Cache Bayou Outfitters

This is the best thing to do in southern Illinois! We went on a kayaking tour with Megan as our tour guide. She was extremely professional and knowledgeable. She gave us a great five-minute class on how to kayak, and then we spent two hours paddling through the river and bayou. It is jaw-droppingly beautiful. I can’t wait to come back in the spring and do this again!

We rented two kayaks with no guide and had a great time. Mark (and Finn) were friendly and got us geared up to go. We had a 4 hr rental and had a great time exploring the area at our own pace. Beautiful wetland, I've never seen anyplace like it in Illinois. Saw a lot of turtles and birds, the Asian carp can be startling when they leap out of the water but it was kind of funny and kept us on our toes.

We had a nice afternoon paddle here. This is a beautiful place, and I'm really glad we got to take it in from the water. Saw waterfowl, turtles, and lots of cool plant and insect life. We even had a fish hop into one of our canoes! The staff was really helpful, kind and laid back. Don't hesitate to make a reservation with them.

My wife, four year old, and I booked a four hour (non-guided) canoe rental during part of a larger trip to national parks in southern Illinois. We were not sure of the weather forecast, so we booked our reservation at the start of a 45 minute drive to this place. Despite our last minute planning, this visit and experience was flawless. We spent ~2 hours making a loop around the wetland with a trail map provided by Cache Bayou Outfitters. Our canoe was a well maintained three-seat model wide enough to withstand the occasional standing of our child. We loved this experience and would do it again.

Our son wanted to kayak and found this place (only one in the area). The place is quite unassuming when you arrive. Staff is very friendly. We had no idea of the setting as we had no other options. It looks like a swamp. First thing that crossed our mind was bugs. Surprisingly it was relatively bug free! The scenery is breathtaking. Absolutely gorgeous! Finding your way around was a bit challenging at time (faded markers) but you can’t really get lost either. Saw lots of birds n turtles. It was very relaxing and fun at the same time. A hidden gem! Highly recommend!!