Following our tour through downtown Chicago along the Chicago River aka Sanitary Ship Canal, we pass through very heavy industrial areas on the northern section of the river consisting of warehouses, petroleum facilities and barge operations. At mile 33 we joined the Calumet Canal which links into the Des Plains River and eventually will cruise into the Illinois River. This river is about 340 miles in length and has 7 locks which descend 400+ feet before the Illinois river joins the Mississippi River at Grafton, IL just north of St. Louis, MO.

Read About Our Journey down the Chicago Canal and Illinois River to: Joliet, IL

Captain John's Navionics Cruise Log - Day 24

Miles Traveled Today: 38.0

Cumulative Miles: 923.1

Duration of Stay: 1 day Joliet downtown free wall

Information on Arrival Port: Joliet, IL

In 1673, Louis Jolliet, along with Father Jacques Marquette, paddled up the Des Plaines River and camped on a huge earthwork mound, a few miles south of the present-day city of Joliet. They eventually traveled the entire distance along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers as well as the Great Lakes to establish a river transportation corridor from Canada to New Orleans thus opening up huge economic opportunities in the Midwest.