Tower Road Accessible Boat Launch

Tower Road Accessible Boat Launch is a public boat ramp on the Skokie River near Northfield, Illinois, run by the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

Paved ramp

Aerial view of the parking lot beside the river, September 2019 Photo: USDA Farm Service Agency, NAIP · Public domain · via USGS The National Map

Zebra mussels

Zebra mussels (latest report 2003) reported in Skokie River 710 m from this launch (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database). Clean, drain and dry your boat, trailer and gear before you leave, and do not move water, plants or live bait to another water.

USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database · checked October 20, 2026

Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.

At the launch

Type: Boat ramp
Ramp surface: Paved
Car parking: 164 spaces
Managed by: Cook County Forest Preserve District
Coordinates: 42.11352, -87.77474

Directions (Google) Apple Maps

Conditions

Weather forecast for this launch · National Weather Service
Water level, flow at the SKOKIE RIVER NEAR HIGHLAND PARK, IL gauge · USGS, 3.4 mi away on Skokie River

Water level

Latest reading loads here; without it, see the USGS page below.

USGS gauge SKOKIE RIVER NEAR HIGHLAND PARK, IL, 3.4 mi from this launch on Skokie River: water level, flow, a reading every 15 minutes. Readings and history at USGS.

On Skokie River

River in Illinois. All launches on Skokie River.

Community

Where people who use Skokie River talk about it.

Search Reddit: r/illinois Reddit
Search all of Reddit for Skokie River, Illinois Reddit

Nearby launches

Stepan Family Boat Launch · 2.3 mi · Lake Michigan
Gallery Park Boat Launch · 2.7 mi · Lake Glenview
Linne Woods Canoe Landing · 4.8 mi · North Branch Chicago River
Lake Michigan Boat Launch near Highland Park · 5.3 mi · Lake Michigan
Des Plaines River Carry-in Access near Wheeling · 5.8 mi · Des Plaines River
Allison Woods Canoe Landing · 5.8 mi · Des Plaines River

Sources

Great Lakes Commission Boat Access Sites (compilation, public and private) record -87.77477,42.11352 · CC BY 4.0 (Great Lakes Commission compilation); coverage and attribute completeness vary by jurisdiction

Why it is listed as public: ifishillinois.org: There is a boat ramp at Tower Road. Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.