Features
About this place
Beautiful location to hit the water in the Shawnee National Forest.
For a full day on Lusk Creek, put in at Iron Bridge and paddle 7.1 miles of Shawnee National Forest beauty. This 8 hour excursion is sure to delight the senses as you pass through some of the most pristine areas in Illinois.
Lusk Creek is a remote, pristine stream that provides some of the best canoeing and kayaking in all of Illinois. The river is not as easily accessible as many of the other rivers and streams in Illinois but the scenery and solitude make it worthwhile. It is often not crowded at all.
The stream flows through wooded limestone canyons and is tree-lined much of the way so obstructions and downed trees can be present. Some short portages may be required when the water level is low. Snags and rocks being the main obstacles. The river has some decent elevation loss through this section providing paddlers with a steady flow and lots of fun riffles. Keep an eye out for venomous snakes, although rarely encountered they are known to inhabit the area. The take-out will bring you to the historic town of Golconda at the Lusk Creek Boat Ramp.