This northern section of the Des Plaines River is an excellent spot for paddling in a suburban area as the river is surrounded along the way by undeveloped and protected green space, wetlands, and forest preserve areas. Paddling the river through this protected green space provides lots of opportunity for wildlife viewing, especially birdwatching. The gradient of the river along here is very minimal so the water is calm and very slow making the river easily navigated by paddlers of all skill levels.