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.
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...Kettle River- Long Lake Road to Hwy 23
Date Paddled: July 1st, 2023
Put In: Long Lake Road
Take Out: Hwy 23
A guest review for the Kettle River which is a tributary of the St. Croix from the Minnesota side.
Read More...Illinois Fox River – Fox River Park to River Road
Date Paddled: June 24th, 2023
Put In: River Road (First Bridge)
Take Out: River Road (Second Bridge)
Located just south of Waukesha, this is a lazy stretch of the Illinois Fox. It lacks major highlights (other than good water clarity) and isn't an elite water trail but locals may still enjoy it.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Hwy 14 to Lone Rock
Date Paddled: June 24th, 2023
Put In: Hwy 14 Boat Launch
Take Out: Otter Creek Boat Launch
A guest review for the Wisconsin River between Spring Green and Lone Rock.
Read More...Montello River – Harrisville
Date Paddled: June 17th, 2023
Put In: Hwy J
Take Out: Ember Lane
Logjams sabotage what otherwise would have been a fantastic trip with impressive water clarity and terrific wildlife.
Read More...Upper Iowa River – Kendallville to Bluffton Road
Date Paddled: June 17th, 2023
Put In: Kendallville Landing
Take Out: Bluffton Road
A guest review for the Upper Iowa River.
Read More...Black River – Van Loon Forest
Date Paddled: June 11th, 2023
Put In: Hwy 35 Main Landing
Take Out: Lytle's Landing
The second to last stretch of the Black features some fantastic sandbars, but it can get very shallow.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Woodman
Date Paddled: June 9th, 2023
Put In: Woodman Landing
Take Out: Millville Landing
A guest review for an Lower Wisconsin River near Woodman.
Read More...Pine River – Saxeville
Date Paddled: June 3rd, 2023
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: 26th Road Pull-off
The most scenic stretch of the Pine River (Waushara County) includes impressive boulder gardens, a covered bridge, and Class 3 rapids.
Read More...North Branch of the Root River
Date Paddled: May 27th, 2023
Put In: Country Road 1
Take Out: Country Road 116
This may be one of the most scenic water trails in Southeastern Minnesota. Highlights include fantastic 100' high limestone cliffs and nearly prefect water clarity.
Read More...Namekagon River – Namekagon Dam to Hwy 63 Wayside
Date Paddled: May 27th, 2023
Put In: Namekagon Dam
Take Out: Hwy 63 Wayside
A guest review for an upper leg of the Namekagon River.
Read More...Namekagon River – Groat to Springbrook
Date Paddled: May 26th, 2023
Put In: Groat Landing
Take Out: Springbrook Landing
A guest review for a middle leg of the Namekagon River.
Read More...Fever River- Hwy W to Council Hill Rd
Date Paddled: May 7th, 2023
Put In: Hwy W
Take Out: Council Hill Rd Bridge
A guest review for the Fever River that starts in one state and ends in another.
Read More...Andy’s Wisconsin River FKT Thing
Starting June 3rd, Andy Nevitt will attempt to set a record for the fastest end-to-end paddle of the Wisconsin River. The goal is to do 430 miles in 4-6 days which is a blistering 70-100 miles each day and will include night paddling. Progress will be shared online.
Read More...Big Rib River – Rib Falls
Date Paddled: May 20th, 2023
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: Rib Falls County Park
This is one of best legs on the entire Big Rib River. Highlights include attractive hemlocks, light rapids, boulders, and seven sets of gorgeous granite outcrops. The trip ends with a bang with Rib Falls which is incredibly scenic.
Read More...Manitowoc River – Union Rd to Manitowoc River Access Park
Date Paddled: May 20th, 2023
Put In: Union Road
Take Out: Manitowoc River Access Park
A guest review for a fast stretch of the Manitowoc River by I-43.
Read More...Wedde Creek
Date Paddled: May 15th, 2023
Put In: Dakota Ave
Take Out: 11th Drive
Alder gauntlets and logjams are too much to recommend this small tributary to the Mecan River. This is too bad as it has clear water and scenic pine trees.
Read More...Yellow River – Volney Iowa
Date Paddled: May 7th, 2023
Put In: Volney Rd (X26 bridge)
Take Out: Sixteen Bridge (X32)
Located in Northeast Iowa, the Yellow is a really nice river with fun Class 1 rapids and many scenic outcrops.
Read More...Portage to Portage
In 2010, Wausau resident Jake Stachovak paddled from Portage, WI to Portage, WI...via the Mississippi, Gulf Coast, the Atlantic, Erie Canal and Great Lakes. A jaw-dropping 5000 miles! Jake posted a blog that detailed his journey, but this became inactive after he tragically passed from cancer in 2021. The following is a resurrection of Jake's blog--with all the events, progress, and human interactions that highlighted this incredible trip.
Read More...Stony Brook
Date Paddled: April 28th, 2023
Put In: Town Hall Road
Take Out: Hwy 89
Located east of Sun Prairie, this is an obscure tributary to the Maunesha River. While often pleasant, it's not a stream I can recommend because of all the logjams.
Read More...Menomonee River – Hoyt Park
Date Paddled: April 14th, 2023
Put In: Hoyt Park
Take Out: Blue Mound Road
Located in the Milwaukee Metro Area, this is a surprisingly nice river with many rapids and boulders.
Read More...North Fork Maquoketa River
Date Paddled: April 8th, 2023
Put In: Cascade Historic Limestone Silo
Take Out: Hwy D61
The North Fork of the Maquoketa River is one of Iowa's most scenic rivers. Highlights include clear water, good current, scenic bluffs, and attractive outcrops.
Read More...Platte River – Coon Hollow Road
Date Paddled: April 2nd, 2023
Put In: Coon Hollow Road
Take Out: Hwy A
This Upper Platte River leg isn't perfect. It does need high water levels to be runnable and the shoreline erosion is unsightly. But, the rapids and limestone cliffs are fantastic.
Read More...Mormon Creek
Date Paddled: March 26th, 2023
Put In: Justin Road
Take Out: Hwy 35
This is a short trip and suffers from a few obstacles, but they are worth it to see the fantastic sandstone outcrops and a massive cave. There is even a sandstone tunnel you can paddle through.
Read More...Kickapoo River – Wilton
Date Paddled: March 20th, 2023
Put In: Keystone
Take Out: Michigan Road/Hwy 131
What's the furthest upstream point on the Kickapoo you can kayak? Time to find out in this winter/ice version of the Kickapoo River by Wilton.
Read More...Wisconsin River Thru Paddling with Lloyd Hovorka
In June of 2021, Lloyd Hovorka paddled the entire length of the Wisconsin River from Lac Vieux Desert to Wyalusing. The following is his blog and photos from this trip.
Read More...2022 Year End Review
All good things...
Read More...Catfish Creek
Date Paddled: November 6th, 2022
Put In: Mines of Spain Road
Take Out: Mines of Spain Road
Located in NE Iowa near Dubuque, this was a surprisingly nice trip that featured some fantastic cliffs.
Read More...Rock River – Ixonia
Date Paddled: October 29th, 2022
Put In: Hwy F
Take Out: Hwy P
This was a trip with no interesting geology, almost no current, few rapids, and was honestly boring in spots. But despite all that, it turned out to be a surprisingly scenic, peaceful, and nice paddle.
Read More...Rock River – East Branch – Allenton
Date Paddled: October 22nd, 2022
Put In: Hillcrest Drive
Take Out: Hwy DW
This is a mediocre stretch of the far far far upper Rock River. Highlights include clear water, lots of fish, attractive cattails, and open vistas. But there are a few logjams to deal with.
Read More...Announcement – Kayak and Roof Rack Accident in UP
On October 23rd, a roof rack and its attached kayak came loose from a car on M-28 in the UP which killed an oncoming motorist. For paddlers there are some relatively simple safety steps you can take to dramatically decrease the chance of this happening to you.
Read More...Milwaukee River – Waubeka
Date Paddled: October 15th, 2022
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: Waubedonia Park
A decent leg with good current, some rocky stretches, and nice fall color. The North Branch joins up on this leg and significantly enlarges the river.
Read More...Upper Iowa River – Ellingson Bridge to Hwy 76
Date Paddled: June 4th, 2022
Put In: Ellingson Bridge
Take Out: Hwy 76
A guest review for the Upper Iowa River.
Read More...Coon Creek – Chaseburg
Date Paddled: October 9th, 2022
Put In: Koll Road
Take Out: Chaseburg Memorial Park
While there are few rapids and it's not as scenic as Upper Coon Creek, Lower Coon Creek is still a decent paddle trip.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Stevens Point
Date Paddled: October 1st, 2022
Put In: Mead Park
Take Out: Blue Heron Boat Landing
Despite three dam portages, this was a fun trip and featured some surprisingly nice geology.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Muscoda
Date Paddled: September 30th, 2022
Put In: Victora Riverside Park Landing
Take Out: Port Andrew Boat Landing
A guest review for the Wisconsin River from Muscoda to Port Andrew.
Read More...Bad Axe River – South Fork – Purdy
Date Paddled: September 25th, 2022
Put In: Hwy N (Purdy)
Take Out: Anderson Ridge Road
While not very big or deep, the South Fork of the Bad Axe is one of the more scenic Driftless Area streams.
Read More...Narrows Creek – Loganville
Date Paddled: September 17th, 2022
Put In: Hwy 154 (1st bridge)
Take Out: Open View Road
Narrows Creek is an overlooked tributary of the Baraboo River. Although it has a few small outcrops, light rapids, and Drifltlss scenery, it also has shallow stretches and a few logjams.
Read More...Mississippi River – Long Lake
Date Paddled: September 4th, 2022
Put In: Long Lake Boat Ramp
Take Out: Long Lake Boat Ramp
A maze of sloughs close to the mouth of the Black River offers a slow paddle to start, but the second half of the trip was a neat experience with some pleasant surprises.
Read More...Grand Island – Lake Superior
Date Paddled: August 26th, 2022
Put In: Sand Point Beach
Take Out: Sand Point Beach
A guest review for Grand Island near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Read More...Fever River – Galena
Date Paddled: August 26th, 2022
Put In: W. Buckhill Road
Take Out: Galena Boat Landing (Depot Park)
This trip is a mediocre paddle, but it ends with a bang in historic and attractive Galena.
Read More...Black River – Wayside Park
Date Paddled: August 22nd, 2022
Put In: Wayside Park (Popple River)
Take Out: Reese Ave (Greenwood)
This is a combo trip on the Popple and Upper Black Rivers. While it started a little slow and uninteresting, it ended on a great note with a lot of fun whitewater. By my count this trip included over 34 pitches of rapids!
Read More...Bois Brule River – Hwy 2 to Pine Tree Landing
Date Paddled: July 8th, 2022
Put In: Hwy 2
Take Out: Pine Tree Landing
A guest review for the Bois Brule River between Hwy 2 and Pine Tree Landing.
Read More...Announcement – Wisconsin Rivers Poster
New water trail posters are available that include all rivers (except the 4th Black) and most navigable creeks in the state. This is a great resource for finding new prospects and planning trips.
Read More...Coon Creek – Coon Valley to Koll Road
Date Paddled: August 13th, 2022
Put In: Veterans Memorial Park, Coon Valley
Take Out: Koll Road
Once maligned for paddling, Coon Creek has recently been revitalized through conservation practices, local cleanup efforts, and an annual canoe race. Now it's currently one of the more underrated water trails in West Central Wisconsin.
Read More...Baraboo River – North Freedom
Date Paddled: August 6th, 2022
Put In: North Freedom Park
Take Out: Giese Park
Although an easy paddle with no obstructions, this is largely a humdrum section...with three big exceptions.
Read More...Illinois Fox River – Hwy ES
Date Paddled: August 7th, 2022
Put In: Hwy ES
Take Out: Big Bend Park
A guest review for the Illinois Fox River below Waukesha.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Boscobel to Woodman
Date Paddled: July 8th, 2022
Put In: Boscobel Landing
Take Out: Woodman Landing
A guest review for the Wisconsin River between Boscobel and Woodman.
Read More...Mississippi River – Jay’s Landing to Glen Haven
Date Paddled: July 9th, 2022
Put In: Jays Landing
Take Out: Glen Haven
A guest review for the Mississippi near Glen Haven.
Read More...Mondeaux Flowage
Date Paddled: July 31st, 2022
Put In: Picnic Point
Take Out: Lakeview Picnic Area and Launch
A guest review for the Mondeaux Flowage locate in North Central Wisconsin.
Read More...Rib Lake
Date Paddled: July 30th, 2022
Put In: Hwy 102
Take Out: Hwy 102
A guest review for Rib Lake located at the headwaters of the Big Rib River.
Read More...Bois Brule River – Pine Tree Landing to Lake Superior
Date Paddled: June 18th, 2022
Put In: Pine Tree Landing
Take Out: Lake Superior
A guest review for the last segment of the Bois Brule River.
