Route 60 Canoe Launch, Mettawa, IL

Route 60 Canoe Launch sits along the Des Plaines River in Mettawa, offering direct river access for paddlers and anglers. A gravel parking area leads to a short path that ends at a low wooden dock where kayaks and canoes can be launched. The surrounding river corridor is lined with mature hardwoods and low banks that provide shade in summer and shelter from wind. Just south of the launch, a segment of the Des Plaines River Trail runs north–south, connecting cyclists and runners to nearby forest preserves and to the village of Libertyville three miles away. Public restrooms and drinking water are located at the adjacent Half Day Forest Preserve entrance, a short walk from the launch site. The site is a five-minute drive from IL Route 60, giving residents quick access to both river recreation and regional shopping and dining along the corridor.

Canoeing Fishing Kayaking