Off-Site Parking, Shuttle Buses & Canoe Pick-Up

See the map below for details.

I. FINISH LINE OFF-SITE PARKING is available at 3 sites beginning at 6 am

LOT A: Camp Pine Woods Forest Preserve parking lot (east of Rt. 45 south of Euclid/W. Lake Ave)
LOT B: If needed for overflow. (east of river, north of Lake-Euclid Ave.)
LOT C: Lake/Euclid Ave. Woods Forest Preserve west parking lot (north side of Euclid/Lake Ave - west of the river)

II. STARTING LINE PARKING

A: The best parking option is to move your car to a Finish Line parking area after unloading your canoe. You can then take the free shuttle back to the Start Line to begin the race. See the shuttle schedule below.
B: After unloading canoes, cars may be parked along the shoulder of Oak Springs Road only west of the river.
C: In addition, free all day parking will be available for approximately 100 cars at the Lake Minear Beach Club. The lot entrance is 1/4 mile west of the river along Oak Springs Road. Cars must be removed from this lot by 5:00 pm, making this a better choice for early-heat participants.

III. SHUTTLE BUSES will be available free of charge from the finish line to the start line or off-site parking.

A: TO START LINE - a free shuttle bus will leave Finish Line Lot A (east side of river) at 7:00 am, 8:30 am and 10:00 am for the start line. At 11:30 am and thereafter the bus will leave instead from the drive-in roadway, near the canoe loading area at the north end of the Finish Line area, and will be joined by a second bus. Departures for the Oak Springs Road Start Line will be at approximately every 45 minutes thereafter until 5:00 pm.
B: TO OFF-SITE PARKING - beginning about 6:30 am buses will run continuously between the off-site parking sites (Lots A and C) and the Dam #2 canoe loading driveway. You may ride the buses both ways (courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County). Family and friends who wish to greet you at the finish line and enjoy the day with you may also use the off-site lots and free shuttle bus.

IV. CANOE PICK UP

A: Before you get your vehicle, please bring your canoe and equipment to the "canoe corral" located on the east side of Dam #2 parking lot.
B: Enter the Dam #2 parking lot from the temporary entrance on the south side of the parking lot - load your canoes - exit on the north side.

V. PEDESTRIAN CROSSING of Rt. 45 (River Road)

If you are parked in the residential area west of Dam #2, please cross River Rd. (Rt. 45) only at the entrance or exit to Dam #2 parking lot where there will be Forest Preserve police helping direct traffic.

VI. PICNICKING - CONCESSION STANDS

You are encouraged to make a day of it at Dam #2 - watch others finish, trade "war stories", check your times, and cheer at the awards ceremony. There will be multiple food concessions available this year.