WisconsinRiverTrips.com - Water Trail Review Blog
Welcome to WisconsinRiverTrips.com! Here you'll find ~400 reviews for water trails throughout the state. Detailed maps, pictures, videos, in-depth information, mileage, and comments are provided so you can answer the question... Do I want to paddle this creek or river?During paddling season (March to October), this blog usually averages one review per week. To be notified of new reviews, simply check the home page periodically (the newest reviews are at the top), follow me on Facebook, or follow this channel on Youtube.
Help Support HB1873 – Illinois Public Access Bill
Illinois has some of the most restrictive water access laws in the nation. Most rivers and creeks in the state are illegal to paddle, and you can be charged with criminal trespass if you do. HB1873 was recently introduced to fix this. The Illinois Paddling Council has written an overview of this bill and ways you can help. I highly suggest checking it out.
Read More...2024 Year End Review
All good things...
Read More...North Fork of the Maquoketa River – Ozark Wildlife Area
Date Paddled: November 15th, 2024
Put In: 21st Ave
Take Out: 60th Ave
A terrific leg through the Ozark Wildlife Area with fantastic steep bluffs and large boulders.
Read More...Kishwaukee River – Belvidere
Date Paddled: November 1st, 2024
Put In: Belvidere Park
Take Out: Newburg Road
This is one of the better water trails in Northern Illinois. Highlights include attractive gravel bars, impressive sycamore trees, and scenic Belvidere Park.
Read More...Rock River – Kaul Park
Date Paddled: October 26th, 2024
Put In: Kaul Park
Take Out: Kanow Park
A surprisingly nice water trail with decent fall color. This is one of the more under-rated water trails in southeast Wisconsin.
Read More...Kickapoo River – Gays Mills
Date Paddled: October 19th, 2024
Put In: Hwy B Canoe Landing
Take Out: Hwy S Canoe Landing
There aren't any cliffs and the bank quality is poor, but this Lower Kickapoo stretch does have some really nice bluffs and isn't a bad paddle.
Read More...Red Cedar River – Colfax
Date Paddled: October 11th, 2024
Put In: Tom Prince Memorial Park
Take Out: Russian Slough County Park
This is a relatively overlooked stretch on an otherwise popular paddling river. Highlights include fast current and some very impressive sand banks.
Read More...Bearskin Creek
Date Paddled: October 5th, 2024
Put In: Harshaw Road Bike Access
Take Out: Wayside Park
This obscure tributary to the Tomahawk River is very scenic with impressive "pine walls". The other highlight was the bike shuttle on the attractive Bearskin State Trail.
Read More...Tomahawk River
Date Paddled: September 28th, 2024
Put In: Willow Flowage Dam
Take Out: Swan Creek
Located in North Central Wisconsin, the Tomahawk is a pleasant river with good "up north" scenery. The highlight of the trip is a 900' long stretch of fun whitewater.
Read More...Spirit River
Date Paddled: September 21st, 2024
Put In: Bridge Road
Take Out: Hwy O Bridge
The Spirit River is a great water trail with fantastic boulder gardens and scenic balsam firs. As a bonus paddlers can also experience Spirit Falls and the Spirit River Flowage.
Read More...Somo River
Date Paddled: September 14th, 2024
Put In: Zenith Tower Road
Take Out: Somo Dam Road
Half this trip was on the Little Somo River, and half on the Somo River. Half worked out and half didn't. Highlights include incredibly wooded banks with fantastic pines and tamaracks. On the downside, my plan to paddle upstream on the Little Somo River didn't work out well. The river is a really nice "pine paddle", but you need to plan a trip carefully to avoid the mistakes I made.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Gotham
Date Paddled: September 7th, 2024
Put In: Gotham (Buena Vista) Boat Landing
Take Out: Old Muscoda Landing
This is one of the nicer legs on the Lower Wisconsin with fantastic sandbars, scenic bluffs, fast current, and many attractive outcrops.
Read More...Little Wolf – South Branch – Iola
Date Paddled: August 31st, 2024
Put In: Tresness Road
Take Out: Weinmann Road
Trip starts with a weedy stretch on Lake Iola. But south of the dam the river is really nice with terrific clarity.
Read More...Neenah Creek – Hwy CX
Date Paddled: August 24th, 2024
Put In: Hwy CX
Take Out: Hwy CM
The final leg of Neenah Creek is a varied paddle with a mix of wetlands, bottomlands, and narrow creek paddling. It was however surprisingly nice with the highlight being the bountiful waterfowl.
