Our first annual celebratory paddle along the Fox River’s newly-created, longest free-flowing stretch of the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail in Kane County, Illinois was a great success.
On June 22, 2025 the 5.9 mile kayak & canoe paddle launched at Cornish Park in Algonquin and finished at Bartels Park in East Dundee. Since there are no more portages through that stretch, paddlers simply just put-in, paddle and take out. Shuttle buses were provided to make logistics easier for the paddlers.
More than half of the route navigates through forest preserves, nature preserves and city parks on one or both sides of the Fox River.
Visit our resource page for maps and viewing sitesSome paddlers took a stop along the route at the Fox River Shores Interpretive Site to take a break learn something new. A Naturalist from the Forest Preserve District of Kane County shared displays and stories about riverine ecosystems and the wildlife that lives along our regional waterways and depends on fresh, flee-flowing water to thrive.
Paddlers could see how the free-flowing river is charting its new course and transforming the landscape passing by the site of the old Carpenter dam.
Local non-profit organizations, government agencies and businesses worked together to bring greater recognition of the Fox River and the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail (FFWT) and the Fox River through this organized paddle highlighting the river that runs through four communities in Kane County, Illinois. Check out FFWT’s comprehensive guide to paddle access sites along the trail.
Photos courtesy of Kim Gilmore.
For more information, contact: ELCARDUNAL@FOTFR.org or leave a message at (815) 356-6605.
Partners & Sponsors
Become a Business Sponsor
Friends of the Fox River and its partners invite your company to sponsor a celebration. We are offering a variety of levels to suit your preferences. Visit our Sponsor Page to learn more.
For more information contact: elcardunal@fotfr.org or (815 377-3616 ). Thank You!
Why is CARDUNAL spelled wrong?
It’s really not! The name “Cardunal” began back at a time when the Dundee Community High School was comprised of students from Carpentersville, East and West Dundee, and Algonquin (Car+Dun+Al), giving the Dundee Cardunals their unique nickname.
The Cardunals faired quite well in sports on a state-competition level, and the Cardinal bird was the school’s mascot. Today, the Dundee Middle School uses the name, and some businesses still identify their businesses with the name Cardunal.
The paddle may one day include the city of Elgin so, in keeping with tradition, we created a new name out of something old – and the name EL CARDUNAL was born.