Read More...Elk River – Flemings Rapids Rd to Hwy W
Date Paddled: July 31st, 2022
Put In: Flemings Rapids Rd
Take Out: Hwy W
A guest review for the Elk River.
Read More...Bass Lake
Date Paddled: July 30th, 2022
Put In: Timm's Hill/Bass Lake Beach
Take Out: Timm's Hill/Bass Lake Beach
A guest review for Bass Lake, the highest lake in Wisconsin.
Read More...Little Wolf River – Kretchner Road
Date Paddled: July 22nd, 2022
Put In: Kretchner Road
Take Out: Hwy 110
This was a great trip with many scenic boulder gardens. Rapids on this stretch are mild and suitable for beginners. While nice, this leg isn't as top-notch as the Little Falls or Big Falls legs located upstream.
Read More...Root River (MN) – Chatfield to Whalan
Date Paddled: July 17th, 2022
Put In: Parsley Bridge Canoe Access
Take Out: Root River Access and Picnic Area (Hwy 16)
A guest review for the Root River in Minnesota. This was part of the annual rendezvous for the Chippewa Order of Canoeists/Kayakers.
Read More...Yellow River – Hwy F
Date Paddled: July 22nd, 2022
Put In: Juneau Cty. Rd F, near Finley
Take Out: 9th Street East, east of Sprague
A guest review for the Yellow River near Babcock.
Read More...Six Mile Creek: Waunakee Village Park to Woodland Drive
Date Paddled: July 17th, 2022
Put In: Waunakee Village Park
Take Out: Woodland Drive
This was an incorrectly timed trip...too low and too many logjams. It is however a very pretty creek. With enough rain and after the current cleanup efforts finish, this might be one of the more attractive water trails in Dane County.
Read More...Petenwell Lake
Date Paddled: July 9th, 2022
Put In: 3rd Street boat launch
Take Out: 3rd Street boat launch
This was a round-trip on Wisconsin's second largest inland lake to check out some large sandbanks, sloughs, and islands.
Read More...Sugar River – Hwy A
Date Paddled: July 2nd, 2022
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: Belleville Community Park
This stretch of the Upper Sugar starts nice, but gets less interesting as it approaches the Belleville Dam.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Portage
Date Paddled: June 26th, 2022
Put In: Hwy 33
Take Out: Dekorra Park
This is a nice tweener leg of the Wisconsin River between busy Wisconsin Dells and Lake Wisconsin. Thanks to its shallow waters, you won't encounter many motorboats and can enjoy epic-size sandbars.
Read More...Honey Creek – Bell School Road
Date Paddled: June 18th, 2022
Put In: Bell School Road
Take Out: Hwy 20
This is a nice creek located in Southeast Wisconsin similar to the Bark River. Highlights include clear water, a gravel bottom, and an opportunity to do some train watching.
Read More...Hay River – Dunn County
Date Paddled: June 18th, 2022
Put In: Dunn County Rd. FF
Take Out: WI Hwy. 25 at Wheeler
A guest review for the Hay River in Dunn County.
Read More...Yellow River – Hwy 10
Date Paddled: June 12th, 2022
Put In: Hwy 10
Take Out: Hwy 80
Scenic boulder gardens, light rapids, and the best tree canopies I've ever paddled under make this a highlight paddle of the year.
Read More...Ashippun River – Druid Lake to Hwy O
Date Paddled: May 30th, 2022
Put In: Druid Lake Boat Ramp
Take Out: Hwy O
This far upstream leg of the Ashippun River was scenic in spots with a few nice boulder gardens, but ultimately the trip had too many logjams to recommend.
Read More...Big Eau Pleine River – Elderberry Rd
Date Paddled: May 27th, 2022
Put In: Elderberry Road
Take Out: Cherokee Park
This is one of the more challenging but also rewarding stretches of the Big Eau Pleine. Highlights included scenic boulder gardens and three Class 3 rapids.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Ames Branch
Date Paddled: May 22nd, 2022
Put In: Hwy 23
Take Out: Hwy K
This obscure river in Southwest Wisconsin is a neat paddle and very similar to the Fever River. Just make sure you have enough water to get over the rapids.
Read More...La Crosse River – Veterans Memorial Campground
Date Paddled: May 14th, 2022
Put In: Veterans Memorial Campground
Take Out: Holiday Heights Park
This was a nice trip on the La Crosse River just upstream from the city of La Crosse. The highlight of the trip were some terrific sandbanks.
Read More...Redgranite Quarry
Date Paddled: May 7th, 2022
Put In: West Parking Lot
Take Out: West Parking Lot
Although famous as a scuba diving and cliff jumping destination, the clear water and red granite walls make this an attractive and unique paddle.
Read More...Willow Creek – Hwy S
Date Paddled: May 7th, 2022
Put In: Hwy S
Take Out: Redgranite’s Willow Creek Park
This is kind of a mediocre central Wisconsin paddle. It's not bad with clear water and good scenery, but logjams are an issue.
Read More...Knapp Creek
Date Paddled: April 29th, 2022
Put In: Excelsior Rd
Take Out: Winding Way Dr
Located east of the Kickapoo, this was a disappointing paddle. Just too many logjams and too much mud.
Read More...Black Earth Creek – Cross Plains
Date Paddled: April 23rd, 2022
Put In: Cross Plains
Take Out: Salmo Pond County Park
Black Earth Creek is a popular water tail located just west of Madison. The Cross Plains segment, however, has been plagued in the past by fences and logjams. This exploratory trip proved that conditions have since changed and "Cross Plains" is now ready for paddling.
Read More...Turtle Creek – School Section Rd to Creek Rd
Date Paddled: May 26th, 2021
Put In: School Section Road, Darien WI
Take Out: Creek Road, DNR lot
A guest review for Turtle Creek by School Section Road.
Read More...Announcement – Cold Weather Checklist
While paddling in spring can be a rewarding experience, it can be dangerous if you don't take the right precautions. Recently an Illinois paddler had a close call after getting pinned by a logjam. I thought it would be a good idea to create a checklist to follow before committing to a cold weather paddle.
Read More...Yellowstone River
Date Paddled: April 9th, 2022
Put In: Yellowstone Lake Dam
Take Out: Hwy N
This is the stretch below Yellowstone Lake and is, in many ways, similar to the larger Pecatonica River which it drains into. While a pleasant paddle, it suffers from topsoil erosion and long borders of reed canary grass.
Read More...Kittleson Valley Creek
Date Paddled: March 20th, 2022
Put In: Hwy H (upstream of Kittleson Rd)
Take Out: Hwy 78
This is a small trout stream located southwest of Madison. It's a scenic creek which features some surprise rock outcrops.
Read More...Announcement: DNR Proposes Kayak Fee
The DNR spring hearing on April 11th, 2022 will ask the public if they want mandatory registration for kayaks (numbers + fees). I advise voting no, which you can do online.
Read More...Announcement: Small River Canoe Adventures of Wisconsin
WisconsinRiverTrips has recently obtained permission from author "Frank-Piraino" to republish the guide book "Small River Canoe Adventures of Wisconsin" as a free downloadable PDF. Check it out!
Read More...Lake Columbia
Date Paddled: January 22nd, 2022
Put In: Lake Columbia Landing/Cty Rd V
Take Out: Lake Columbia Landing/Cty Rd V
A bucket list warm water paddle for anyone who wants a truly unique and beautiful winter paddle in Wisconsin.
Read More...Loxahatchee River
Date Paddled: November 9th, 2021
Put In: Jupiter Outdoor Center/Riverbend Park
Take Out: Masten dam (round-trip turn-around)
The Loxahatchee is one of Florida's best paddling rivers. It's a fantastic experience and likely the closest you'll come to a rainforest kayak trip in the lower 48 states.
Read More...Mill Creek (Richland County) – Boaz
Date Paddled: October 30th, 2021
Put In: Hwy 14
Take Out: Hwy Q
This is an obscure tributary to the Wisconsin River located west of Richland Center. While not very big, it's actually pretty navigable with decent vistas of the Ocooch Mountains.
Read More...Kinnickinnic River – Milwaukee County
Date Paddled: November 8th, 2021
Put In: Riverfront Launching Site (round-trip)
Take Out: Riverfront Launching Site (round-trip)
A guest review for the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee County.
Read More...Sheboygan River – Kohler
Date Paddled: October 23rd, 2021
Put In: Rochester Park
Take Out: Esslingen Park
This was a unique paddling experience that featured good fall color, light rapids, and spawning salmon.
Read More...Pine River – 28th Court
Date Paddled: November 9th, 2020
Put In: 28th Court
Take Out: Poy Sippi Community Park
A guest review for the Pine River upstream of Poy Sippi.
Read More...Yahara River – Dunkirk
Date Paddled: October 17th, 2021
Put In: Hwy N (south of Stoughton)
Take Out: W. Stebbinsville Rd
This is one of the nicer water trails south of Madison. Highlights include some light riffles and scenic boulder gardens.
Read More...Pine River – Poy Sippi
Date Paddled: October 18th, 2021
Put In: Poy Sippi
Take Out: Poygan West Boat Launch
If you are pining to navigate all the navigable Pine Rivers in Wisconsin (there are four that I know of, five if you count the North Branch of the Pine in Forest and Florence counties), do consider adding this segment of the Waushara County Pine to your itinerary. It has all the classic features of […]
Read More...Peshtigo River – O to CCC Bridge
Date Paddled: October 4th, 2021
Put In: Forest County O bridge, north of U.S. Hwy. 8
Take Out: CCC Bridge, Peshtigo River Rd. (aka FR 2131)
A guest review for the upper Peshtigo River.
Read More...Little Wolf River – Little Falls
Date Paddled: October 9th, 2021
Put In: Wall Street (Big Falls)
Take Out: Kretchner Rd
This was the best 2021 paddle to date and is one of the premier paddles in central Wisconsin. Highlights on this obscure stretch of the Little Wolf include fun rapids, incredible scenery, and huge granite boulders that dwarf a kayak.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Final Segment
Date Paddled: October 10th, 2021
Put In: Millville Boat Landing
Take Out: Wyalusing Beach
A guest review for the final stretch on the Wisconsin River.
Read More...Little Wolf River – Ness Rd
Date Paddled: October 2nd, 2021
Put In: Ness Road
Take Out: Wolf River Road
This is an obscure stretch of the far upper Little Wolf. While it doesn't have as many boulders and rapids as its more famous downstream neighbors, it's still a nice paddle.
Read More...Wildcat Creek
Date Paddled: September 25th, 2021
Put In: Gray Rd
Take Out: Lions Park
What began as a "ditch paddle" on this Rock River tributary ended with a scenic stretch through wooded drumlins.
Read More...Sugar River – Paoli – Guest Review
Date Paddled: September 19th, 2021
Put In: Hwy 69 (Falk Wells boat launch)
Take Out: Hwy A (south of Basco)
A guest review for the Sugar River near Paoli.
Read More...Pecatonica River – East Branch – Blanchardville
Date Paddled: September 18th, 2021
Put In: Blanchardville Dam
Take Out: Hwy 78
This is a weaker stretch of the East Branch, but it wasn't a bad paddle. It's most memorable feature was the Blanchardville dam at the put-in which is photogenic.
Read More...Willow River
Date Paddled: September 6th, 2021
Put In: New Richmond
Take Out: Junction of St. Croix County Rds. A and I
I want to avoid the “hidden gem” cliché here, but I won’t, in singing the praises of this delightful stream with so much to offer, on the exurban edge of the Twin Cities in western Wisconsin. Clear, cold water, very limited development, sandy or gravelly bottom, manageable deadfalls and stimulating riffles – and, for dessert, […]
Read More...Eau Claire River – Douglas County
Date Paddled: September 16th, 2021
Put In: Mooney Dam County Park
Take Out: Lawler Bridge Road
A guest review for the Eau Claire River in Douglas County.
Read More...Oconomowoc River – Concord
Date Paddled: September 11th, 2021
Put In: Concord Road (2nd bridge)
Take Out: North Morgan Rd
Located just after the city of Oconomowoc, this is a generic stretch of the river. It enjoys nice clarity, but it isn't as scenic as the upstream legs of the river.
Read More...Fish Lake
Date Paddled: September 5th, 2021
Put In: Lussier County Park
Take Out: Lussier County Park
Fish Lake has been "permanently flooded" which provides a unique experience to paddle past flooded trees and homes.
Read More...Marsh Creek
Date Paddled: August 28th, 2021
Put In: Hay Rd
Take Out: Juicy Steak Landing
Marsh Creek is one of the larger sloughs on the Lower Wisconsin River. The upper portion is practically a long lake, while the lower portion is a more conventional creek.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Plank Hill
Date Paddled: August 22nd, 2021
Put In: Plank Hill Boat Ramp
Take Out: Chester Creek Landing
Located just upstream from Petenwell Lake, this is a fairly overlooked stretch of the Wisconsin. While it mostly consists of slow current and uninteresting scenery, it does feature two ginormous sandbanks that are really cool.
