julie saying I need to speak to God, please let me speak to Tom because Julie I pray and talk to MY GOD everyday thank you. My experience talking to Julie was unacceptable, what caught her off guard and made her defensive was the fact that I told her she discredited our experience!! How is that far. Not once did we get an IM SORRY!! We did not get no apology at all. Julie we expressed how we felt as customers and you don't want to hear negative aspects about experiences. We don't know how to end this unlike the staff that threw the buoy out to us and tried to help at the end with getting us wet, mind you one of the staff said "why do that you got them wet", after we docked we left no words no nothing towards staff. Tom I hope this reaches you or anyone else higher up in the Kickapoo Adventures Administration, period point blank. Thank you, I wish it was under better circumstances.

    Photos
    Kickapoo Adventures - Kickapoo Adventures Bar & Grill / Cobb Salad / Burger + Fries / Frozen Island Mai Tai

    Kickapoo Adventures Bar & Grill / Cobb Salad / Burger + Fries / Frozen Island Mai Tai

    Kickapoo Adventures - Sit-on Kayak, 8 Miles, Lower Fork

    Sit-on Kayak, 8 Miles, Lower Fork

    Kickapoo Adventures - Kayaking the Lower Fork

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    Kayaking the Lower Fork

    Fox Hollow River Tubing - Tubs, both w/ & w/o mesh bottoms

    Fox Hollow River Tubing

    2.7(76 reviews)
    45.3 mi

    I had a blast here!!! They were really nice and accommodating of our 30 people party. Bring a…read morecooler! You will need food and drinks. They offer a tube for the cooler. I am afraid of brown water, lol, so I got the tube with the bottom and just layed in it, the whole time. I also bought my own life vest off amazon. But they do offer the ugly orange ones lol Anyway we did the 3 miles but would love to come back and do the 6 mile one. Very cheap. Also the people who did go in the water, they said the very shallow areas are very rocky & scraped their knees. The deepest part is 10 feet but other than that, it's not deep. The bathrooms are nice and they offer a shower too. At the end you wait for the bus to pick you up and bring you back. Pretty cool.

    I don't understand why the reviews are so low. It's tubing in a creek!…read moreThe check in is easy; pay your money, sign on the line. You don't have to ride anywhere, you get in The Fox RIGHT THERE. They have nice tubs with mesh or no mess bottom, your choice and tubs for your cooler, if you need one. For a minimum of 3 hours you float The Fox River. If you go during the week, the river is yours. If you go on the weekend you have to "share". The reasoning is obvious. If you chose to stop along the way you can drag out the 3 hours however long you like. You call when you reach the bridge so they can come pick you up. The buses are a little rough. I get this. They can't have wet, muddy and sometimes drunk people on a "nicer" bus. However, I do think they could do some work on the dressing rooms. When you get back to the "home base" you need to get out of your wet clothes and river shoes but their changing area is a wreck; no lights, smashed in toilet and broken sink. Other than this item, I adore this place. The quiet of the river, the fish, birds and dragonflies are worth it. I'll be back!

    Photos
    Fox Hollow River Tubing - Eagle sighting

    Eagle sighting

    Fox Hollow River Tubing
    Fox Hollow River Tubing

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    Vermilion River Adventures - rafting - Updated May 2026

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