Where to stay day 1 - Dalton and Illinois River
Check with the Marine Service Center (marina) mile 324.3 ph. 708-841-5660 on the Calumet. It is a short distance up(north) from the junction with the Sanitary Canal and the fish barrier. The Illinois is still currently closed due to high water so this is a great spot to wait out any delays before running the 12 miles of hell commercial section. Courtesy vehicle to access a great Supermarket (Pete’s) in Dalton which is on a scale with Wegmans. Nice docks and depths but nothing much else. It is a trawler day’s run to Joliet (layup on the wall with free power) given the Lockport and O’Brien Locks cooperate.
The Illinois River was our former primary cruising area, the IVY Club our home port.
Most of the advice previously posted is accurate. Joliet, Spring Brook, Heritage Harbor are all good stops. Just below Heritage is the free Ottawa City Dock, and below Starved Rock is South Shore Boat Club. SSBC does not look like much but a more friendly bunch you will not find. The food is great too. SSBC can only accommodate 1 or 2 large boats, but we know of a 42 Nordic Tug that stopped by and had a great time.
The last few times we passed by the old Henry Lock wall, we decided to pass it up. It was never a great stop, at least for us. In Chillicothe there is a good day dock if you want to stretch your legs and get something to eat. I wouldn’t stop at Hamm’s, no one lately has had anything good to say about them.
The IVY Club has a new breakwater on the south edge, and the river side breakwater has been extended. Charts will be wrong, so check details on Active Captain. Some loopers have mentioned low depths at the IVY Club, but that is a function of Peoria Lake water levels. I’ve seen many 50+ boats tied up to the IVY Club wall. Call ahead to be sure.
As previously mentioned, downtown Peoria has free docks with power. Boats usually head for the south side of the docks, but the area immediately after the I-74 bridge (north side of docks) can accommodate more boats than the south side. The south end has very short finger piers and room for only 2 boats along the wall.
Below Peoria, we always tried to stay at Tall Timbers, Bob is a great guy. They can fit in some large boats, but access is always dependent on water levels. We have stayed tied to the Bardstown barge, but would not prefer to do it again. The last good place to tie up is Mel’s Riverside just below the Hardin lift bridge. Good food and low cost docking. Maybe someday the state of Illinois will get around to fixing up Pere Marquette State Park, but I wouldn’t count on it.