Maple Lake (Palos area)

Opening Day - May 1st
At Maple Lake, you can rent a canoe, kayak or rowboat and a enjoy a cozy lake nestled in a forested vale in the hills of the Palos area.  Maple Lake is also a great jumping off point for exploring the Palos trail system, mountain biking, or climbing to the top of the bluff at Swallow Cliff.

OPEN HOURS:

(to rent, arrive by 1 hr. before sunset)

September & October

  • M, W, Th & F - 10:00-sunset
  • Tuesdays - closed
  • Saturday/Sunday - 7:00-sunset

LOCATION: 

Wolf Rd. just south of 95th St., Willow Springs

All rental trips are round-trips.

  PRICES:

  • single kayaks $15/hr. (1 hour minimum) up to $45 day rate
  • canoes, tandem kayaks & rowboats $20/hr (1 hour minimum) up to $60 day rate
  • fishing boats $20/hr. (2 hour minimum) up to $80 day rate
  • River Rambler Club - five trips and the sixth is free (a trip of similar duration to those paid for)  

Reservations not required

  • Groups or people coming at peak hours can ask us to reserve boats by e-mail or phone at least a day in advance.  If the day you want to paddle has already arrived, it's too late to reserve, but just come over - we'll most likely have boats for you.
  • Include which launch, boats desired, time and day you're coming, roughly how long you'll be on the water, and a phone number.

 

 When you visit the Palos preserves, you may forget you're in Illinois because of the rolling hills formed by the 'terminal moraine' of the glacier  that once covered the area - that is, Palos is the point where rocks, boulders and rubble torn up and carried by the glacier melted out.  Palos offers bluffs with views, hikes with ascents, and the loveliest lake in Cook County - Maple Lake.