Boat Ramps In Illinois: Open Or Closed?

Illinois has a wide range of boat ramps and launches available for public use, providing convenient access to its magnificent waterways. These include both public and private ramps on lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water across the state. Some of the most popular boat ramps in Illinois are located along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, offering stunning views and catering to various boating activities such as angling, water sports, and leisurely cruises.

The state also offers a variety of options for boat enthusiasts, from full-service marinas to free boat launches. Additionally, certain locations provide discounted rates for residents or members. Whether you're an avid angler or a leisure seeker, Illinois' boat ramps and launches grant access to its vast network of lakes and rivers, ensuring a memorable experience on the water.

Boat ramps in Chicago

Chicago, located on the banks of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, offers a plethora of boating opportunities for locals and tourists alike. The Chicago Park District operates multiple boat launches along Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, providing convenient access points for boaters. Here is an overview of some of the notable boat ramps in Chicago:

Chicago Park District Boat Launches:

• 31st Street Harbor: Located at 3155 S Lake Shore Drive, it is the newest addition to the Chicago harbor system, featuring 1000 boat slips and a sustainable, eco-friendly design. It offers amenities like metered electric, water, internet access, and a fuel dock.
• 59th Street Harbor: Nestled in the heart of Jackson Park, this harbor offers dozens of boat slips, a fuel dock, restaurants, and a beach house. It provides easy access to attractions like Wooded Island, East and West Lagoon, and the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago.
• Burnham Harbor: This harbor is within walking distance of downtown Chicago and offers amenities such as laundry services, fuel, slips, transient docking, and a restaurant. It is located at 1559 E Waldron Drive.
• Daley (Richard J.) Boat Launch: Accommodating both motorized and non-motorized boats, this launch is situated across from Western Avenue Riveredge Park. You can find it at 3150 S Western Boulevard.
• Diversey Harbor: One of the boat launches operated by the Chicago Park District, providing access to Lake Michigan.
• Jackson Park Inner Harbor: This boat launch is located at 6400 S Lake Shore Drive and offers convenient access to the lake for boaters.
• Jackson Park Outer Harbor: Another boat launch option within the Chicago Park District, found at 6400 S Coast Guard Drive.
• Park No. 571 Boat Launch: A reliable boat ramp on the Chicago River, located at 2754 S Eleanor Street. It is intended for small craft such as kayaks and canoes.
• Ping Tom Boat Launch: Found within the Ping Tom Memorial Park, a beautiful Chinatown Park with Chinese-style architecture and landscaping. This launch is also intended for small craft and can be found at 1700 S Wentworth Avenue.

Other Notable Boat Ramps:

• Waukegan Harbor & Marina: About an hour north of Chicago in Waukegan, Illinois, this full-service marina offers competitive slip rates and amenities like a fuel pier, fish cleaning stations, and Wi-Fi service.
• Church Street Boat Ramp: Located in Evanston, Illinois, this well-equipped launch site is suitable for powerboats, personal watercraft, and large sailboats.

Boat ramps on Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan offers a vast and picturesque waterway for boaters in Illinois, with a range of boat launches to suit different boating needs. Here is a detailed guide to the boat ramps on Lake Michigan in Illinois:

Chicago Area Boat Ramps:

The Chicago Park District operates multiple boat ramps along the Lake Michigan shoreline, providing convenient access for boaters. These include:

• 31st Street Harbor
• 59th Street Harbor
• Belmont Harbor
• Burnham Harbor
• Daley (Richard J.) Boat Launch
• Diversey Harbor
• Dusable Harbor
• Jackson Park Inner and Outer Harbor
• Monroe Harbor
• Montrose Harbor
• Park No. 571 Boat Launch
• Ping Tom Boat Launch

Waukegan Harbor & Marina:

Located about an hour north of Chicago, Waukegan Harbor & Marina is a full-service marina offering competitive slip rates and amenities such as a fuel pier, fish cleaning stations, and Wi-Fi service.

Church Street Boat Ramp:

Situated in Evanston, Illinois, the Church Street Boat Ramp is well-equipped to handle power boats, personal watercraft, and large sailboats.