Read More...Grant River – Grant River Rd
Date Paddled: August 13th, 2021
Put In: Grant River Rd
Take Out: Blackjack Rd
This is yet another great leg on the Grant River with fun rapids and scenic outcrops. A surprise highlight were the many sandstone cliffs, since most of the Grant cuts through limestone.
Read More...Milwaukee River – Fredonia
Date Paddled: August 9th, 2021
Put In: Waubedonia Park
Take Out: Ehler's Park
A guest review for the Milwaukee River between Fredonia and Saukville.
Read More...Turtle Creek – Tiffany
Date Paddled: August 1st, 2021
Put In: Hwy 140
Take Out: Sweet-Allyn Park
This was a great trip with the highlights being fast current, clear water, and a historic five arch bridge.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Port Edwards
Date Paddled: July 25th, 2021
Put In: Port Edwards
Take Out: Riverside Park
A flowage drawdown is providing a rare opportunity to see the river and rapids on this stretch the way Native Americans, early pioneers, and raftsmen saw them.
Read More...Kickapoo River – Bridge 4 to Bridge 7
Date Paddled: July 22nd, 2021
Put In: Bridge 4
Take Out: Bridge 7
This is one of the greatest legs on one of the greatest paddling rivers in Southern Wisconsin.
Read More...Namekagon River – K to McDowell
Date Paddled: July 18th, 2021
Put In: County Road K Landing
Take Out: McDowell Bridge Landing
A guest review for the Lower Namekagon.
Read More...Buffalo River
Date Paddled: July 17th, 2021
Put In: Hwy II
Take Out: Rieck's Lake Park
Winding through a very broad river plain, the Buffalo doesn't have much different to offer...until the final stretch to the Mississippi. Then the scenery and bluffs get fantastic!
Read More...Rock River – East Branch – Theresa
Date Paddled: July 10th, 2021
Put In: N. Pole Road
Take Out: Gill Rd
Although the Rock is known primarily as a wide and very slow river, this section near the river's headwaters was an enjoyable paddle----perhaps one of the nicest stretches on the entire river.
Read More...East Twin River (Mishicot to Two Rivers)
Date Paddled: July 2nd, 2021
Put In: Mishicot
Take Out: Paddler's Park - Two Rivers
A guest review for the Twin River near Mishicot.
Read More...Mullet River
Date Paddled: July 3rd, 2021
Put In: Sumac Rd
Take Out: River Park
The Mullet is an obscure tributary to the Sheboygan River. It's a small river that's often shallow and riffly. While scenic, it does have some logjams to deal with.
Read More...Bark River – Cushman to Hwy 106
Date Paddled: June 19th, 2021
Put In: Cushman Rd
Take Out: Hwy 106
This leg marks a major demarcation in the Bark as it transforms from a shallow, rocky river with super clear water, to a beat-up floodplain paddle. The first half of this trip was excellent, but the second half not so much.
Read More...Lower Dells
Date Paddled: June 13th, 2021
Put In: Hwy 12 Dam Launch
Take Out: Indian Trails Landing
The Lower Dells is a classic water trail famous for its fantastic freestanding rock formations and even several caves you can paddle into. Unfortunately, it is also very crowded, noisy, and features huge waves that are a big problem for paddlers.
Read More...Black River – Greenwood
Date Paddled: June 5th, 2021
Put In: Reese Ave
Take Out: Twenty Six Rd
A great stretch on the Upper Black River featuring granite bedrock and scenic boulder gardens. Long, quiet stretches are interrupted by 18 rapids, including four Class 2s and one Class 3.
Read More...Big Eau Pleine River – Hazelnut Rd
Date Paddled: May 31st, 2021
Put In: Hazelnut Road
Take Out: March Rapids Park
A heavily wooded leg with multiple boulder gardens, a few small outcrops, and two sets of significant Class 2 rapids. While water levels are tricky and timing important, this can be a great paddle.
Read More...Arnold Creek
Date Paddled: May 29th, 2021
Put In: Fire Lane Rd
Take Out: Russell Memorial Park
Some of the best paddling in Wisconsin is on tributaries of the Black River, so this was an attempt to find yet another gem. While it didn't live up to its neighbor creeks (it was a bit overgrown and bushy in spots), some parts of the creek were really nice.
Read More...Rubicon River – Neosho
Date Paddled: May 22nd, 2021
Put In: Jefferson Rd
Take Out: Hale Road
Much of this trip was a flowage paddle...muddy, carp-infested and not super interesting. The last part below the dam though was really nice with the highlights being several small boulder gardens and light rapids.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Jones Branch Rd to Powell Rd
Date Paddled: May 16th, 2021
Put In: Jones Branch Rd
Take Out: Powell Rd
Another exploratory trip on the Upper Pecatonica. This was a nice, peaceful stretch with a few outcrops, two sets of light rapids, and one serious logjam.
Read More...Grand River – Hwy Q to Hwy A
Date Paddled: May 8th, 2021
Put In: Hwy Q
Take Out: Hwy A
This was a nice marsh paddle with the highlight being a ton of great wildlife.
Read More...White River – West Branch
Date Paddled: April 30th, 2021
Put In: Cottonville Ave
Take Out: Cottonville Lane
This is a popular central Wisconsin trout stream that is a nice paddle. It's a very clean river with little mud and crystal clear water.
Read More...Maunesha River – Cherry Lane to Waterloo
Date Paddled: April 24th, 2021
Put In: Cherry Lane
Take Out: Waterloo Firemen's Park
With the removal of a couple of major logjams, the Maunesha has become one of the better water trails in the Madison area. Highlights included lots of wildlife and fun Class 1 rapids through downtown Waterloo.
Read More...Westfield Creek
Date Paddled: April 16th, 2021
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: Pioneer Memorial Park
Incredible clarity and huge schools of fish highlight this obscure water trail.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Sudan Branch
Date Paddled: April 11th, 2021
Put In: Cave Rd
Take Out: Harker Station Rd
A mixed trip. Highlights included 6 rock outcrops, 2 scenic bluffs, fun riffles, and even a cave. But on the downside there were a few logjams, several fences, and muddy banks.
Read More...Little Grant River
Date Paddled: April 4th, 2021
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: University Farm Rd
This was an exploratory trip on the Grant River's largest tributary that turned out surprisingly well. Highlights were the fast riffles and scenic limestone outcrops.
Read More...Pine River – Hwy 80 to Hwy D
Date Paddled: April 2nd, 2021
Put In: Hwy 80 (by Gardnerwall Ln)
Take Out: Hwy D (by Buck Creek)
This is one of the nicer paddles in the Driftless Area. Trip highlights included 13 outcrops and paddling under a huge natural sandstone bridge.
Read More...Chapman Creek
Date Paddled: March 26th, 2021
Put In: Gale Dr
Take Out: N. River Dr Landing
This is an obscure tributary to the Fox River. While somewhat mutilated by extensive dredging, this is a nice paddle.
Read More...Taylor Creek
Date Paddled: March 20th, 2021
Put In: West Church Road
Take Out: West Smith Road
This tributary of the Sugar River just south of Broadhead turned out to be a very nice paddle. Highlights included a sandy bottom and surprisingly clear water.
Read More...Rocky Run Creek – Dunning Rd to Hwy 51
Date Paddled: March 13th, 2021
Put In: Dunning Road
Take Out: Hwy 51
A nice creek, but logjams and low-hanging alder branches were a bit much
Read More...Kickapoo River – Black Valley to Brookwood High
Date Paddled: March 7th, 2021
Put In: Hwy 131 (Black Valley)
Take Out: Hwy 131 (Brookwood High)
This is a fantastic but obscure stretch on the upper Kickapoo that few know about. Trip highlights were the many pine-topped sandstone bluffs decorated with ice flows from frozen springs. The river was also free of logjams--a past bane for paddlers.
Read More...Lemonweir River – South Fork
Date Paddled: November 19th, 2020
Put In: Butts Park
Take Out: Forbes Road
This is an obscure stretch of the Lemonweir River located near Tomah. While it enjoys good clarity and some surprisingly nice sandbars...it just has too many logjams to recommend.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Roller Coaster Road to Wells Landing
Date Paddled: November 7th, 2020
Put In: Roller Coaster Road
Take Out: Wells Landing
While one of the nicer legs on the Lower Pecatonica, this stretch has been too badly damaged by floods and erosion to be considered a top prospect.
Read More...Story Creek
Date Paddled: November 3rd, 2020
Put In: Hwy 92
Take Out: Hwy X Landing
This is an obscure trout stream south of Madison. There were some logjams, but it was a surprisingly nice paddle with incredible clarity.
Read More...Otter Creek – Blackhawk Lake
Date Paddled: October 31st, 2020
Put In: Union Valley Road
Take Out: Plank Road
This was a combination trip that included parts of Upper Otter Creek and Blackhawk Lake. Honestly it was a bit disappointing because of shallow water and strong winds.
Read More...Maunesha River – Waterloo
Date Paddled: October 17th, 2020
Put In: Firemen's Park
Take Out: Hubbleton Road Access
The final leg of the Maunesha has recently benefited from some major cleanup work. It is now a really nice wooded paddle.
Read More...Little Wolf – South Branch – Hwy K
Date Paddled: October 10th, 2020
Put In: Hwy K
Take Out: Hwy 110/22
A nice fall color paddle on a somewhat obscure tributary to the Little Wolf.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Biron to Wisconsin Rapids
Date Paddled: October 4th, 2020
Put In: Biron Dam by Hwy 66
Take Out: Veterans Memorial Park
This was a fun adventure that featured two dams, two paper mills, several scenic boulder gardens, and one tricky portage.
Read More...Baraboo River – Rock Springs
Date Paddled: September 26th, 2020
Put In: Hwy 136/Ableman's Gorge
Take Out: North Freedom Park
This is one of the most scenic stretches on the entire Baraboo River. Highlights include steep gorges, riverside boulders and scenic outcrops.
Read More...Bad Axe River – South Fork – Hwy NN
Date Paddled: September 19th, 2020
Put In: Hwy NN (1st bridge)
Take Out: Hwy N
A super scenic trout stream through "Coulee Country" with many fun rapids.
Read More...Yellow River – North Wood County Park
Date Paddled: September 13th, 2020
Put In: North Wood County Park
Take Out: Little Bull Falls
Yet another underrated Central Wisconsin paddle that is super scenic and has a lot of fun rapids. This is a tough river to time though as it is often too low or too high.
Read More...Flambeau River
Date Paddled: August 29th, 2020
Put In: Camp 41 Landing
Take Out: Beaver Dam Landing
A guest review for the Flambeau River near the confluence of the North and South Forks.
Read More...Milwaukee River – West Bend
Date Paddled: September 5th, 2020
Put In: Washington Street Dam
Take Out: Quaas Creek Park
The removal of the Woolen Mills Dam has revealed one of the nicer stretches of the Milwaukee River. Highlights include great current, attractive urban riverfront and scenic prairies.
Read More...Little Wolf River – Manawa
Date Paddled: August 29th, 2020
Put In: Sturm Memorial Library
Take Out: Cty Road Bb
While not the best stretch on the Little Wolf, it was a pleasant paddle. Highlights included large boulder gardens and long flowing strands of potamogeton.
Read More...Lake Delton
Date Paddled: August 23rd, 2020
Put In: Mirror Lake Boat Launch
Take Out: Newport Park
This is a busy lake paddle that isn't super interesting but does allow paddlers to see some iconic tourist attractions and amphibious ducks. The trip highlights are the inlets and outlets to the Lake which have fantastic rock outcrops.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Dekorra to Lake Wisconsin
Date Paddled: August 16th, 2020
Put In: Dekorra Landing
Take Out: James Whalen Memorial Park
A terrific section with rock outcrops, large island deltas, hidden sloughs, and nice sandbars. Unfortunately this part of the river is popular with motorboats and jet skis which can be a plague.
Read More...Turtle Creek – East Creek Road
Date Paddled: August 8th, 2020
Put In: East Creek Road
Take Out: Hwy 140
Good current, clear water, and surprise limestone bluffs highlight another nice trip on the Turtle.
Read More...Black River – West Clay School Road
Date Paddled: August 1st, 2020
Put In: West Clay School Road
Take Out: Powerhouse Road Landing
One of the best water trails in Wisconsin with spectacular scenery and top-notch rapids.
Read More...Eau Claire River – Wausau Area
Date Paddled: July 23rd, 2020
Put In: Clubhouse Road
Take Out: Ross Road
A guest review for the Eau Claire River by Wausau.
