Wander at Will: Kayaking at Monee Reservoir

Editor’s note: This story is part of our Wander at Will series, which is designed to inspire you to enjoy the many recreation opportunities in your Will County preserves in whatever ways you are able to. Whether you’re a well-traveled explorer or just starting your outdoor adventures, digital marketing coordinator Meghan McMahon hopes her first-person adventures will help you find new ideas, tips and hidden gems to make it easier to connect with the outdoors all year.

Kayaking isn't exactly a new activity for me, but it's not something I do very often. Maybe once or twice a year at best. And it's a shame really, because we have kayaks. What we don't have is easy access to a lake or river to use the kayaks. It's kind of a hassle to load the kayaks in my car, so we just don't do it often. 

The nice thing about spending an afternoon kayaking at Monee Reservoir is you don't have to schlep your own kayaks there. You certainly can, but you can also rent kayaks from the visitor center for an easier experience. And that's right up my alley, which is why I opted to spend an afternoon there recently to get out on the water for the first time (but hopefully not my last time) this summer. 

I've kayaked on both lakes and rivers before, and lakes are a much more relaxing experience. River kayaking often requires constant paddling and careful attention to staying the course without encountering hazards. On a lake you can just sit back and float for awhile if you want a break from paddling. I prefer flat water kayaking because it allows you as many opportunities as you want to enjoy the scenery and take some time to watch the wildlife.

Flat water kayaking is also good for beginners because there's more room for error. River currents can be challenging and change from moment to moment, but kayaking on a lake is generally a more at-your-own pace experience. You'll definitely want to be aware of wind conditions, though. A strong headwind can make for quite a workout. Not that I'm not up for an upper-body workout, but I was happy for just a gentle summer breeze on my kayaking trip.

At Monee Reservoir, you can stick to just the inner bay for a quick spin on the water, but you'll get to see the best scenery — and parts of the preserve you can't easily see otherwise — once you head our farther. Once you get past the inner bay, there's a lot of ground to explore, including some quiet corners where you can spy wildlife. 

On my visit, I saw several great blue herons silently standing in shallow water looking for their next meal. And in one spot on the lake I floated for awhile and watched as dozens of swallows flew around me, repeatedly diving down to the water trying to catch insects. 

A few common-sense reminders for kayaking: You're going to get wet, so be prepared for it. Wear water shoes and fast-drying clothes or a bathing suit so you don't feel waterlogged. Sunscreen and sunglasses are also a must for me. And have towels in the car too so you can dry off and easily get changed into dry shoes. Lastly, be mindful of the weather and keep an eye on the skies when you are out on the water. Monee Reservoir utilizes a flag system. A green flag flying on the pole near the water means conditions are good and boats are allowed on the water. A red flag means boats can't be launched. 

If you'd like to get on the water but don't enjoy kayaking, there are plenty of other options at Monee Reservoir. You can also rent canoes, rowboats and pedal boats. Rowboats can be rented from April 1 to Oct. 31, and canoes, kayaks and pedal boats can be rented from May 1 to Sept. 30. Rates and hours vary. 

Besides Monee Reservoir, canoes can also be rented at Whalon Lake and Lake Chaminwood Preserve. At Whalon Lake, kayak rentals are available through The Forge. At Lake Chaminwood, kayak rentals are available at a self-serve station from Rent.Fun. Canoe and kayak launches are also available at Hammel Woods, Isle a la Cache, McKinley Woods, Riverview Farmstead Preserve and Rock Run Rookery Preserve.

If you'd like to improve your paddling skills before heading out on the water yourself, check out the Event Calendar for upcoming kayaking programs, including our instructional Kayak Kollege. The Forest Preserve also offers a variety of non-instructional paddling programs for people to experience the preserves in a new way. 

As for me, I'm hoping to get out on the water at a few more preserves this summer — including one or two that I might have to schlep my own kayak too.