Rocktown Adventures
Gear Up. Head Out.
Rocktown Adventures is a specialty outdoor retailer and outfitter. We kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard, hike, backpack, ski, snowshoe and camp. We embrace an active outdoor lifestyle and want to take our passion for outdoor recreation and use it to help you find yours. We carry top of the line equipment from name brands that excite your outdoor passions and have experienced staff that love to share their enthusiasm for the outdoors. There is an abundance of recreational assets waiting to be discovered by you!
Hours of Operation
Available by appointment on Monday's and outside hours of operation.
Monday: CLOSED
Tues-Fri: 10am-6:30pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
Now Easier To Gear Up & Head Out.
Shop premium outdoor gear & apparel from your favorite brands on Rocktown Adventures' NEW online store! Want to spread out payments for your new kayak? We offer a layaway option. Pay 50% to reserve the kayak with balance due at pick up.
What, How & Where
For Outdoor Activities
What you Need For The Outdoors
As the largest paddlesport dealer in Illinois, serving the Chicagoland area, Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, we offer an extensive selection of paddlesports equipment, accessories and apparel.
How to Enjoy the Outdoors
We want to help you enjoy your time outdoors. Rocktown Adventures offers basic safety and operation lessons for Kayaking, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing.
Where are good outdoor locations?
When you are looking to Head Out, Rocktown Adventures offers guided outdoor trips, private custom trips, as well as shuttle services to get you to/from a number of designated stops and outdoor destinations.
Be In the Know
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How to Winterize & Store Your Kayak, Canoe, or SUP (Step-by-Step)
To winterize a kayak, canoe, or SUP: clean it, dry it completely, inspect and repair any damage, remove the hardware and accessories, then store it off the ground and out of direct sun — indoors if possible, on its side or on edge rather than flat on its hull. The whole job takes about an […]
October 12, 2026
Cold-Water Paddling Gear: What to Wear for Fall Kayaking & SUP
Use the 120° rule: add the air temperature and the water temperature together, and if the total is under 120°F, dress for immersion in a wetsuit or drysuit. A 65-degree afternoon over 50-degree water adds up to 115 — that is wetsuit weather, no matter how pleasant it feels on the dock. That single number […]
September 25, 2026
Fall Kayaking in Northern Illinois: Best Spots to See Autumn Colors from the Water
The best fall kayaking in northern Illinois runs from late September through the third week of October, and peak color near Rockford typically lands between October 10 and October 24. The most reliable foliage paddles are the Rock River from Beloit to Rockton, and the narrow, tree-canopied Kishwaukee River through Espenscheid and Kishwaukee River forest […]
September 11, 2026
Hours of Operation
Available by appointment on Monday's and outside hours of operation.
Monday: CLOSED
Tues-Fri: 10am-6:30pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
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