Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Hanson Gravel Pit at Culvert near Morris

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

78of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Hanson Gravel Pit at Culvert near Morris
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) under tow on the Illinois River, 23 May 1945.jpg by U.S. Navy, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

13 mph

gusting to 22 mph

Air temp

69°F

39% chance of rain

River flow

-76 cfs

very low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Tuesday · 100

  • Today

    19

  • Sun

    63

  • Mon

    96

  • Tue

    100

    Best

  • Wed

    100

  • Thu

    97

  • Fri

    93

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)
12p1322
1p1423
2p1229
3p1427
4p1129
5p1025
6p1127
7p1328
8p1330
9p1025
10p1022
11p920

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's -76 cfs is 1050% below the median for this date — which counts as very low water here.

The median flow on this date is 8 cfs, across 6 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind13 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-18
  • Rain39% chance in the next 6 hours-4

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