Read More...Mississippi River – Crater Island
Date Paddled: August 18th, 2024
Put In: Hwy 26/Root River
Take Out: Wildcat Park
This was a combination trip on the Root River, Mississippi main channel, and the Goose Island side sloughs. The highlight was Crater Island which is a massive and artificial island with towering sand dunes.
Read More...Copper River
Date Paddled: August 10th, 2024
Put In: Hwy M
Take Out: Hwy E
Located northwest of Merrill, this is a good but not spectacular creek. Highlights include nice boulders, light rapids, and scenic wooded banks. Some stretches include fantastic stands of cedar, white pines, spruce, hemlocks and firs.
Read More...Mecan River – Dixie Ave
Date Paddled: August 3rd, 2024
Put In: Dixie Ave
Take Out: Hwy 22
This is a less popular leg on the Mecan River. It's not as scenic as the preceding Dakota leg, but is a solid paddle with enjoyable current and clean water.
Read More...Jump River
Date Paddled: July 27th, 2024
Put In: CR M Wayside
Take Out: Village Park Landing
The scenery on this leg of the Jump isn't extraordinary or unique, but it is still a scenic and good river for paddling. Highlights included many light Class 1 rapids, boulder fields, granite rock outcrops, and attractive undeveloped banks with many pines.
Read More...Door County – Cave Point
Date Paddled: July 19th, 2024
Put In: Schauer Park
Take Out: Schauer Park
A guest review for Cave Point in Door County.
Read More...Fever River – Knee Deep Rd to Horse Shoe Bend Rd
Date Paddled: July 26th, 2024
Put In: Knee Deep Rd
Take Out: Horseshoe Bend Rd
A guest review for a far upper leg of the Fever River. Highlights include many rock outcrops, but this is a shallow leg that can only be done in high water.
Read More...Kickapoo River – Bridge 7 to Bridge 14
Date Paddled: July 20th, 2024
Put In: Bridge 7
Take Out: Bridge 14
This is a tweener stretch between Ontario and La Farge. While not as popular and not having as many outcrops as upstream legs, it's still very scenic and features some of the larger rock formations on the river.
Read More...Bakken’s Pond
Date Paddled: July 14th, 2024
Put In: Ellen Lane Access
Take Out: Brace Memorial Park
This was a simple marsh paddle on a Lower Wisconsin slough which may not excite most kayakers, but was surprisingly nice. Highlights include good wildlife and scenery.
Read More...Lake Redstone
Date Paddled: July 6th, 2024
Put In: Redstone Beach (South End)
Take Out: Section 11 Ramp (North End)
Lake Redstone is a gorgeous lake with many pine trees and red hued outcrops. Motorboats and jet skis can be a problem for paddlers though. With careful planning, you can target the best areas and best times to have a good kayak trip.
Read More...Rat River
Date Paddled: June 30th, 2024
Put In: Bison Road
Take Out: Hwy II
Open and marshy, this is a generic water trail that likely won't be a destination paddle for most. Locals in the Appleton area though may appreciate it.
Read More...Special High Water Bulletin and Warning
For much of June and now early July, rivers have been dangerously high. There are exceptions (lakes, flowages, marshes), but generally speaking, paddlers need to stay off rivers when high. Water has a lot of mass which translates into a lot of energy when high. This excess energy can create dangerously fast current, undertows, strainers, […]
Read More...Potter Flowage
Date Paddled: June 23rd, 2024
Put In: Larb Lane Landing
Take Out: Larb Lane Landing
This is a small impounded stretch of Morrison Creek located east of Black River Falls. The lake itself isn't interesting, but the shoreline with the lilies, pine trees and gulches are very attractive.
Read More...Trappe River
Date Paddled: June 15th, 2024
Put In: County Road WW
Take Out: Jesse Park
Located north of Wausau, the Trappe is a small but scenic river with many boulder gardens and rapids. Unfortunately the river is typically either too high or too low, so timing a trip on it can be difficult.
Read More...Scuppernong River – Hwy 106
Date Paddled: June 9th, 2024
Put In: Hwy 106 Access
Take Out: Prince's Point Landing
The lower Scuppernong is mostly open marsh, artificially straightened banks, and a few dead trees. But it is an easy paddle with great access points. Locals may enjoy its zen-like simplicity and lack of hazards, but for everybody else it's likely not a bucket list trip.
Read More...St Croix River – Gordon Dam to Schoen Park
Date Paddled: June 7th, 2024
Put In: Gordon Dam Landing
Take Out: Schoen Park Landing
A guest review for the St. Croix River.
Read More...Namekagon River – County K to Whispering Pines
Date Paddled: May 25th, 2024
Put In: County K Landing
Take Out: Whispering Pines Landing
A guest review for the Namekagon River.
