Located in central Illinois, the Mackinaw River is unique in that it is completely un-dammed and flows freely through open rural farmlands and wooded terrain providing paddlers with lots of nice scenery, wildlife, and solitude. The river passes through no towns or cities and provides a real wilderness experience. This section of river is pretty wide in parts and has minimal elevation loss resulting in easy flowing water and few obstructions making it a great choice for paddlers of all skill levels. The upper part of the river can be paddled up before the put-in spot for this trip but it is much narrower and very wild so be prepared for more challenging paddling conditions.