An Overview of Nippersink Creek

You can't talk about paddling in Northern Illinois without talking about Nippersink Creek. This is 18 miles of beauty. The creek starts in the East at the North end of Wonder Lake. There is a dam at the lake, so the earliest you can get into the creek is at Keystone Landing. This is also the east end of Glacial Park.



The current is strong at Keystone Landing and paddling upstream to wonder lake is difficult. This is a common drop for the "tours" and locals that are out for a 'float down the creek'. From Keystone Landing to the bike trail overpass (about 5 miles) is all open prairie grass. The creek is pretty windy in this section and there is not much of a bank.

Once you pass under the bike overpass and rt 31, the creek changes.

It goes from calm prairie to tighter, woodsie scenery. There are a few sections from rt 31 to Pioneer Landing that have a strong current and tight turns. Pay attention and pick your route as you enter the turn. There are some surprises here and there that may catch you off guard. I paddle a 16 foot canoe and I have tapped many fallen tree limbs due to not being able to get out of a turn quick enough in this area.

Once you get past Pioneer Landing, there are some rapids that happen pretty quick. Pioneer landing is usually where many people pull out. The tours and locals get off the creek at this point. I went west of the landing, under the bridge and started to hear the rapids before I could see them. I usually put in at Pioneer and head upstream.

Hear is the closest that I made it to the rapids after Pioneer Landing.

Now, I have not yet made the trip from Pioneer Landing to Lyle C. Thomas Park. I have heard that there are barbed wire fences in this section. They are marked, but watch for them.

I have launched from Lyle C. and headed upstream about 3 miles. The current is strong in this area and mostly because the creek is very shallow in this section. There were a few parts that I was able to get out and walk upstream. This section is has some pretty cool scenery. The banks are very tall and wooded making you feel pretty tiny. There are some very cool fallen trees in these parts too.

It is about 4 miles from Lyle to the Canoe Base. The canoe base was revamped in 2010 and is very nice. The creek calms down and becomes pretty populated with homes between the canoe base and Pistakee lake. There is a lot to look at in this section too. It is no longer challenging, but the view is still great!

The Nippersink or "The Nip" as the locals call it, is a great place to get the canoe or kayak wet. If you live in the area and have not paddled on the Nip, you have no excuse! If you are not in the area, pick a day after the rainy season and make the trip out. It will be well worth it!