Free and Affordable Boat Launches:

While there are no completely free public boat launches in Illinois, Waukegan Harbor & Marina and some Chicago Park District boat launches offer affordable rates or discounts for residents or members.

Rules and Regulations:

When towing a boat to a Lake Michigan launch site in Illinois, ensure your vehicle complies with Illinois towing regulations. Check the specific restrictions and requirements of the launch site, including hours of operation, parking requirements, launch fees, and other guidelines. Always follow safe towing and boating practices for a smooth and enjoyable experience on the water.

Additional Resources:

For more information, you can explore resources like Lake County Boat Launches and Illinois Public & Private Boat Ramps & Launches, which provide detailed lists of launch sites in Lake County, Illinois, and across the state, respectively.

Boat ramps on Lake Shelbyville

There are several boat ramps on Lake Shelbyville, a lake with a surface area of 11,100 acres, a maximum depth of 65 feet, and an average depth of 18 feet. The lake is located in Shelby and Moultrie Counties in east-central Illinois, with the dam situated on the Kaskaskia River, east of the City of Shelbyville.

The 9th Street Boat Ramp is a walk-in ramp with year-round bathrooms and wheelchair accessibility. The coordinates for this ramp are 39.418377402339, -88.776402063668.

Wolf Creek State Park has a four-lane launching ramp adjacent to a 175-car parking lot. There is also a high water boat ramp for when the lake floods. Rental boats and motors are available from several private marinas on the lake, which also provide a full range of boating and fishing supplies.

There are numerous public boat launching facilities available on Lake Shelbyville, with a fee assessed on US Army Corps of Engineers-developed access area boat ramps and free access on state park or Corps gravel boat ramps. All tournaments must be scheduled through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Boat ramps on Carlyle Lake

Carlyle Lake, located in southwestern Illinois, is the largest man-made lake in the state. It offers a wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, water sports, hiking, and wildlife viewing. There are several boat ramps located around the lake that provide access for boaters.

• Allen Branch Boat Launch: This boat launch is located east of Fisher Road and north of Hazlet Park Road in Carlyle. It is one of the most popular boat-launching spots on the lake, offering a four-lane boat ramp with a handicapped-accessible courtesy dock, two picnic shelters, and privy toilets.
• Apache Boat Access: Located on Hazlet Park Road, this boat ramp provides access to Carlyle Lake. It is a great spot for anglers and hunters, with a two-lane ramp, picnic shelter, play equipment, fish-cleaning station, and privy toilets.
• Boulder Public Boat Launch: This boat ramp is situated on Lake Road in Carlyle. It provides easy access to the lake for boaters and is also convenient for those visiting the nearby Boulder Marina.
• City Boat Ramp: This boat ramp is located on First Street in Carlyle and offers direct access to Carlyle Lake.
• Coles Creek Boat Launch: Found on Lake Road, this boat launch provides another entry point to Carlyle Lake for boaters in the area.
• Dam East Boat Ramp: This boat ramp is situated on Lake Road in Shattuc, on the eastern side of Carlyle Lake. It is a convenient access point for those wishing to explore the lake by boat.
• General Dean Boat Launch: Located at the General Dean Bridge in Carlyle, this boat ramp provides a central access point to Carlyle Lake.
• Peppenhorst Branch Boat Launch: At this boat launch, located on Hazlet Park Road, a gravelled small-boat ramp is used by anglers and hunters. It is also an excellent launch area for kayaks and other small watercraft.
• West Access Marina: The West Access Marina, found on Marina Road in Carlyle, offers boat ramp facilities for those wishing to explore Carlyle Lake.

In addition to these boat ramps, Carlyle Lake also features multiple marinas, camping facilities, and recreational areas that cater to boaters and outdoor enthusiasts. The lake is a popular destination for fishing, with an abundance of fish species, and it also hosts various regattas and sailing competitions due to its vast waters and favourable wind conditions.