Read More...Grant River – Hwy U
Date Paddled: July 25th, 2020
Put In: Hwy U
Take Out: Camel Ridge Road
Fast current, beautiful scenery, 9+ sandstone outcrops, fun rapids, and zero logjams--another winning trip on the Grant River.
Read More...Mill Creek
Date Paddled: July 19th, 2020
Put In: Robin Lane
Take Out: Ole River Road Landing
This is another goldilocks stream that is difficult to time. But at the right depth this contains some of the most fun Class 2 whitewater in Central Wisconsin.
Read More...Mississippi River – McCartney Lake
Date Paddled: July 12th, 2020
Put In: Lynn Hollow Boat Launch
Take Out: Lynn Hollow Boat Launch
Hidden in the backwaters between Cassville and the Grant River are a series of cool outcrops and sloughs.
Read More...Duck Creek
Date Paddled: July 5th, 2020
Put In: Wyocena Public Boat Ramp
Take Out: Hwy G
This is an obscure tributary to the Wisconsin River located near Portage. While not an elite prospect, it's a pleasant paddle with good clarity.
Read More...Lake Arbutus
Date Paddled: June 27th, 2020
Put In: Hwy 95
Take Out: West Arbutus County Ramp
Lake Arbutus is a busy lake which can have heavy boat traffic and challenging waves. However, the Black River immediately preceding and following the lake is incredibly scenic.
Read More...Baraboo River – Wayside Park
Date Paddled: June 21st, 2020
Put In: Wayside Park
Take Out: Kalepp Road
Although muddy and weed-lined, this otherwise uninteresting section of the "Boo" is the location of three scenic sandstone outcrops, including one of the biggest on the entire river.
Read More...Oconomowoc River – Loew Lake
Date Paddled: June 13th, 2020
Put In: St. Augustine Road
Take Out: County Line Road
This trip was a twist on the classic Loew Lake section of the Oconomowoc River. While most prefer to paddle this as an up-and-back...we decided to do this as a one-way trip starting from St. Augustine Road.
Read More...Eau Claire River – Hwy D to Big Falls Park
Date Paddled: June 6th, 2020
Put In: Hwy D
Take Out: Big Falls County Park
This was a pleasant trip that included many nice sandbars, several granite outcrops, and one set of fun Class 2 rapids. The highlight was Big Falls which has an impressive 15' descent and was quite photogenic.
Read More...Big Eau Pleine River – March Rapids Park
Date Paddled: May 30th, 2020
Put In: March Rapids Park
Take Out: Big Rapids Park
This is a tricky water trail to time, but when done at the right depth it's a lot of fun. Highlights included seven Class 1 rapids and two Class 2's.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Pine Island
Date Paddled: May 25th, 2020
Put In: Pine Island Boat Ramp
Take Out: Hwy 33 Access
This is an obscure section of the Wisconsin River sandwiched between the Lower Dells and Portage. It's not an elite stretch of the Wisconsin because of its lack of unique features...but it does have many nice sandbars.
Read More...Baraboo River – Schultz Park
Date Paddled: May 23rd, 2020
Put In: Schultz Park
Take Out: Hwy 82
An exploratory adventure on the far upper Baraboo. Highlights included four outcrops, but deadfall was a nuisance and I did have to portage several times.
Read More...Baraboo River – Kalepp Road
Date Paddled: May 16th, 2020
Put In: Kalepp Road
Take Out: N. Dutch Hollow Road
This is an obscure section of the Baraboo River that has some nice outcrops and a terrific bike shuttle. Unfortunately mud and downed trees were an eyesore.
Read More...Pine River – Apache Road to Covered Bridge Road
Date Paddled: May 9th, 2020
Put In: Apache Road
Take Out: Covered Bridge Road
The Pine River in Waushara County has been a prospect I’ve wanted to do for some time, but I’ve always had lingering concerns about the number of logjams. Recently I discovered a rare second edition to an already rare paddling guide by Frank Piraino that positively described a stretch from Apache Road to Hwy A. […]
Read More...Lemonweir River – East Fork
Date Paddled: May 3rd, 2020
Put In: Buckley Ave
Take Out: Hwy 173
This is one of the nicer stretches on the Lemonweir River. Highlights on this super sandy stretch include many pine trees and clear red water. There were a handful of logjams that had to be portaged but they weren't that difficult.
Read More...Stony Creek and Robinson Creek
Date Paddled: April 25th, 2020
Put In: Kelly Road
Take Out: Fall Hall Road
This was a bit of an unusual trip that combined two scenic creeks. Logjams were an issue on Stony Creek, but Lower Robinson was a positive experience.
Read More...Little Turtle Creek
Date Paddled: April 18th, 2020
Put In: S. County Line Road
Take Out: County Road N
This is an overlooked sibling to the much more popular Turtle Creek. Highlights for this Ice Age paddle include good current and fantastic clarity.
Read More...Rattlesnake Creek
Date Paddled: April 11th, 2020
Put In: Muscallounge Road
Take Out: Hwy 81
Grant County's best kept secret.
Read More...Scuppernong Creek
Date Paddled: April 4th, 2020
Put In: Hwy 18/Sunset Dr
Take Out: Manor House Road Boat Ramp
An amazing "Ice Age Paddle" with the highlights being natural springs and clear water...all in all very reminiscent of the Upper Mecan River.
Read More...Otter Creek – Hwy Q
Date Paddled: March 7th, 2020
Put In: Hwy Q
Take Out: Hwy II
This was another "roll-of-the-dice" prospect that turned out better than expected. Otter Creek is a somewhat obscure stream that does attract occasional trout fishermen. As a paddling prospect it was surprisingly nice with clear water, light rapids and scenic bluffs.
Read More...Bittersweet Lakes State Natural Area (SNA)
Date Paddled: August 6th, 2019
Put In: Prong Lake or Bittersweet Lake
Take Out: Prong Lake or Bittersweet Lake
If you have been wanting to do a BWCA trip, but don't have the time or are not sure if it is the thing for you, this may be just the trip for you. It's like a mini BWCA but only 3.5 hours from Madison.
Read More...Black Creek
Date Paddled: October 27th, 2019
Put In: Eagle Road
Take Out: Hwy Y
An obscure creek near Princeton that's mostly a marsh paddle. Although repetitive at times, the scenery was surprisingly good with the highlight being swaths of tamaracks turning color.
Read More...Bark River – Merton
Date Paddled: October 20th, 2019
Put In: Merton Dam
Take Out: Bark River Park
Another Ice Age paddle with some great fall color. While the upper Bark River has some five star scenery, there are a few logjams to deal with.
Read More...Mecan Springs
Date Paddled: October 6th, 2019
Put In: Mecan Springs Boat Ramp
Take Out: 9th Ave
This was a great trip that explored the spring-water origins of the Mecan River.
Read More...Grant River – Jones Branch (Hwy 61)
Date Paddled: September 28th, 2019
Put In: Hwy 61
Take Out: Mt. Ridge Road
This is about as far upstream on the Grant River that you can paddle. There are some fun rapids and scenic outcrops...but there is a lot of mud and pasture to deal with. There are also 3-4 logjams, one of which forced me to take an unplanned swim.
Read More...Rock Creek
Date Paddled: September 22nd, 2019
Put In: Rock Creek Road
Take Out: River Road
The shallowest and rockiest stream I've ever paddled. It is however incredibly scenic and if done at the right water levels could be an amazing paddle.
Read More...Crawfish River
Date Paddled: September 14th, 2019
Put In: Udey Dam - Columbus
Take Out: Danville Dam - Hwy T
The Crawfish isn't the greatest of paddling rivers, but there is a nice exception located between Columbus and the Danville Dam that is worth checking out.
Read More...Cedar Creek – Cedarburg
Date Paddled: September 7th, 2019
Put In: Estate Bridge
Take Out: Pioneer Road
With limestone dells, rapids, boulder gardens, cedars, and stunningly clear water this is one of the most scenic water trails in southeast Wisconsin. However...it can also be one of the most shallow. Timing is everything with this paddle.
Read More...Sugar River – Belleville
Date Paddled: August 31st, 2019
Put In: Belleville Community Park
Take Out: Exeter Park
This is one of the nicer water trails on the Sugar River. Highlights include great access points, a few surprise sandbars, and an attractive wooded section.
Read More...Grant River – Camel Ridge Road
Date Paddled: August 24th, 2019
Put In: Camel Ridge Road
Take Out: Chaffie Hollow Road
Between the back fields and hidden valleys of the Driftless Area flows one of the most popular tubing stretches in the state. Despite the heavy tube traffic, this segment of the Grant is still a great kayak trip, with highlights being good current, sandstone outcrops, and a fantastic "dripping rock."
Read More...Eau Claire River – Bear Lake Road to Hwy 52
Date Paddled: August 17th, 2019
Put In: Bear Lake Road
Take Out: Hwy 52
One of central Wisconsin's best. Dense boulder gardens, fun rapids, and clear water make this a fantastic paddle.
Read More...Bark River – Hartland
Date Paddled: August 10th, 2019
Put In: Bark River Park
Take Out: Delafield Post Offcie
A varied paddle with a mixture of light whitewater, lake, marsh, and urban paddling. Overall a nice trip but could be an elite trip if a few logjams were to be cleared out.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Arena to Spring Green
Date Paddled: August 3rd, 2019
Put In: Arena Landing
Take Out: Hwy 14 Landing
A return to the Lower Wisconsin with its broad waters and scenic grandeur. This popular stretch is known for its sandbars and has one of the highest concentrations on the river.
Read More...Badfish Creek – Hwy A to Old Stage Road
Date Paddled: July 27th, 2019
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: Old Stage Road
While the lower Badfish gets a lot of kayak traffic, few care to paddle the upper Badfish. Are they avoiding it for a reason? Time to find out...
Read More...Wazee Lake
Date Paddled: July 21st, 2019
Put In: Wazee Lake Beach
Take Out: Wazee Lake Beach
Hidden just east of Black River Falls is the state's deepest and clearest lake. This is a popular paddle with locals, with the highlight being a fantastic beach and scenic red cliffs.
Read More...Fox River – Swan Lake to Portage
Date Paddled: July 13th, 2019
Put In: Swan Lake Boat Ramp
Take Out: Hwy 33 Wayside
Yet another marsh paddle and lake/creek combo that was very nice. Highlights included great clarity, fantastic cloud reflections, and the most dragonflies I've ever seen.
Read More...Rubicon River – West Side Park to Hwy 60
Date Paddled: July 7th, 2019
Put In: West Side Park
Take Out: Hwy 60
This was not as nice as my last Rubicon trip because of some deadfall issues, but this segment does have a lot of potential, especially in the second half where there are many light rapids.
Read More...Rock Lake
Date Paddled: June 29th, 2019
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: Bartel's Beach
Overdeveloped and packed with powerboats, Rock Lake can be a bit crazy for kayaking. What makes Rock Lake unique are its famous underwater pyramids, but unfortunately you can't see these from a kayak.
Read More...Wolf River – Langlade to Wild Wolf Inn
Date Paddled: June 9th, 2019
Put In: Langlade Landing
Take Out: Wild Wolf Inn
One of the best whitewater stretches in the entire state of Wisconsin.
Read More...Mud Lake
Date Paddled: June 29th, 2019
Put In: Sandhill Station Boat Ramp
Take Out: Sandhill Station Boat Ramp
Mud Lake is one of the nicer marsh paddles I've done. This was an unplanned round trip because of some unexpected adversity, but it still turned out well.
Read More...Maunesha River – Hwy TT to Lion’s Park
Date Paddled: June 22nd, 2019
Put In: Hwy TT
Take Out: Lion's Park in Marshall
Thanks to recent cleanup efforts, this part of the upper Maunesha is now a viable water trail. This isn't a five star trip and the current is pretty slow, but it does have some neat parts.
Read More...Allen Creek
Date Paddled: June 16th, 2019
Put In: Lake Leota Park
Take Out: Hwy 59
An interesting paddle with a scenic park, thick canopied forest, and an open wetland. While it has its highlights, upper Allen Creek likely won't be a destination paddle for most because of several logjams.
Read More...Black River – Neillsville
Date Paddled: June 8th, 2019
Put In: Hill Road
Take Out: Opelt Ave Launch
One of my personal favorite sections of the Black River. Highlights include stunning boulder gardens, rugged granite banks and fun whitewater.
Read More...Bad Axe River – North Fork – Duck Egg Park
Date Paddled: June 2nd, 2019
Put In: Duck Egg Park / Irish Ridge Road
Take Out: Hwy O
Winding through the coulee region of southwest Wisconsin, the North Fork offers scenic driftless hills and numerous fun rapids--one of the fastest rivers I've ever paddled.
Read More...Big Eau Pleine River – Cherokee Park
Date Paddled: May 25th, 2019
Put In: Cherokee Park
Take Out: Hazelnut Road
The Big Eau Pleine is one of the most underrated paddles in central Wisconsin. Clean, fast, and with many granite boulder gardens, this has been my favorite trip to date for 2019.
