Things to Do/Get Outdoors/Boating
Boating & Private Watercraft
Whether you rent one of our boats or bring your own private watercraft, you can enjoy several DuPage forest preserves from the water.
Boat Rentals
Rent canoes, kayaks and rowboats at Blackwell and Herrick Lake. Paddleboats are also available to rent at Blackwell. A valid government-issued ID is required for deposit, and you can pay with cash or credit card.
Fees
DuPage Resident or Nonresident | Per Hour |
Rowboat or single kayak | $15 |
Two-person kayak or canoe (up to 3 people) | $18 |
Paddleboat (Blackwell only) | $20 |
Hours
Rentals end one hour before closing.
Blackwell
May 6 – Sept. 30 | |
Weekends, Memorial Day & Labor Day | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
Weekdays (Memorial Day – Labor Day) | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
Herrick Lake
May 27 – Sept. 4 | |
Weekends only Memorial Day – Labor Day | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
Plus Memorial Day, Independence Day, & Labor Day | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
For weekday rentals, book a private Have it at Herrick outing.
Bring Your Own Watercraft
Private Watercraft on Lakes
With a Forest Preserve District permit you can use select watercraft on four lakes — Silver Lake at Blackwell (boat ramp), Round Meadow Lake at Hidden Lake (carry-in only), Mallard Lake at Mallard Lake (carry-in only) and Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch (carry-in only). You need either an annual permit affixed to the bow above the waterline or a receipt for a daily permit. Senior citizens (65 and older), active military and veterans are entitled to one free annual permit per household per calendar year.
Your watercraft must be under 20 feet long and have a valid hull identification number. You can’t use gas motors but can use electric ones, but a boat with any kind of motor must have state registration. Inflatable watercraft must have multiple air chambers and either 1) certification by the National Marine Manufacturers Association or the Coast Guard through the manufacturer or 2) factory-made hardened floors. Float tubes and floating devices without foot wells or railings are not allowed.
You also need to have a properly fitting, wearable, Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for each person on board. Boaters under 13 must wear them at all times, and all boaters regardless of age must wear them in canoes, kayaks, sailboats and inflatable watercraft.
Stand-up paddleboarding is allowed only on Silver Lake at Blackwell and Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch with a private watercraft permit.
Purchase a daily private watercraft permit online, at Visitor Services, or at the Blackwell boat rental facility (when open). The steel lockboxes (on-site daily watercraft permit envelopes) at all four lakes will no longer be in service.
Private Watercraft on Rivers
If you’re boating on either branch of the DuPage River or on Salt Creek, you don’t need a Forest Preserve District permit but you do need to follow all state regulations.
You can enter at any practical forest preserve location except at The Preserve at Oak Meadows, but there’s easy access to the West Branch DuPage River at Blackwell, Warrenville Grove and McDowell Grove and to Salt Creek at Salt Creek Park, Cricket Creek, Salt Creek Greenway at Hunter Road (take-out only) and Fullersburg Woods near the Graue Mill parking lot.
Permits & Fees
Boaters can purchase daily and annual permits online 24/7. For other options, download our private watercraft permit application (PDF) or call Visitor Services at 630-933-7248. You can also purchase an annual permit at Blackwell when it’s open. Senior citizens (65 and older), active military and veterans are entitled to one free annual permit per household per calendar year with proof of age (driver’s license or birth certificate).
Things to Do/Get Outdoors/Boating
Visitors can rent a boat from or bring their own private watercraft to enjoy boating and kayaking at several Forest Preserve District of DuPage County lakes. Stand-up paddleboarding is allowed on Silver Lake at Blackwell only during paddleboarding season, which is June 1 – Aug. 31.
If you have any question please CONTACT Us Email us at: [email protected] Call US :(281) 697-4550
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