Read More...Yellow River in North Central Wisconsin – Hwy O
Date Paddled: June 2nd, 2024
Put In: Hwy O
Take Out: Riverview Park (Cadott)
This was a fun paddle with light rapids, attractive boulder gardens and dense wooded banks. The Yellow can get shallow, so you do want to carefully time when you kayak it.
Read More...Halls Creek – Guest Review
Date Paddled: May 29th, 2024
Put In: Trow Lake Dam
Take Out: Garage Road
A guest review for Halls Creek.
Read More...Honey Creek – Carver School Road
Date Paddled: May 26th, 2024
Put In: Carver School Road
Take Out: Bell School Road
Honey Creek is one of the more overlooked and underrated paddles in southeast Wisconsin. Highlights include good water quality, wildlife, and a clean substrate. Think of it has a smaller version of Turtle Creek.
Read More...Lunch Creek
Date Paddled: May 18th, 2024
Put In: Dakota Ave
Take Out: 16th Ave
Sandwiched between the White and Mecan Rivers, Lunch creek has some terrific pine stands but overall isn't very delectable because of all the logjams and alders.
Read More...Sinsinawa River
Date Paddled: May 11th, 2024
Put In: Sinsinawa Road
Take Out: N High Ridge Road
Located in far Southwest Wisconsin, the Sinsinawa is a scenic river with terrific limestone cliffs. But it is obscure for a reason. Shallow water, fences, cattle, and bad access points ensure this will never be a popular river for kayaking.
Read More...Rush Lake
Date Paddled: May 5th, 2024
Put In: Rush Lake South Boat Ramp
Take Out: Rush Lake East Ramp
This is a nice lake located west of Oshkosh, but it has been overrun by cattails. This is both a blessing and a curse for paddling. At times the cattails can constrict and cut off parts of the lake leaving a disorienting labyrinth. But the corridors within the marsh are incredibly scenic and filled with great wildlife.
Read More...Blue River – Hwy G
Date Paddled: April 27th, 2024
Put In: Hwy G
Take Out: Forest Road
Aside from a few logjams, this is a pleasant and open stretch of the Lower Blue River (located in Southwest Wisconsin).
Read More...Deer Creek – Hwy 8 to Hwy 1
Date Paddled: April 21st, 2024
Put In: Hwy 8
Take Out: Hwy 1
This is southeast Minnesota's most scenic water trail and their version of the Kickapoo. There are a few fences and strainers to deal with, but otherwise this was an amazing paddle with incredible limestone cliffs that look like brick walls.
Read More...Rush River
Date Paddled: April 13th, 2024
Put In: 690th Ave
Take Out: 570th Ave
Typically this small river is too shallow to run. But when levels are right and you can handle the rapids, it's one of the most scenic kayak trips in northwest Wisconsin.
Read More...Maquoketa River – Backbone State Park
Date Paddled: April 6th, 2024
Put In: Hwy 410
Take Out: Dundee Access
Flowing through historic Backbone State Park in NE Iowa, this is one of the most scenic stretches of the Maquoketa River. Highlights include fantastic bluffs and cliffs.
Read More...Volga River – Mederville IA
Date Paddled: March 30th, 2024
Put In: Mederville Canoe Access
Take Out: Littleport Canoe Access
This is a terrific leg and likely the most popular on Iowa's Volga River. Highlights include mostly undeveloped banks, fun Class 1 rapids, exposed limestone outcrops, and phenomenal bluffs.
Read More...Pebble Creek
Date Paddled: March 16th, 2024
Put In: Merrill Hills Road
Take Out: Fox River Park North Boat Launch
Located south of Waukesha, Pebble Creek is an obscure tributary to the Illinois Fox. It's not bad and has some good marsh scenery, but I can't recommend it because of logjams.
Read More...Whitewater River – Elba
Date Paddled: March 10th, 2024
Put In: Elba/Hwy 26
Take Out: Hwy 30/Hwy 74 Wayside
Located in Southeast Minnesota, the Whitewater River is a fantastic paddle with crystal clear water and scenic Driftless Area bluffs.
Read More...Sugar Creek
Date Paddled: March 2nd, 2024
Put In: County Road ES
Take Out: Hodunk Road
Sugar Creek is an obscure paddle in Kettle Moraine Country. It starts slow and somewhat mediocre...but ends nicely with a scenic stretch next to a terminal moraine.
Read More...Door Creek
Date Paddled: February 25th, 2024
Put In: Siggelkow Road
Take Out: Fish Camp County Park
Door Creek is an obscure water trail located south of Madison. It's not elite, there is a lot of marsh, and the creek has been artificially straightened but overall I found it an enjoyable trip.