Read More...Wingra Creek
Date Paddled: May 18th, 2019
Put In: Vilas Park
Take Out: Olin Park
Connecting two of Madison's great lakes, Wingra Creek is an artificial creek that honestly isn't too exciting but may appeal to locals.
Read More...Upper Yahara River
Date Paddled: May 11th, 2019
Put In: Veteran's Memorial Park
Take Out: Sunfish Pond
Located north of Lake Mendota by DeForest, the Upper Yahara River is no more than a creek...but a fun creek at that with great wildlife, clarity, boulder gardens, rapids and other surprises. This might be the best paddle in all of Dane County.
Read More...Castle Rock Creek – Snow Bottom
Date Paddled: May 4th, 2019
Put In: Hwy Q
Take Out: Witek Road
Flowing through hidden valleys and steep hillsides, the Snow Bottom portion of Castle Rock Creek is a neat paddle with some fun rapids. Unfortunately some large mud banks and a few logjams did detract from the experience.
Read More...Belle Fountain Creek
Date Paddled: April 28th, 2019
Put In: Gillette Drive
Take Out: Hwy B
Not a super exotic trip, but a pleasant marsh paddle with highlights being great water clarity, plentiful waterfowl, and some surprise sandbars.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Mifflin
Date Paddled: April 21st, 2019
Put In: Hwy G
Take Out: Cty Road E
How far upstream can you paddle the Pecatonica River? Time to find out...
Read More...Bass Creek
Date Paddled: April 13th, 2019
Put In: Old Hwy 11
Take Out: County Road H
This tributary to the Rock River, located west of Janesville, is an artificially straightened creek that isn't super exotic. But it does have great current, good clarity and no logjams.
Read More...Rubicon River
Date Paddled: April 6th, 2019
Put In: Hilldale Drive
Take Out: West Side Park
Another Ice Age paddle that turned out surprisingly well. This was mostly an urban segment through downtown Hartford with the highlights being attractive bridges, riverside architecture, light rapids and good clarity.
Read More...Dell Creek & Upper Mirror Lake
Date Paddled: March 31st, 2019
Put In: Coon Bluff Road
Take Out: Mirror Lake State Park - Main Ramp
Located near Wisconsin Dells, Dell Creek is a secluded and pleasant trout stream. After Hwy 23 it morphs into Mirror Lake which is a unique paddling experience.
Read More...Ashippun River
Date Paddled: March 23rd, 2019
Put In: Hwy O
Take Out: Hwy P (1st bridge)
A surprisingly nice paddle on the Upper Ashippun River. Highlights included clear water, abundant wildlife, and a few light rapids created by glacial outwash.
Read More...Grant River – Rogers Branch
Date Paddled: October 27th, 2018
Put In: Mt. Ridge Road
Take Out: Pine Knob Road
The far upper portion of the Grant River (called the Rogers Branch) is actually navigable during high water. This was a surprisingly nice trip through trout-land with no logjams, fun rapids and scenic limestone rock formations.
Read More...Sugar River – White Crossing Road to Valley Road
Date Paddled: October 22nd, 2018
Put In: White Crossing Road
Take Out: Valley Road
This is about as far upstream as you can paddle on the Sugar River. Although not super exotic, this is still a pleasant paddle through open grasslands and marsh.
Read More...Devil’s Lake
Date Paddled: October 13th, 2018
Put In: Elephant Rock Parking Lot
Take Out: Elephant Rock Parking Lot
Wisconsin's most popular state park is a fantastic spot for beginner kayakers. With crystal clear water and flanked by tall quartzite bluffs, this is one of the truly special areas in the state.
Read More...Tainter Creek
Date Paddled: October 6th, 2018
Put In: Hwy B (by Kielen Road)
Take Out: Hwy B (by Pine Knob Road)
Hidden in southwest Wisconsin next to the Kickapoo River is an obscure trout stream that is typically too shallow to run. With enough water however it is a viable paddle with fun whitewater and scenic driftless vistas.
Read More...Root River
Date Paddled: September 29th, 2018
Put In: 6 Mile Road
Take Out: Hwy 31
Located near Racine, this is a popular paddling river with locals. It starts slow and not super interesting, but after 4 Mile Road there is a great section of rapids and boulder gardens.
Read More...Oconomowoc River – Monches to West Shore Drive
Date Paddled: September 22nd, 2018
Put In: Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive/Monches Dam
Take Out: West Shore Drive
An "Up North" river hiding in suburban Milwaukee. Highlights include clear water, boulder gardens, scenic bridges, fun rapids and attractive marshes. Only a few logjams prevent this from being a five star trip.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Powell Road to Oak Park Road
Date Paddled: September 16th, 2018
Put In: Powell Road
Take Out: Oak Park Road
An obscure section of the Pecatonica flowing through the heart of cow country. Highlights include attractive rolling green hills, oak savannas, and one sandstone outcrop. Unfortunately few will paddle this stretch because of four low fences.
Read More...Illinois Fox River – Starved Rock
Date Paddled: September 8th, 2018
Put In: Lone Point Shelter
Take Out: Lone Point Shelter
A first-time paddle on the Illinois River which featured spectacular wildlife and tall sandstone cliffs. The trip itself was overshadowed by nearby Starved Rock, which is one of of Illinois' best parks.
Read More...Black River – East Fork: Overguard Rd to Campground Rd
Date Paddled: September 1st, 2018
Put In: Overguard Road
Take Out: East Fork Campground
The last, best, and most popular stretch of the East Fork. A scenic wilderness trip with fun Class 1-2 rapids and attractive granite boulder gardens.
Read More...Waupaca River: Amherst to Otto Road
Date Paddled: August 26th, 2018
Put In: Mill Street in Amherst
Take Out: Otto Road
One of Central Wisconsin's finest paddles with plentiful rapids and clear water. The highlights are the boulder gardens which are among the best in the state.
Read More...Yahara River: Viking Park to Stebbinsville Dam Road
Date Paddled: August 25th, 2018
Put In: Viking County Park in Stoughton
Take Out: Stebbinsville Dam Road
A guest review for the Lower Yahara River near Stoughton. Done during high water, pollution was an issue. While having interesting parts, this trip did require two dam portages and did have some wide monotonous sections.
Read More...Milwaukee River – Downtown
Date Paddled: August 18th, 2018
Put In: Riverside Park
Take Out: McKinley Marina
A fantastic paddle on the last segment of the Milwaukee River, which flows through the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Highlights include Wisconsin's tallest buildings, fantastic architecture, moveable bridges, large tour boats, and a great view of the Milwaukee Riverwalk.
Read More...Grant River: University Farm Road to Short Cut Road
Date Paddled: August 11th, 2018
Put In: University Farm Road
Take Out: Short Cut Road
An obscure upstream segment on the Grant River that was a mixed bag. The access spots were a bit challenging and the water a bit muddy...but there were some nice limestone outcrops and rapids.
Read More...Six Mile Creek: Woodland Drive to Lake Mendota
Date Paddled: August 4th, 2018
Put In: Woodland Drive
Take Out: Governor Nelson State Park
Recently cleared of logjams, lower Six Mile Creek is Dane County's newest water trail. This was a diverse trip that included dense woodlands, marsh, and paddling on Lake Mendota. All in all a pleasant trip with the highlight being the diverse and unique plant life.
Read More...Black River: Melrose to North Bend
Date Paddled: July 28th, 2018
Put In: Melrose Landing
Take Out: North Bend Landing
A "Wisconsin River Junior" south of Black River Falls with fantastic sandbars, good livery services, and great camping options. This is one of the better and more popular sections on the Lower Black.
Read More...Beaver Creek
Date Paddled: July 21st, 2018
Put In: Mill Road
Take Out: Cooper Road
With some massive 150' high cliffs and fun Class 2 rapids this is a neat tributary to the Black River. The only issue is you have to do some upstream wading to see the best parts.
Read More...Turtle Creek – Beloit
Date Paddled: July 15th, 2018
Put In: Town of Turtle Canoe Launch
Take Out: Hwy 81/Milwaukee Road
With no obstructions and good current, this trip is perfect for lazy paddlers. While mostly through the outskirts of Beloit, this is a relatively clean creek with densely wooded banks, and lush jungle-like vegetation.
Read More...Little Platte River: Hwy O to Church Road
Date Paddled: July 7th, 2018
Put In: Hwy O
Take Out: Church Road
An exploratory paddle on the Lower Little Platte River that turned out surprisingly well. Highlights included limestone outcrops, driftless vistas, many light rapids, and no logjams.
Read More...Baraboo River: Gander Outdoors to Glenville Landing
Date Paddled: June 30th, 2018
Put In: Gander Outdoors
Take Out: Glenville Landing/Hwy 113
Of all Baraboo River segments this is my favorite. The highlight was the rapids which are among the best and most fun for beginner whitewater paddlers in Southern Wisconsin.
Read More...Milwaukee River: Quaas Creek to Goeden Park
Date Paddled: June 23rd, 2018
Put In: Quaas Creek Park
Take Out: Goeden Park/Hwy M
A return to the Upper Milwaukee River for a pleasant and easy float. Highlights include little development, clear water, and good access options.
Read More...Starkweather Creek
Date Paddled: June 16th, 2018
Put In: Washington Manor Park
Take Out: Olbrich Park/Lakeland Ave
An urban paddle with not a lot of natural beauty but interesting never-the-less. Highlights include some scenic bridges and Olbrich Gardens.
Read More...Six Mile Creek: Ripp Park
Date Paddled: June 9th, 2018
Put In: Ripp Park
Take Out: Castle Creek Conservancy
This Lake Mendota tributary was a nice paddle with only a few logjams. Highlights include a marsh, rapids, some scenic parks, 17 total bridges, and even a few boulder gardens.
Read More...Whitewater Creek
Date Paddled: June 2nd, 2018
Put In: Willis Ray Road
Take Out: Hwy U
This spring-fed tributary to the Bark River was a diverse paddle and very nice. The upper portions consisted of mostly marsh and flowage paddling, but the lower portion through town and by the campus was fantastic with fun rapids, tree tunnels and great water clarity.
Read More...Plover River – Pinery Road
Date Paddled: May 26th, 2018
Put In: Pinery Road
Take Out: Shantytown Drive
While not as nice as upstream sections of the Plover, this was still a solid paddle with good current, clear water, and wooded banks filled with pines, cedars and firs.
Read More...Dickey Creek
Date Paddled: May 19th, 2018
Put In: Hwy K
Take Out: Pettibone Pass
This small creek near Black River Falls cuts steeply through white pine topped sandstone gorges to reveal stunning scenery. Typically I would consider a paddle like this not only five stars, but among the best in the state. But there is one (well many) problems that will ensure that few paddle this gem.
Read More...Big Rib River – Amco Park
Date Paddled: May 13th, 2018
Put In: Amco Park
Take Out: Hwy A
A nice paddle with clean water, good scenery, decent current, and no hazards. This is an easy stretch well suited to beginners and locals wanting to experience the Big Rib for the first time.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Mineral Point Branch
Date Paddled: May 5th, 2018
Put In: Ludden Lake Boat Ramp
Take Out: North Oak Park Road
If you can catch the Mineral Point Branch with enough water you'll be rewarded with a nice paddle through open pastures, rolling green hills, sandstone outcrops, and light rapids.
Read More...Hemlock Creek
Date Paddled: April 29th, 2018
Put In: Hwy 73
Take Out: Hemlock Road
With fun rapids and beautiful granite rock formations, this obscure tributary to the Yellow River is a central Wisconsin gem.
Read More...Pecatonica River – Dodge Branch
Date Paddled: April 22nd, 2018
Put In: Sunny Ridge Road
Take Out: Hwy W
One of the better kept paddling secrets in the driftless area. Highlights include fantastic sandstone outcrops, good current, and not a single logjam.
Read More...Little Sugar River
Date Paddled: March 18th, 2018
Put In: Valle Tell Soccer Park in New Glarus
Take Out: Exeter Crossing Road
Despite extensive reconstruction for trout and past channel changes by farmers, the Upper Little Sugar is a fun little river with light rapids, clear water and surprisingly few logjams.
Read More...Black Earth Creek – Winter Paddle
Date Paddled: January 20th, 2018
Put In: Olson Road
Take Out: Wolf Run Trailhead Landing
A guest winter review for a short segment on Black Earth Creek from Olson Road to the new Wolf Run Trail Landing.
Read More...Neenah Creek – Hwy P
Date Paddled: December 3rd, 2017
Put In: Hwy P
Take Out: Grouse Drive
A return to Neenah Creek to check out its middle portion. This is an open wetgrass paddle that isn't overly exciting, but does have some subtle beauty.