Free boat ramps in Illinois

Boat ramps in Illinois provide convenient access points to the magnificent waterways of the state. While there are no completely free public boat launches in Illinois, some launches offer affordable rates or discounts for certain groups. Here is a list of free boat ramps in Illinois:

Waukegan Harbor & Marina:

Waukegan Harbor & Marina is located in Waukegan, Illinois, about an hour north of Chicago. It offers competitive slip rates with no hidden fees and a variety of amenities, including a fuel pier, fish cleaning stations, and Wi-Fi service.

Church Street Boat Ramp:

The Church Street Boat Ramp in Evanston, Illinois, is a well-equipped launch site suitable for powerboats, personal watercraft, and large sailboats.

Chicago Park District Boat Launches:

The Chicago Park District maintains multiple boat launches along the Lake Michigan shoreline, providing boaters with convenient access points throughout the city. Some of these launches may offer discounted rates for residents or members. The launches include:

• 31st Street Harbor
• 59th Street Harbor
• Belmont Harbor
• Burnham Harbor
• Daley (Richard J.) Boat Launch
• Diversey Harbor
• Dusable Harbor
• Jackson Park Inner Harbor
• Jackson Park Outer Harbor
• Monroe Harbor
• Montrose Harbor
• Park No. 571 Boat Launch
• Ping Tom Boat Launch

Mississippi River Boat Launches:

There are several boat ramps along the Mississippi River in Illinois, providing access to the mighty waterway. Some of these include:

• Cairo Access Boat Ramp
• East Dubuque Public Boat Ramp
• Grafton Public Boat Ramp
• Grand Tower Boat Ramp
• Nauvoo Public Boat Ramp
• Village of Hamburg Boat Ramp

Other Boat Ramps in Illinois:

In addition to the ones mentioned above, there are numerous other boat ramps and launches across Illinois, catering to various lakes, rivers, and waterways. Some of these include:

• AAA Boat Yard & Port Supply
• Adams Landing
• Allen Branch Boat Launch
• Alton Marina & Boat Ramp
• Anchor In Marina
• Anderson Lake, State Fish and Wildlife Area
• Argyle Lake State Park
• Bald Knob Marina
• Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area
• Beall Woods State Park
• Beaver Dam State Park
• Ben Watts Marina Inc
• Boulder Public Boat Launch
• Calumet Sag Harbor, Lake Michigan
• Carl Spindler Marina and Boat Ramp
• Carlyle Lake, Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
• Cedar Lake in Shawnee National Forest
• Cedar Lake Park
• Chain O'Lakes Marina
• Chain-O-Lakes State Park
• Champaign County Forest Preserve District
• Chillicothe Marina
• City Boat Ramp
• Clinton Lake, State Recreation Area
• Coles Creek Boat Launch
• Crowley's Yacht Yard
• Davidson Memorial Boat
• Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway
• Detweiler Marina & Boat Ramp
• Devil's Kitchen Lake in Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
• Diversey Harbor
• Dolphin Harbor
• East Peoria Boat & Recreation
• Eastport Marina & Boat Ramp
• Egyptian Hills Marina, Inc
• Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge on Spoon River
• Fort Massac State Ramp
• Galena Territory Marina
• General Dean Boat Launch
• Golconda Marina Ramp
• Great Lakes Yacht Sales
• Grebe Shipyard and Yacht Sales
• Hamms Holiday Harbor
• Harborside Marina Inc
• Hass Boat Landing
• Henderson County State Fish and Wildlife Area on Gladstone Lake
• Hennepin Canal State Trail
• Hidden Cove Marina
• Horseshoe Lake State Park Ramp #1 and #2
• Illinois River at Starved Rock State Park
• Illinois River, William G. Stratton State Park
• Inland Harbor Marina
• Island Marina
• Island View Marina
• Jackson Park Inner and Outer Harbor
• Kaskaskia River
• Kaskaskia River Marina/ Campground
• Kincaid Lake in Shawnee National Forest
• Lake Clinton Boat Ramp
• Lake George in Loud Thunder Forest Preserve
• Lake Holiday Marina
• Lake Le-Aqua-Na, Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
• Lake Murphysboro State Park
• Lake of Egypt Marina
• Lake Springfield Marina
• Lake Vermilion Park

Frequently asked questions