When the Carpenter Dam removal was completed last year on November 1st, the leadership of Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) knew they wanted to celebrate the long (9 year) journey’s completion. A board/staff canoe trip was envisioned. Inclement weather postponed the trip, which gave creative minds time to raise the fun factor.
on April 17, 2025 by Art Malm.
EL CARDUNAL
A public paddle was in the making. FOTFR Board Members Bob Sutton and Suzanne Morrison volunteered to steer the event, and several partners were assembled to help with planning. Since the Fox flows through a few communities, the historic term for the region, CARDUNAL (CARpentersvile, DUNdee, ALgonquin) was selected as a name for an event with a prefix of EL (for ELgin) the original destination.
Celebrating Dam Removal
The plan for a public paddle from Algonquin to Elgin celebrates the historic change to the Fox River. In 2023, former FOTFR Director, now Aquatic Toxicologist for the Wisconsin EPA, Jenni Kempf paddled the length of the Fox. She said:
“Dams are a paddler’s nemesis…they pose serious danger.”
On her trip, she had to exit the river a dozen times to carry her canoe and all her gear around a dam, and cross busy roads like Route 64 in St. Charles.
In addition to being a significant obstacle for paddlers moving downstream, dams present a safety hazard and cause pollution. After 20 years of research, the Fox River Study Group has identified dam removal as the most economical and effective means to restore the Fox River’s habitat and water quality. That action is required under the Clean Water Act. The progress we have made in cleaning and preserving our river includes the 2023 designation of The Fabulous Fox! National Water Trail (FFWT) by the National Park Service. EL CARDUNAL, the longest free-flowing stretch of the Fox River in Kane County is certainly something to celebrate.
After the dam was removed, Jake Wolfe, owner of Howling Wolfe Canoe & Kayak, had this to say:
“Now this is one of the most beautiful riverscapes I have seen
in the Midwest and certainly within Illinois.”
Today as you read this, nature is reawakening, and the area will only become more lovely. By the time of our inaugural EL CARDUNAL paddle on June 22, summer will be well underway, and the natural beauty of this section of newly free-flowing river will be in its full glory.
First Annual
on April 28, 2025.
This year, the public event will begin in Algonquin’s Cornish Park and culminate in East Dundee. Upon completion, participants will earn a commemorative t-shirt and a swag bag (courtesy of partner FFWT) stuffed with goodies and an invitation to visit the many establishments in East Dundee. Along the way, partner Kane County Forest Preserve District will offer an interpretive presentation at their Carpenter Dam parking lot on Lincoln Avenue.
Kayak or Canoe with us on a Free-flowing River
Registration is now open HERE. We are accepting up to 200 paddlers. Partner Howling Wolf Canoe & Kayak will be offering rental services on a first come first served basis.
A free shuttle bus is included in your registration. If needed, you can drop off your canoe/kayak at the launch site at Cornish Park in Algonquin. Drive your vehicle to the takeout site in East Dundee and grab the free shuttle back to the launch. Perhaps allow yourself enough time to get breakfast in downtown Algonquin. You’ll take out six miles later in East Dundee, a walkable small town made for summer. Just a few blocks from the river, downtown East Dundee is filled with beer gardens and outdoor dining options — all within a few blocks walk.
At the take-out in East Dundee, participants will have the opportunity to collect their t-shirt and swag bag. Sponsor tables, music and refreshments are planned. All are encouraged to visit the many local restaurants.
Future Fun in Fox Valley
The inaugural El Cardunal paddle will be an experience you’ll be eager to repeat. And you can. Kane County is adding in an accessible launch in East Dundee and Carpentersville to be completed later this summer and East Dundee is establishing self-serve kiosks to rent kayaks. There’s no need to drive hours away to Wisconsin or Michigan to have a daycation. Step back in time in the Fox River Valley’s charming towns and enjoy a perfect summer day on the water.
Partners and Sponsors