Read More...Gordon Creek
Date Paddled: November 24th, 2017
Put In: Sandy Rock Road (1st)
Take Out: Hwy A
This small driftless stream is quite nice with fast current, clear water, and sandstone outcrops. Just skip the downstream parts, which have some serious logjam issues.
Read More...Blue River – Snow Bottom
Date Paddled: October 21st, 2017
Put In: Bowers Road
Take Out: Shemak Road
A paddle through a narrow, hidden valley features blufftop outcrops, relict pines, giant boulders, and classic driftless scenery. The best trip of 2017 and one of the best paddles in Southern Wisconsin.
Read More...Popple River
Date Paddled: October 16th, 2017
Put In: Hwy N
Take Out: Wayside Park / Hwy 73
This relatively unknown tributary of the Black River features some fun Class 2 rapids, scenic boulder gardens and even a few granite outcrops.
Read More...Mecan River – Cumberland Road
Date Paddled: October 8th, 2017
Put In: Cumberland Road
Take Out: 11th Road
Rarely paddled, the far upper Mecan has a few obstacles but also some of its best scenery, with almost perfect water clarity and beautiful white pines.
Read More...Mississippi River – Goose Island
Date Paddled: September 30th, 2017
Put In: Goose Island - Northernmost Boat Ramp
Take Out: Goose Island - Northernmost Boat Ramp
Located on the Mississippi south of La Crosse, Goose Island is a popular wildlife area. An official canoe trail circumnavigates the island with the highlight being the Mississippi bluffs.
Read More...Badger Mill Creek
Date Paddled: September 16th, 2017
Put In: Hwy PB
Take Out: Hwy 69 - Sugar River
A trip for the adventurous paddler that offers an entertaining challenge, crystal clear water, varied terrain, abundant wildlife, and with several put-in/takeout possibilities and an easy bike shuttle option, it could be a welcome addition to your local “after work” paddling options.
Read More...Manitowoc River
Date Paddled: September 23rd, 2017
Put In: Clark Mills - Mill Street Landing
Take Out: North Union Road
A great trip east of Lake Winnebago with a mostly undeveloped shoreline, fast current and dolomite dells. The highlight is Little Cato Falls which is a scenic 4' ledge in the river.
Read More...Oconomowoc River – Fowler Park
Date Paddled: September 16th, 2017
Put In: Fowler Park
Take Out: North Golden Lake Road
Last of the Oconomowoc chain of lakes, this suburban paddle features lake paddling, two dam portages, some nice marshy sections, and crystal clear water.
Read More...Turtle Creek
Date Paddled: September 10th, 2017
Put In: School Section Road
Take Out: East Creek Road
Clear water, springs, a multitude of fish and a lack of mud, make this one of the nicer paddles of the year.
Read More...Trempealeau River – Perrot State Park
Date Paddled: September 4th, 2017
Put In: Trempealeau State Park - Boat Landing
Take Out: Trempealeau State Park - Boat Landing
The Voyageurs Canoe Trail is a scenic and popular round-trip located at the mouth of the Trempealeau River. Highlights consist of an attractive marsh and the towering bluffs of Trempeauleau Mountain and Brady's Bluff.
Read More...Rock River – Hustisford
Date Paddled: September 2nd, 2017
Put In: Lions Park - Hustisford
Take Out: Elmwood Road
One of the better Lower Rock sections that starts really nice with a cool boulder garden. Unfortunately, that was the only major highlight as the rest of the trip was a bit too slow, muddy, and simple.
Read More...Koshkonong Creek
Date Paddled: August 26th, 2017
Put In: Jefferson Street, Cambridge
Take Out: Hoopen Road
A popular paddling creek located by Cambridge, Wisconsin. Well-maintained and with nice areas, but the sheer amount of mud detracts from the overall experience.
Read More...Wedges Creek – Snyder Park
Date Paddled: August 19th, 2017
Put In: Snyder Park
Take Out: Middle Road
A bonanza of sandstone outcrops and granite boulder gardens make this a special paddle. Just don't attempt to do it during low water.
Read More...Token Creek
Date Paddled: August 12th, 2017
Put In: Elmer and Edna Culver Wetlands Conservancy
Take Out: Daentl Road
Token Creek is the biggest tributary to Lake Mendota and hosts the largest natural springs in all of Southern Wisconsin. While most paddlers do the lower portions, the secret to this creek is its scenic headwaters.
Read More...East Twin River
Date Paddled: August 9th, 2017
Put In: Mishicot Village Park
Take Out: Paddler's Park - Two Rivers
A guest review for the East Twin River. A nice prospect but with some logjam issues.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Lone Rock
Date Paddled: August 7th, 2017
Put In: Lone Rock Boat Landing
Take Out: Gotham Boat Landing
One of the most scenic sections of the Lower Wisconsin that includes a 2.3 mile stretch of sandstone outcrops, huge sandbars, interesting sloughs, and impressive sand banks.
Read More...White River – Sheridan Springs Road
Date Paddled: July 30th, 2017
Put In: Sheridan Springs Road (1st bridge)
Take Out: Riverview Park (Mill Street)
A surprisingly nice river that flows out of Geneva Lake and enjoys good water clarity and long stretches of fun rapids.
Read More...Black River – Power House Road
Date Paddled: July 23rd, 2017
Put In: Powerhouse Landing
Take Out: Halls Creek Landing
Perhaps the best section on the Black River featuring Class 1-2 rapids and scenic granite boulder gardens.
Read More...Whitewater Creek
Date Paddled: July 15th, 2017
Put In: Simon Road
Take Out: Hwy D61
Another Iowa driftless paddle, but this time a good one! Flowing through one of Iowa's few true canyons, highlights include fun light rapids and the largest boulders I've ever seen.
Read More...Little Maquoketa River
Date Paddled: July 8th, 2017
Put In: Burtons Furnace Road - Durango
Take Out: Herber Road
North of Dubuque, Iowa, this Mississippi tributary brims with potential but honestly was somewhat of a letdown and was likely the muddiest trip I've ever done.
Read More...Plover River – Hwy K
Date Paddled: July 4th, 2017
Put In: Hwy K
Take Out: Jordan County Park
Not as elite as other Plover segments, but this diverse paddle is still enjoyable and has some fun surprises at the end.
Read More...Eau Claire River – South Fork
Date Paddled: July 2nd, 2017
Put In: Koehlers Ford Forest Road
Take Out: Hwy H
This is a pleasant wilderness paddle with nothing too special, but does contain the most sand and gravel bars I've ever witnessed for a trip.
Read More...Fever River – Bean Street
Date Paddled: June 24th, 2017
Put In: Bean Street
Take Out: Hwy W
If you are willing to duck under a few fences, this section will reward you with amazing limestone outcrops and fun rapids.
Read More...Wyalusing
Date Paddled: June 18th, 2017
Put In: Wyalusing State Park - Long Valley Road Launch
Take Out: Wyalusing State Park - Long Valley Road Launch
At the junction of Wisconsin's greatest rivers is one of its finest parks. While normally known for its scenic overlooks, a unique way to experience Wyalusing is to paddle its popular water trail.
Read More...Bridge Creek
Date Paddled: June 10th, 2017
Put In: Hwy V
Take Out: Harstad Park
Access is difficult by a scenic mill house, but once you're on the creek, it's a fun ride through rocky dells, over splashy rapids, and past striking sandbanks.
Read More...Fond du Lac River
Date Paddled: June 4th, 2017
Put In: Hwy 23
Take Out: Rogersville Road - East Segment
Sandwiched between the Eldorado Marsh and downtown Fond du Lac is a really neat paddling prospect with narrow riffly corridors, small boulder gardens and clear water.
Read More...Oconto River
Date Paddled: May 12th, 2017
Put In: Hwy 64
Take Out: Bagley Rapids Campground
A fun fast section of the upper Oconto River that flows through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Read More...Red River
Date Paddled: May 12th, 2017
Put In: Red River Park (Lower Lake Road)
Take Out: Hwy A
A guest review for the Red River, a whitewater river located in northeastern Wisconsin.
Read More...Kinnickinnic River
Date Paddled: May 16th, 2017
Put In: Glen Park, River Falls
Take Out: Hwy F
Guest reviewer Sumner Matteson describes an unforgettable environment filled with "dripping greens" and 85 species of birds.
Read More...Big Rib River
Date Paddled: May 28th, 2017
Put In: Lemke Drive
Take Out: Hwy 64
Pleasant, but not exotic, this segment on the far upper Big Rib has a different character relative to its downstream siblings.
Read More...Melancthon Creek
Date Paddled: May 21st, 2017
Put In: Hwy 80 (by Ek Lane)
Take Out: Hwy 80 (south of Hwy C)
A driftless gem with perhaps the highest concentration of sandstone outcrops in Southern Wisconsin.
Read More...Pine River – Quarry Drive
Date Paddled: May 14th, 2017
Put In: Quarry Drive
Take Out: Shellington Drive
Logjams and mud make for an underwhelming trip. There are nice parts on the river though if you stick it out to the end.
Read More...Blue River
Date Paddled: May 6th, 2017
Put In: Bluff Road
Take Out: Bowers Road
A spectacular paddling prospect hidden in the driftless area of southwest Wisconsin. Fun rapids, hidden valleys, boulders, and occasional outcrops make this the favorite paddle to date for 2017.
Read More...Willow Creek – Richland County
Date Paddled: April 23rd, 2017
Put In: Hwy 58 - 2nd Bridge
Take Out: Hwy 58 - 3rd Bridge
Richland County's best kept secret is a scenic bonanza with some of the taller sandstone outcrops you'll see in Southern Wisconsin.
Read More...Kickapoo River – Guest Review
Date Paddled: June 5th, 2016
Put In: Wilton - Public Campground
Take Out: Nicolette Ave/Hwy 131
A guest review for the far upper stretch of the Kickapoo River. A beautiful segment but with some logjam issues.
Read More...Beaver Dam River
Date Paddled: April 17th, 2017
Put In: Cotton Mill Park
Take Out: Hwy J
Unexpected dam releases made for a flooded river and a wild ride, but this is a river with lots of potential. A unique blend of urban, wooded, and whitewater segments, the Beaver Dam River is definitely worth checking out...but at lower levels.
Read More...Big Green River
Date Paddled: April 8th, 2017
Put In: Green River Road
Take Out: Hwy K - Snowmobile Bridge
Another driftless trout stream paddle through farm country, but with some fun rapids and neat scenery.
Read More...Castle Rock Creek
Date Paddled: April 1st, 2017
Put In: Church Road
Take Out: Hwy Q (last bridge)
A great, undiscovered driftless paddle near Madison with no logjams, fun rapids and neat geology. Seems too good to be true, but it is.
Read More...Pecatonica River
Date Paddled: March 19th, 2017
Put In: Hwy O
Take Out: Hwy G - Calamine
Some rock outcrops and scenic bridges highlight this section, but unfortunately mud and logjams are an issue.
Read More...Neenah Creek – Grouse Drive
Date Paddled: February 19th, 2017
Put In: Grouse Drive
Take Out: Muskrat Road
A return to Neenah Creek for an easy wetgrass paddle with few challenges, but few rewards.
Read More...Neenah Creek – Muskrat Road
Date Paddled: November 13th, 2016
Put In: Muskrat Road
Take Out: Hwy CX
This simple wetgrass paddle is not overly interesting with a broad slow channel and repetitive flat scenery. However, it is fantastic for waterfowl.
Read More...Yellow River – Pittsville
Date Paddled: November 6th, 2016
Put In: Little Bull Falls
Take Out: Dexter County Park
An unexplored section on the Upper Yellow River with some really nice surprises.
Read More...Willow Creek
Date Paddled: November 1st, 2016
Put In: Brown Deer Ave
Take Out: Chicago Ave
A sandy trout stream in central Wisconsin with terrific water clarity. The scenery is repetitive though with too many alders.
Read More...Black River – East Fork – Steponik
Date Paddled: October 23rd, 2016
Put In: Steponik Road
Take Out: Pray Road
A pleasant but lazy stretch little resembling the main branch of the Black River. East Fork Falls and a unique wildlife experience kept things interesting though...
Read More...Plover River – Esker
Date Paddled: October 16th, 2016
Put In: Esker Road
Take Out: Hwy 153
The far upper Plover River is rarely paddled, yet might be the best section for paddling because of its scenic firs, granite boulders and some surprise rapids.
Read More...Black River – Christie
Date Paddled: October 9th, 2016
Put In: Hwy H landing
Take Out: Hill Road
A wonderfully scenic trip on the Upper Black River with plenty of whitewater and attractive granite outcrops.
Read More...Eau Claire River – Weston
Date Paddled: October 2nd, 2016
Put In: Edwin's Park / Club House Road
Take Out: Ross Ave Launch
A surprisingly nice paddle through suburban Wausau with some fun rapids and boulder gardens.