Read More...Waterproof Wisconsin Water Trail Maps
New waterproof water trail maps are now available for pre-order. Over 100 maps will be available in five collections. Each map will include mileage and access points.
Read More...2023 Year End Review
All good things...
Read More...Pecatonica River – Hwy 78 Landing
Date Paddled: November 18th, 2023
Put In: Hwy 78 Landing
Take Out: Gratiot Conservation Club Landing
This is kind of a mediocre trip with no outcrops or anything special. While definitely not one of the Pecatonica's best legs, it's not bad either.
Read More...Yellow Creek
Date Paddled: November 12th, 2023
Put In: Hwy 17/S. Bolton Road
Take Out: Krape Park Dam
Located by Freeport Illinois, Yellow Creek is a nice paddle. Highlights include fantastic gorges, attractive woods, cliffs, and even a cave.
Read More...Nippersink Creek
Date Paddled: October 28th, 2023
Put In: Keystone Landing
Take Out: Pioneer Landing
A surprisingly nice trip with fantastic glacial kames, fun little rapids, rolling savannahs, and some of the best oaks I've seen on a a water trail.
Read More...Turkey River – Elkader
Date Paddled: October 22nd, 2023
Put In: Elkader Whitewater Park
Take Out: Motor Mill Access
One of the best legs on the Turkey River which includes fantastic bluffs, cliffs, springs, a whitewater park, mill and fall color.
Read More...Upper Iowa – Plymouth Rock Landing
Date Paddled: October 20th, 2023
Put In: Plymouth Rock Landing
Take Out: Bluffton Rd Landing
A guest review for the Upper Iowa River during peak color.
Read More...Yellow River – Yellow River Road
Date Paddled: October 15th, 2023
Put In: Yellow River Road
Take Out: Hwy 10
This is an obscure leg of the Upper Yellow River located near Marshfield. It's a scenic stretch that can feature some nice fall color. Unfortunately the trip was marred by high water levels.
Read More...Rock River – Harnischfeger Park
Date Paddled: October 7th, 2023
Put In: Harnischfeger Park
Take Out: Kaul Park/CW Road
Despite slow current and some motorboat traffic, this is a pleasant and relatively secluded stretch of the Upper Rock River.
Read More...Kickapoo River – Readstown
Date Paddled: October 2nd, 2023
Put In: Tourist Park Readstown
Take Out: Soldiers Grove Canoe Access
This is an ok stretch of the Lower Kickapoo with decent current and some nice Driftless Area hills. But there are no riverside cliffs.
Read More...Pecatonica River – East Branch – Hwy 78
Date Paddled: September 30th, 2023
Put In: Hwy 78
Take Out: River Road Landing
A pleasant stretch with open scenery, Driftless Area hills, and a handful of rock outcrops. On the downside some sections are a bit boring and open pasture has degraded parts of the river.
Read More...Baraboo River – Glenville Landing
Date Paddled: September 23rd, 2023
Put In: Glenville Landing
Take Out: Luebke Landing
A pleasant trip, but a little boring at times. I would rate this as one of the more uninteresting sections of the Baraboo. On the plus side it had no portages for logjams (as of 2023) and remains plenty navigable even during big droughts.
Read More...South Branch of the Root River
Date Paddled: September 16th, 2023
Put In: County Road 5
Take Out: Maple Road
The features some of the more impressive rock outcrops in Southeast Minnesota. Unfortunately the river can run shallow in late summer which can translate into a lot of boat dragging.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Merrimac
Date Paddled: September 9th, 2023
Put In: Merrimac Memorial Park
Take Out: Veterans Memorial Park (Prairie du Sac)
A mostly boring trip on an impounded stretch of the Wisconsin River. But a few spots are interesting (Merrimac, Moon Valley, and the Prairie du Sac dam).
Read More...Kickapoo River – Plum Creek
Date Paddled: September 1st, 2023
Put In: Plum Creek Landing
Take Out: Hwy 60 Landing
While lacking outcrops, this lower Kickapoo trip is still a pleasant paddle and features some really nice bluffs.
Read More...Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Date Paddled: September 4th, 2023
Put In: Miner’s Beach
Take Out: Miner’s Beach
A guest review for one of if not the most scenic areas on Lake Superior.
Read More...Roaring Creek
Date Paddled: August 27th, 2023
Put In: Lost Falls Campground
Take Out: Lost Falls Campground
While not exactly kayakable, this tributary to the Black River is still definitely worth checking. Highlights include two sets of falls, an amazing slot canyon and a 100' cliff.
