Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Fox River at Johnsburg

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

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Caution

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Fox River at Johnsburg
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — 457 Fox River (8675636404).jpg by LakeCountyIL, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

15 mph

gusting to 30 mph

Air temp

67°F

64% chance of rain

River flow

427 cfs

very high for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Tuesday · 93

  • Today

    25

  • Sun

    74

  • Mon

    90

  • Tue

    93

    Best

  • Wed

    87

  • Thu

    92

  • Fri

    83

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
12p1530
1p1327
2p1426
3p1425
4p1424
5p1424
6p1222
7p1025
8p1022
9p919
10p1020
11p1020

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's 427 cfs is 17% below the median for this date — which counts as very high water here.

The median flow on this date is 514 cfs, across 1 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind15 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-32
  • GustsGusting to 30 mph — 15 mph over sustained-10
  • Rain64% chance in the next 6 hours-14

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Illinois