As summer fades into the rearview mirror, we can either lament the passage of the season or we can look forward to fall...

We tend to look forward to Fall as it means Fall paddling is here! Each year we hit  local rivers to take in the landscape from a different perspective. Just because Summer is over, does not mean you have to put the paddle away. Fall is Rocktown Adventures' favorite time of year to paddle and we hope you will join us during our 2023 Fall Paddle Series. These outings are not for first timers. You do not need years of experience to join, but you need to have some kayak control skills. Afterall, we are on moving water and in colder temps.

Our Fall Paddle Series outings include all the outdoor equipment you need (or you can bring your own) as well as a refresher on paddling strokes and safety, experienced guides, a relaxed social setting for you to meet like-minded people, and the opportunity to take on new challenges and outdoor adventures.

We revisit this topic each Fall…paddling in colder weather. When paddling later in the year, it is important to pay attention to the combined air and water temperature. The baseline is 120 degrees combined. Anything below that, then various levels of protective clothing are required. The good news is we paddle smaller rivers, so we are never far from shore which means on dry land quick. It is rare that a “swim” occurs, but we need to be prepared just in case. If protective clothing is required due to temps on any of our Fall Paddling Series adventures, we will be sure to reach out to all participants.

If you would like to join in on one our Fall Paddling Series Trips, we are going on the below dates:

September 30: St. Charles Park District Kayak Class

October 8: Kane County Forest Preserve Naturalist Paddle

October 14: Turtle Creek

October 15: Kishwaukee River – Bauman to Atwood Park

October 21: Rock River – Fur Trader’s Run

You can register for any of these experiences by clicking the event listing (above), visiting our events page,  giving us a call at (815) 636-9066 or dropping by the store. We will run multiple shuttles for our upcoming Fall paddle outings when group size dictates, so launch time may take a little longer than usual. All equipment is disinfected and cleaned prior to going out so you can be ensured of safe and clean gear. And if the weather does not cooperate? No worries, you get a full refund.

There’s still two months left in paddle season and plenty of time to experience the outdoors on the water. We hope to see you on an adventure this Fall!