Read More...West Fork of the Kickapoo – Bloomingdale
Date Paddled: September 17th, 2016
Put In: Bloomingdale Road
Take Out: Hwy S
While lacking the rock outcrops of its more famous sibling, fast water and countless riffles make this popular trout stream a fun paddle.
Read More...Little Platte – Stumpton Road
Date Paddled: September 11th, 2016
Put In: Stumpton Road
Take Out: Hwy O
The Little Platte is a pleasant pastoral paddle with fun riffles and interesting geology.
Read More...Perry Creek
Date Paddled: September 4th, 2016
Put In: Black River - Perry Creek Landing
Take Out: Black River - Perry Creek Landing
Root beer red water pools and tumbles by carved sandstone bluffs in this incredibly scenic tributary of the Black River.
Read More...Black River – Dam to Mason’s Landing
Date Paddled: September 4th, 2016
Put In: Black River Falls Dam
Take Out: Mason's Landing
An overlooked tweener section on the Black River offers rapids, sandbars, gravelbars, granitebars, sandstone outcrops, scenic creeks and more.
Read More...Mukwonago River
Date Paddled: August 28th, 2016
Put In: Rainbow Springs Golf Resort Road
Take Out: Hwy I
Crystal clear water, beautiful seeps, wild rice corridors, and abundant wildflowers make this a terrific paddle. There is just one problem at the end though...
Read More...Pewaukee River
Date Paddled: August 21st, 2016
Put In: Wisconsin Ave Business Parking Lot
Take Out: Wonderland Tap
A leisurely paddle through a marsh ends with a dizzying descent down a tangle of switchbacks and rapids--if you have enough water.
Read More...Waupaca River – Buchholz Road
Date Paddled: August 13th, 2016
Put In: Buchholz Road
Take Out: Stedman Park
An overlooked section of the Waupaca that offers amazing scenery, gorgeous boulder gardens and fun rapids.
Read More...Bark River – Delafield
Date Paddled: August 6th, 2016
Put In: St. John's Park
Take Out: Hwy 67/Summit Ave
This is a very nice section on the upper Bark River that runs from Nagawicka Lake to Dousman. Part creek, part urban paddle, part lake paddle, part woodland paddle, and part marsh paddle, this has something for everybody.
Read More...Illinois Fox River – Silver Lake
Date Paddled: August 8th, 2016
Put In: Fox River Park
Take Out: Wilmot Access
A guest review for the Illinois Fox close to the Illinois border.
Read More...La Crosse River – West Salem
Date Paddled: July 31st, 2016
Put In: Public landing by Hwy 108
Take Out: Veterans Memorial Campground
A mediocre trip on the La Crosse. A few fun rapids and a hidden sandstone coulee are the highlights.
Read More...Oconomowoc River
Date Paddled: July 23rd, 2016
Put In: Upper Oconomowoc Lake Boat Launch
Take Out: Fowler Park
Passing through glacial kettle lakes in the far west suburbs of Milwaukee, the Oconomowoc is a surprisingly nice river with diverse scenery and remarkably clear water.
Read More...Fox River – White River Locks
Date Paddled: July 17th, 2016
Put In: Princeton - Jefferson Street Landing
Take Out: White River Locks - Lock Road
A pleasant section on the Fox River starting in the city of Princeton. However, the broad channel and slow current take some of the magic out of the trip.
Read More...Platte River – Hwy A
Date Paddled: July 9th, 2016
Put In: Hwy A
Take Out: Airport Road / Ellenboro
An upstream section of the Platte with fantastic limestone outcrops and fun riffles. This section however is negatively impacted by grazing and does run dry in late summer though.
Read More...Little Wolf – Hwy BB
Date Paddled: July 4th, 2016
Put In: County Road BB Launch
Take Out: Hwy X / Wolf River Trips and Campground
An ok stretch but not in the same class as neighboring water trails. Some fun rapids and boulder gardens, but the sheer number of tubers was an annoying distraction.
Read More...Sugar River
Date Paddled: July 2nd, 2016
Put In: Hwy 69 Landing
Take Out: Highway A
A surprisingly nice paddle on the upper Sugar. A narrow channel, lush wooded banks, and up-tempo current make this a worthwhile trip.
Read More...Plover River – Bevent
Date Paddled: June 25th, 2016
Put In: Hwy 153 / Bevent
Take Out: Pinery Road
Probably the best section on the entire Plover River with good current, a few rapids, attractive woods and fine boulder beds.
Read More...Peshtigo River – Burnt Bridge Landing
Date Paddled: June 6th, 2016
Put In: Burnt Bridge Landing
Take Out: Burton Wells Bridge
New guest review for the Peshtigo River. One of Wisconsin's most famous whitewater trails.
Read More...Little Eau Pleine River
Date Paddled: June 18th, 2016
Put In: Hwy 97 / Hwy T
Take Out: Mann Street / River Road
One of my all time favorite whitewater paddles with amazing scenery and fun rapids, this central Wisconsin water trail is a great prospect if you get it at the right depth.
Read More...Yellow River – Hwy 80
Date Paddled: June 11th, 2016
Put In: Hwy 80
Take Out: Hwy N
This segment of the Yellow starts with a whimper and ends with a bang. Highlights include fun rapids, boulder gardens, massive river boulders and a lack of development.
Read More...Fox River – Governor Bend
Date Paddled: June 5th, 2016
Put In: Governor Bend Park
Take Out: Hwy O
A slow, simple, and peaceful section of the Fox that is pleasant but not super exotic. Locals should consider this stretch, but those living further away can probably find better alternatives.
Read More...Eau Claire River – Dells Park
Date Paddled: May 30th, 2016
Put In: Dells of the Eau Claire Park
Take Out: Eau Claire River Road (by Road N)
One of the best paddling prospects in the state. An amazing combination of intermediate rapids, dells and boulder gardens that ranks among my all time favorites.
Read More...Rocky Run Creek – Hwy 51
Date Paddled: May 29th, 2016
Put In: Hwy 51
Take Out: Dekorra Public Landing (Wisconsin River)
Kind of a disappointing trip because of the log jams. This trail does have redeeming qualities if you do the right leg and paddle at proper flow rates.
Read More...West Fork of the Kickapoo River
Date Paddled: May 21st, 2016
Put In: Hwy S bridge (south of Serendipity Country Club)
Take Out: Hwy 56
The Kickapoo's obscure branch to the west is a fun paddle with good current, scenic rock outcrops, clear water and great views of the driftless hills towering over the river.
Read More...Yahara River – Deforest
Date Paddled: May 11th, 2016
Put In: Veteran's Memorial Park
Take Out: Sunfish Pond
A guest review for a great section of the Yahara River near Deforest. Small, fast, and winding this is a good prospect to try when other nearby rivers and creeks are too high.
Read More...White River – Wautoma
Date Paddled: May 15th, 2016
Put In: Wautoma Wetlands Park / W. Main Street
Take Out: Cottonville Lane
A return to the White River to check out its far upper stretches. This is a great paddle with clear water, good current and fastastic groves of skunk cabbage...just be sure to pick the right section or you will face a lot of log jams.
Read More...Billings Creek
Date Paddled: May 8th, 2016
Put In: Hwy 33
Take Out: Winchel Valley Ave
Billings Creek (or "Kickapoo Junior"), is among the elite paddling prospects in all of Southern Wisconsin. Great water clarity, natural springs, fantastic rock outcrops, light rapids and even a cave to paddle though make this an exceptional prospect. Only caveat is that it is small and some bigger boats may not fit.
Read More...Montello River – 11th Road
Date Paddled: May 1st, 2016
Put In: 11th Road
Take Out: Lake Montello Ramp (Lake Street)
A return to the Montello River for honestly its weakest section. This is still not a bad stretch though and is a simple prospect to consider for locals looking for a new adventure.
Read More...Lawrence Creek
Date Paddled: April 23rd, 2016
Put In: 1st Ave Bridge
Take Out: Lawrence Lake - North Ramp (3rd Road)
A fun trip for a creek I didn't even know about until a week ago. Highlights include good current, good vegetation, and, best of all, fantastic water clarity.
Read More...Kickapoo River – Tunnelville Cliffs
Date Paddled: April 16th, 2016
Put In: La Farge Public Landing
Take Out: Hwy 131
One of the busiest water trails in the state comes to an abrupt halt at La Farge. Few want to go further because of log jams, but are these fears validated? Time to find out.
Read More...Nine Springs Creek
Date Paddled: March 28th, 2016
Put In: The Jenni and Kyle Preserve (off Post Road)
Take Out: Lake Farm County Park (Lake Waubesa)
An overlooked water trail in Madison? Seems hard to fathom, but it is true. Nine Springs Creek is a good prospect running mostly though marshland with good water clarity and occasional springs.
Read More...Good Earth Creek
Date Paddled: March 11th, 2016
Put In: Hwy CX
Take Out: Fox River - Hwy O Ramp
Good Earth Creek is a small tributary of the Fox River located north of Portage. Heavily mutilated by agriculture, this at times feels like paddling in a canal. All that said though, it was a pleasant trip.
Read More...Fox River – Princeton Locks
Date Paddled: November 15th, 2015
Put In: Princeton Locks (public ramp)
Take Out: City of Princeton (public ramp)
Simple yet pleasant. This rarely paddled section has something that much of the rest of the Fox River does not. Trees!
Read More...Seeley Creek – Part 2
Date Paddled: November 8th, 2015
Put In: Freedom Road
Take Out: Kohlmeyer Road
Nice rock outcroppings are the highlight for this quaint creek running through the heart of the Baraboo Hills. Only downside are some unfortunate log jams.
Read More...Fox River – Endeavor
Date Paddled: November 1st, 2015
Put In: Hwy O Public Launch
Take Out: North River Road Public Launch (Endeavor)
This is a tweener section of the Fox River between the more popular Portage to Hwy O route and Buffalo Lake. Not super exotic, with no bluffs, no current, no banks, nor woods; this is nevertheless a pleasant section that I'm glad I did.
Baraboo River – Cascade Mountain
Date Paddled: October 14th, 2015
Put In: Wayside Park (by Cascade Mountain)
Take Out: Hwy U
A return to the Baraboo River to check out a more obscure paddling segment. Not elite with highway noise to contend with, but pleasant with no log jams and attractive wooded banks.
Read More...Sheboygan River – Johnsonville
Date Paddled: October 11th, 2015
Put In: Johnsonville Dam (Fire Department parking lot)
Take Out: Dassow Park
A great paddle on Wisconsin's "east coast" that starts by a famous brat factory and ends in scenic Dassow Park.
Yellow River – Necedah
Date Paddled: October 6th, 2015
Put In: Necedah Dam (Friendship Road)
Take Out: Yellow River Bay (32nd Ave Launch)
An obscure central Wisconsin prospect that is pleasant with great sandbars, but has some snags to contend with.
Read More...La Crosse River – Fort McCoy
Date Paddled: October 2nd, 2015
Put In: Hwy BB
Take Out: Memorial Park (Sparta)
An obscure paddling prospect but pleasant, with no log jams, great water clarity, good current and a clean sandy substrate.
Illinois Fox River – Poplar Creek
Date Paddled: September 26th, 2015
Put In: Wray Park in Brookfield
Take Out: Grede Park in Waukesha
Outside of a boring flowage section, this is a fun trip with nice segments of wetgrass, woods and finally rapids through downtown Waukesha.
Read More...Halls Creek – Part 2
Date Paddled: September 19th, 2015
Put In: Garage Road Bridge
Take Out: Halls Creek Landing (the mouth)
One of, if not the most scenic paddles in all of Wisconsin. Amazing sandstone bluffs and fun rapids await paddlers...if you have enough water.
Read More...Upper Iowa River
Date Paddled: September 12th, 2015
Put In: Cattle Creek Road Bridge
Take Out: Bluffton Road/W20 Canoe Ramp
A visit to Iowa's best. Clear water, good current and natural springs are key highlights. But best of all are the massive riverside limestone bluffs (aka palisades) that are larger than anything you'll find in Wisconsin.
Fox River – Portage
Date Paddled: September 5th, 2015
Put In: Hwy 33 wayside in Portage
Take Out: Governor Bend County Park
One of Wisconsin's most historic rivers, this is a pleasant paddle with good water clarity and a chance to explore the Portage Canal. Unfortunately, it has some serious issues with rotting pondweeds.
Read More...Bark River – Rome
Date Paddled: August 30th, 2015
Put In: Rome Dam
Take Out: Cushman Road Bridge
A really nice paddle without too much development, great water clarity, fun riffles and interesting wildlife.
Read More...Black Earth Creek – Walking Iron
Date Paddled: August 22nd, 2015
Put In: Walking Iron Park in Mazomanie
Take Out: Blynn Road Bridge
Back again at Black Earth Creek, this time starting at Mazomanie's Walking Iron Park. A really nice paddle with great water clarity, clean banks, attractive tree canopies and good current.
