The section of the Sangamon River between Riverside Park and Irwin Bridge makes for an ideal day-long trip down a scenic, relaxing river that is easily floated by paddlers of all skill levels. The river is very wide, obstructions and downed trees are rarely an issue, and the flow is slow and steady with just a few sections of small riffles. The scenery along the way includes lots of wooded shoreline home to abundant wildlife and plant life, a few scattered structures, and lots of large sandbars that can be used for nice resting spots along the way. During the first mile there is an 18-inch drop that may require portaging during times of low water and shortly after that is a partial dam that only spans part of the river making it easy to paddle around.