The Best Kayaking Lake In Illinois Is One You May Never Have Heard Of
By Melissa Mahoney|Published August 10, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
The Prairie State is filled with plenty of natural beauty to explore. Whether you enjoy hiking around rock formations or to a grand vista, biking, chasing waterfalls, fishing, or boating, there are plenty of ways to have an outdoor adventure. Illinois is also lucky to be home to numerous beautiful lakes that provide the perfect outdoor playground for swimming, boating, canoeing, and kayaking. If you enjoy exploring the water by kayak, check out the lesser-known Shabbona Lake which is the ideal place for your next kayaking adventure!
Shabbona Lake State Park spans an area of 1,550 acres in DeKalb County. Situated just west of Chicago it feels worlds away from city life where you can enjoy a variety of activities that connect you with nature.
Among the activities, visitors can enjoy fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking, and boating. Unfortunately, swimming is not allowed at Shabbona Lake, but at least there are plenty of other recreational opportunities that allow visitors to take full advantage of their time at this gorgeous state park.
Shabbona Lake was developed as a 318.8-acre man-made lake in 1975 when a 3,000-foot earthen dam with a spillway was constructed and filled in the area that was cleared for the lake. Over time, a restaurant, bait and tackle shop, and boat rental facility were built here as well.
If you're looking for a serene place for kayaking, Shabbona Lake is as peaceful as can be. Surrounded by a variety of plant species and a 15-acre seasonal nesting area, you can enjoy birdwatching as you kayak along the water.
You can bring your own kayak or rent one from Lakeside Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental located at the lake. Rent a kayak for one, two, or four hours, or by the day.
No motorized boats over 10 horsepower are allowed on the lake and the upper lake has a no-wake zone, ensuring that the water will be as peaceful and calm as possible.
While this is an ideal lake for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and fishing, are also popular on the water. And if you want to take your time exploring all that Shabbona Lake State Park has to offer, you can always camp here overnight.
Have you been kayaking at Shabonna Lake State Park? If you have, what was your experience like? Please share with your fellow readers in the comments.
For more information on Shabbona Lake State Park, visit the website. If you prefer more of an adrenaline rush while kayaking, you can read this article about the Marge Cline Whitewater Course kayaking park.
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