Read More...Black River – Irving
Date Paddled: August 27th, 2023
Put In: Irving (David Hansen Memorial Canoe Landing)
Take Out: Lost Falls Campground
A surprise landing closure resulted in a shorter than expected trip. This was a still a nice stretch with large sandbars, a few micro-waterfalls, one large sandbank, and an opportunity to explore nearby Roaring Creek which lives up to its namesake.
Read More...Mecan River – Dakota
Date Paddled: August 19th, 2023
Put In: Hwy Y (Dakota)
Take Out: Dixie Ave
Fast, crystal-clear water flows through a pristine "up-north" landscape in one of the best paddling prospects in Central Wisconsin.
Read More...Sand Island
Date Paddled: August 19th, 2023
Put In: Little Sand Bay
Take Out: Little Sand Bay
A guest review for Sand Island, a scenic part of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior which features terrific sea caves.
Read More...Crawfish River – Goat Island
Date Paddled: August 12th, 2023
Put In: Aztalan State Park
Take Out: Riverfront Park in Jefferson
This stretch of the Crawfish was a pleasant surprise with abundant waterfowl and a number of small boulder gardens. The highlight of the trip is Goat Island which is home to a small herd of goats.
Read More...Milwaukee River – Thiensville
Date Paddled: August 4th, 2023
Put In: Thiensville Village Park Launch
Take Out: Badger Meter River Park
This is a less popular stretch of the Milwaukee. While not bad, it had somewhat repetitive scenery and lack of unique features.
Read More...Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes
Date Paddled: August 4th, 2023
Put In: Taylor Lake Boat Ramp
Take Out: Marl Lake Kayak Launch
A guest review for the Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Granite Heights
Date Paddled: July 30th, 2023
Put In: Pine Bluff Road
Take Out: Brokaw Boat landing
This is one of the last free-flowing stretches of the Wisconsin River before it encounters a gauntlet of dams from Wausau to Castle Rock Lake. It's a nice leg with attractive wooded banks, gravel bars, and even some surprise rapids.
Read More...Mississippi River – Marquette
Date Paddled: July 22nd, 2023
Put In: Yellow River Landing
Take Out: McGregor Boat Ramp
This is a scenic stretch of the Mississippi with terrific river bluffs.
Read More...Minong Flowage
Date Paddled: June 30th, 2023
Put In: Totogatic Park
Take Out: Totogatic Park
A guest review for the Minong flowage.
Read More...Pecatonica River – East Branch – Blackhawk
Date Paddled: July 22nd, 2023
Put In: River Road in Argyle
Take Out: Hwy M in Woodford
A guest review for a scenic stretch of the East Branch between Argyle and Woodford.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Mineral Point Branch – Oak Park Road
Date Paddled: July 16th, 2023
Put In: Oak Park Road
Take Out: Hwy O (1st Bridge)
This was a surprisingly nice trip on an overlooked stretch of the Mineral Point Branch. The big highlight of this stretch are its many bankside outcrops.
Read More...Pecatonica River – East Branch – River Road
Date Paddled: July 16th, 2023
Put In: River Road
Take Out: Argyle Boat Landing
A guest review for a scenic stretch of the East Branch which features impressive outcrops.
Read More...Pecatonica River – State Line
Date Paddled: July 15th, 2023
Put In: Browntown Boat Landing
Take Out: Brewster’s Landing
A guest review for a lower leg of the Pecatonica River that starts in Wisconsin and ends in Illinois.
Read More...Volga River – Osborne
Date Paddled: July 8th, 2023
Put In: Hwy 13
Take Out: Mederville Canoe Access
This is a pleasant water trail that is popular with locals. Highlights include a few light rapids, clear water, bluffs, and a scenic arched bridge.
Read More...Thompson Creek and the Root River
Date Paddled: July 2nd, 2023
Put In: 1st Street
Take Out: Root River Hwy 26 Carry-In Access
Located just west of La Crosse, Thompson Creek is famous for Como Falls which is very scenic. Included in this trip was a leg on the Root River to make the trip longer.
Read More...Yahara River – Hwy 19 to Cherokee Marsh
Date Paddled: July 4th, 2023
Put In: Highway 19
Take Out: Cherokee Marsh - South Boat Launch
A guest review (and warning) for the Yahara River just upstream from Lake Mendota.
Read More...St Croix River – Interstate Park to William O’ Brien State Park
Date Paddled: July 2nd, 2023
Put In: Interstate State Park (MN)
Take Out: William O’Brien State Park
A guest review for one of the best legs on the St Croix River.
Read More...
