The Illinois River is the best floating river and the most popular floating river in Oklahoma. The river is well known for its float operations, river bend parks, and forests. I’m going to take a look at the top destinations and maybe a few special spots.
The Illinois River
The Illinois River is located along the eastern part of Oklahoma and is known for its nature and beauty. The area is under control of the Grand River Dam Authority and they regularly patrol the river, beaches, and even areas around the river like the J. T. Nickel Nature Preserve. The river is also monitored regularly by the US Geological Survey and gage information can be found here. The gage height was a little more than 9 feet on the day we made it out to the river and that was above normal.
J. T. Nickel Nature Preserve
The nature preserve is well known for being a 17,000 acre privately owned nature preserve with trails and notably the Bathtub rocks. There are three main hiking trails that are currently open. Those trails are named Savannah, Wetland, and Pine Ridge. These trails are all-day use and accessible. The Pine Ridge and Savannah trail start at the park headquarters located at 36.034391, -94.808489.
The Bathtub rocks are another popular attraction. You can find official information here about why that area is closed. I will not post any coordinates to respect the wishes of the reserve to prevent vandalism and trash which has become rampant. When I visited, a police officer showed up within an hour. Regardless, I hope eventually the preserve and the visitors can figure out a way to get the area open again. The rocks are beautiful but extremely slippery. The water has carved out tracks, pools, and “bathtubs” in the rock and has created a unique place. The water is crystal clear, cool, and refreshing.
Illinois River Public Access Areas
The Illinois River is well known for its rafting outfits but there are also lots of areas along the river where the public is allowed to just jump in and enjoy the river. These areas are the Public Access Areas. There are several located on Highway 10 which is the road that follows the west bank of the river. It is also the road that contains many river floating outfits.
The first public access area is No Head Hollow Public Access Area. This is located on a bend and when the water is low you may have to walk far out to find the main channel. The water was very high this weekend so it was right up against the shore of the park. You can also camp overnight at the public access areas with reservations. Most of them have toilets and fire pits.
The place my group ended up at was the Edmonson Public Access Area. This area was a breeze to set up camp and get to swimming. There were two main channels for swimming even though the water was high. There was the main channel area where the majority of the water was but a small channel close to the park and shore which had slower and shallow water that was perfect for sitting and enjoying the sun. We were able to sit down on some rocks and be in a few inches of water or relax in a chair. There are several other access areas for you to find to kayak, raft, float, or swim. Find one that suits your wants.
Tahlequah
One thing to remember when you’re in the area is the town of Tahlequah is a wonderful stop to get any essentials for your trip. Tahlequah is also historical as it is the capital for the Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma. The capitol complex and original capitol building are located in the city. The Cherokee language is also used alongside many English words on signs in the area. The town is very historical and if you have the time, you should stop at some of the Native American locations in and around the town.
In conclusions, if you’re in the Eastern Oklahoma area and can afford a few days of rafting, swimming, and trekking, the the Illinois River is the spot for you.