City: Port Barrington, IL
County: McHenry County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 42.24192600, -88.20188300
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Runs on Fox River
9 runs (4 nearby)Difficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site:
Put-in at this location
This location is on the run
Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Downstream from here Upstream from here
I-II(IV)
Downstream from here (27.6 mi to put-in)
C) Batavia Dam (PnP)
0.2 mi
I-II
Downstream from here (44.5 mi to put-in)
D) Yorkville: Marge Cline Whitewater Course (PnP)
0.2 mi
10 ft/mi
II
Downstream from here (44.5 mi to put-in)
Jaycee Pond Park (PnP)
0.3 mi
I(II)
Upstream from here (34.1 mi from take-out)
B) Waterford/Rochester/Burlington (PnP)
0.5 mi
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
I
53 mi away
A) Downtown Waukesha: Barstow St. to Wisconsin Ave. (0.5 mile)
0.4 mi
10 ft/mi
II
136 mi away
A) N Wave (Neenah)
0.1 mi
II-IV+
140 mi away
B) Appleton Dam (PnP) *Access Issues*
0.1 mi
II-III(IV)
140 mi away
C) Kaukauna/1000 Islands: Hwy.55/Main Ave. to CTH.ZZ (1.5 miles)
2.5 mi
27 ft/mi
II
153 mi away
D) De Pere Dam (PnP) *Access Issues*
0.7 mi
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
The Center Street ramp provides public access to the Fox River, a substantial large river (7th order stream) with a drainage area of 2,500 square miles and average flows around 2,350 cubic feet per second. The ramp features a concrete launch area with street parking and a parking lot. Note that a seasonal permit is required to use this ramp: $20 for residents, $40 for non-residents, and $5 for seniors (one permit per season, April through October; purchase at the Port Barrington Police Department). Please avoid blocking the ramp turnaround or marina entrance/exit when launching or retrieving your boat.
The Fox River in this area is a flowing system with moderate current (average velocity 3.63 ft/sec) suitable for both motorized boats and paddlecraft. This section offers scenic views within the Lake County Forest Preserves. Paddlers seeking free launch alternatives can also check nearby Mt. St. Mary Park, Ferson Creek Park, or Boy Scout Island (which has both a concrete motorized ramp and sandy beach access). With 18 slips available at the adjacent marina, this is a well-developed access point, though new slip certificates are not currently being issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Fox River in this area is a flowing system with moderate current (average velocity 3.63 ft/sec) suitable for both motorized boats and paddlecraft. This section offers scenic views within the Lake County Forest Preserves. Paddlers seeking free launch alternatives can also check nearby Mt. St. Mary Park, Ferson Creek Park, or Boy Scout Island (which has both a concrete motorized ramp and sandy beach access). With 18 slips available at the adjacent marina, this is a well-developed access point, though new slip certificates are not currently being issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.