Des Plaines Fish & Wildlife Area offers a public boat launch with three paved ramps on the Kankakee River (motors limited to 10 hp on backwaters), plus extensive fishing access to river backwaters and several ponds across its 5,000+ acres.

The site features picnic areas, camping, and an 80-acre nature preserve, with a boat ramp that closes seasonally from late October through mid-April for pheasant hunting season.