Read More...La Crosse River – Onalaska
Date Paddled: August 15th, 2015
Put In: Holiday Heights Landing
Take Out: Riverside Park (the mouth)
A visit to train and bluff country on the last section of the La Crosse River and then a side adventure on the mighty Mississippi.
Read More...Wisconsin River – Mazomanie
Date Paddled: August 8th, 2015
Put In: Mazomanie Adlers Landing
Take Out: Arena Public Boat Ramp
A long overdue visit to the sandbar capitol of the state. Terrific bluffs and sandbars make this a must paddle for those living in southern Wisconsin.
Read More...Madeline Island Sea Caves
Date Paddled: June 21st, 2015
Put In: Big Bay State Park--Barrier Beach
Take Out: Big Bay State Park--Barrier Beach
While not as extensive as their Cornucopia neighbors (of ice cave fame), the Madeline Island caves are a great alternative and make a terrific afternoon paddle.
Read More...Pine River – Hwy Q
Date Paddled: August 2nd, 2015
Put In: Canoe Port 4 or Hwy Q (Old Community Center)
Take Out: Hwy O
A pleasant, scenic driftless paddle that starts with some class 2 rapids and ends with a basketball game.
Read More...Wolf River – Hollister
Date Paddled: July 30th, 2015
Put In: W. Hollister Road Landing
Take Out: Hwy 64 DNR Landing
A journey to the whitewater capitol of Wisconsin to enjoy some fun class 2 rapids and amazing boulder gardens.
Read More...Baraboo River – Dutch Hollow
Date Paddled: July 25th, 2015
Put In: N. Dutch Hollow Road
Take Out: N. River Road in La Valle (below the rapids)
A rarely paddled section of the Baraboo River that is quite pleasant. Highlights include seven rock outcrops and some fun little rapids to end the trip.
Read More...Maunesha River
Date Paddled: July 19th, 2015
Put In: Marshall Dam (access below)
Take Out: Fireman's Park
At times a challenging river because of the log jams in fast water, the Maunesha does have its rewards in fun rapids if you stick it out to the end.
Read More...Mecan River – Post Germania
Date Paddled: July 12th, 2015
Put In: Germania Marsh Dam
Take Out: Hwy N (2nd of 3 crossings...see map)
A classic south-central Wisconsin paddle with nothing too exotic, but still very pleasant with nice water quality and attractive wooded tree canopies.
Read More...Wedges Creek
Date Paddled: July 5th, 2015
Put In: Middle Road Bridge
Take Out: Hwy 95 bridge
A return to the Black River area for a fun wilderness paddle, some small rapids and a LOT of rocks.
Read More...Rock River – East Branch – Mayville
Date Paddled: June 27th, 2015
Put In: North Main Street (Furnace Bridge Dam)
Take Out: Green Head Road (main Horicon launch)
Located northeast of the Horicon Marsh, the East Branch is a good prospect with few obstructions, fun rapids and nice boulder gardens.
Read More...Puchyan River
Date Paddled: June 21st, 2015
Put In: Mill Street bridge (by the dam)
Take Out: Hwy J
An obscure tributary to the Fox River, the Puchyan is a fun little river with great clarity and fun rapids, but there are some boring marsh sections to contend with.
Read More...Platte River – Platte Road
Date Paddled: June 14th, 2015
Put In: Platte Road
Take Out: Big Platte Road
A fine southwestern Wisconsin paddle with many fun but safe rapids. This is mostly a rural farm paddle, but is still scenic with great views of the driftless hills.
Read More...Milwaukee River – East Branch
Date Paddled: June 6th, 2015
Put In: Hwy SS Bridge
Take Out: Mill Road Bridge
This is one of the three main upper branches to the Milwaukee River. It starts as a slow swampy paddle with log jams, but ends on a high note with fun riffles, clear water and boulder gardens.
Read More...Little Platte River – Platteville
Date Paddled: May 31st, 2015
Put In: Quarry Road
Take Out: Stumpton Road Bridge
One of southern Wisconsin's crown paddling jewels featuring fun rapids and amazing limestone bluffs that rival the Kickapoo. Just be mindful of the cows, their fences, low water and high water...and you'll have a great trip.
Read More...Spring Creek – Lodi
Date Paddled: May 23rd, 2015
Put In: Riddle Road Bridge
Take Out: Hwy 113 - Public Fishing Access
Spring Creek is an obscure water trail north of Madison. Good water clarity, current and minor riffles but log jams were challenging.
Read More...Black Earth Creek – Salmo Pond
Date Paddled: May 22nd, 2015
Put In: Scherbel Road
Take Out: Black Earth Community Park
An obscure but pleasant paddle stretch from Salmo Pond County Park to Black Earth. A good combination of scenery, water quality and light rapids.
Read More...White River – Neshkoro
Date Paddled: May 16th, 2015
Put In: Neshkoro Dam
Take Out: 22nd Ave public launch
A spontaneous trip due to extenuating circumstances. This was a small pleasant river with terrific clear water, but kind of short at only 3.4 miles.
Read More...Rock River – South Branch
Date Paddled: May 9th, 2015
Put In: Waupun Park
Take Out: E. Waupun Road Access
Another “roll-of-the-dice” paddle that turned out pretty good. The South Branch of the Rock River is one of three branches that form Horicon Marsh. This trip is maybe half urban paddle (quite nice), half hardwood paddle (ok), and finally a little marsh before you legally have to get off the water. Put-in: Waupun Park (located […]
Read More...White Creek
Date Paddled: May 2nd, 2015
Put In: Evergreen Ave
Take Out: Hwy H
Sometimes with mystery creeks you roll the dice and things just don’t work out. This wasn’t one of those cases, as White Creek was a pleasant surprise with great water clarity, some easy rapids and while, yes, some portages – they were easy to deal with. Put-in: Evergreen Ave is a one-lane bridge with no […]
Read More...Big Spring Creek
Date Paddled: April 26th, 2015
Put In: Hwy G Bridge
Take Out: Lake Mason Boat Ramp off Grouse Drive
A cool little trout stream located north of Portage . Perhaps a little small for most sensible paddlers, but most sensible paddlers won’t know what they’re missing. Put-in: The logical put-in at Golden Ave is bad (too rocky). So instead, I used a nearby creek tributary off of Hwy G. Ok shoulder parking, but not […]
Read More...Duck Creek Middle Branch
Date Paddled: April 18th, 2015
Put In: Schliesmann Road Bridge
Take Out: Wyona County park
Favorite trip to date for 2015 with sublime water quality and surprisingly enough no portage necessitating log jams. On the downside, there was an issue with a local property owner. Put-in: Schliesmann Road Bridge is an attractive put-in. Parking is not five star but doable. Easy launching into the creek as the banks aren’t too […]
Read More...French Creek
Date Paddled: April 11th, 2015
Put In: Hwy CM (Dates Mill Dam)
Take Out: Private Landing on Fox River
Ultimately, this was a diverse trip with interesting contrasts. It would vary between lake, creek, river, woods, marsh, humans, lack of humans, fun paddle and boring paddle. Put-in: Best put-in is at Hwy CM (by the Dates Mill Pond). While probably public DOT land by the bridge, it is a little close to houses, so […]
Read More...Fox River – Montello
Date Paddled: April 4th, 2015
Put In: Parking lot at W. Montello Street
Take Out: Grand River Locks - Public Landing
A trip that starts on the swift, narrow Montello River and finishes on the historic Fox River. Part urban paddle, part historic paddle, part open water paddle–a fun trip that I recommend to readers. Put-in: There is a downtown public parking lot that you can use for access (fishermen use it all the time). It […]
Read More...Fox River – Pardeeville
Date Paddled: March 15th, 2015
Put In: Hwy 44 Bridge
Take Out: Haynes Road Bridge
An obscure section of the Fox River upstream of Pardeeville that has redeeming values, but can be a frustrating paddle because of the log jams in the stream. Put-in: Pretty good access at Hwy 44. Best parking and launch area will be on the southwest side of the bridge. There is a house in sight […]
Read More...Neenah Creek Main Branch – Part 2
Date Paddled: October 26th, 2014
Put In: Hwy A Bridge
Take Out: Hwy P Bridge
A solid but not super exotic wetland paddle with its strength being the clean water and sandy bottom. Put-in: Pretty good access at Hwy A. You can put in north of the bridge (either up or downstream). There are riffles running under the bridge, so putting in upstream lets you run them. Try not to […]
Read More...Neenah Creek – South Branch
Date Paddled: October 19th, 2014
Put In: Mason Lake Dam
Take Out: Big Slough Public Boat Access
A pleasant wetland paddle that is rich in waterfowl, but could use a bit more current to liven things up. Put-in: Access is located just below the Lake Mason Dam and Flowage in Briggsville. There is a boat ramp just north of the dam which serves the lake, but you can drop off your kayak […]
Read More...Lemonweir River – New Lisbon
Date Paddled: October 12th, 2014
Put In: 37th Street Public Access
Take Out: Riverside Park in New Lisbon
A big, long lake pretending to be a river. Honestly, somewhat boring, but a nice rock outcropping, fall leaves and attractive white pines gave it redeeming value. Put-in: The old put-in for this stretch used to be the Hwy M bridge (southeast side). While there still appears to be a launch there, there are “no […]
Read More...Blue Mounds Creek
Date Paddled: October 5th, 2014
Put In: Blynn Road Bridge
Take Out: Arena Public Boat Landing
A relatively new water-trail due to some fantastic clean-up work by the locals, but while the creek is worthy of consideration, this was a relatively disappointing paddle given how much I liked the upper sections of this watershed (namely, Black Earth Creek). Put-in: Pretty good put-in at Blynn Road. Access will be on the southeast […]
Read More...Big Eau Pleine River
Date Paddled: September 27th, 2014
Put In: Big Rapids County Park
Take Out: Hwy M Bridge
This is a pretty obscure prospect that is rarely reviewed and infrequently paddled…probably because most people associate the river with the massive flowage to the east, but a good length of the river upstream flows freely (mostly) and is actually a good paddling prospect. Put-in: Nice public access is available at Big Rapids County Park, […]
Read More...Mecan River – Upper
Date Paddled: September 21st, 2014
Put In: 11th Road Bridge
Take Out: JJ Road Bridge
Despite the Mecan being a popular paddle, this section is often overlooked and undeservedly so. This is a fine wilderness paddle and one of the clearest rivers in southern Wisconsin–a must paddle for south central Wisconsinites (you “northerners” already have lots of these type of rivers). Put-in: Very good bridge put-in at 11th Road. Small […]
Read More...Black River – East Fork
Date Paddled: September 14th, 2014
Put In: Pray Road Bridge
Take Out: Overguard Road Public Access
A pleasant central Wisconsin paddle with little signs of human civilization. Enjoy oxymoronic slow riffley current with the highlight of the trip being large granite protrusions and boulder beds. Put-in: Good but hidey access area by Pray Road. It will be on the northwest side of the bridge, with a solid pull-off area for the […]
Read More...Milwaukee River
Date Paddled: September 6th, 2014
Put In: Main Street Bridge @ Newburg
Take Out: Hwy A Bridge
This is probably the best section on the Milwaukee River. A fine paddle, with clear, red water; no jams/hazards; swift, fun current; good bank quality; and a surprising amount of wilderness for a river with this namesake. Put-in: Just downstream/east of the Main Street bridge in Newburg is a nice public put-in. Note: while this […]
Read More...Grant River
Date Paddled: August 31st, 2014
Put In: Short Cut Road (aka Porter Hill) fishing access
Take Out: Grant River Road (Pigeon River bridge is better)
Not being the cleanest river nor the best wilderness experience, the Grant River is pretty much a one-trick pony. But it is a good trick though! What makes the Grant special are the occasional limestone and sandstone bluffs, which are fantastic and make this trip worth doing. Put-in: For a river fraught with access issues, […]
Read More...Black Earth Creek – Mazomanie
Date Paddled: August 24th, 2014
Put In: Olson Road Bridge
Take Out: Walking Iron Park
Connecting the city of Middleton to the Wisconsin River, Black Earth Creek is an obscure paddling prospect–more known for its nationally famous trout population. Nevertheless, this creek is a wonderful little gem with a great combination of prairie paddling and forest paddling that should not be overlooked by south-central Wisconsinites. Previously in May, I had […]
Read More...La Crosse River
Date Paddled: August 17th, 2014
Put In: Fishermans Park (Perch Lake Dam)
Take Out: Hammer Road Bridge
A pleasant five-mile paddle originating in the city of Sparta. The La Crosse River has a great recipe for paddlers in swift clear water, fun ledges, and is nestled in an attractive setting. Put-in: You will have a bevy of options for putting in, with almost contiguous green space access from Memorial Park to Fisherman’s […]
Read More...Pecatonica River – East Branch
Date Paddled: August 9th, 2014
Put In: Hwy 39 Bridge
Take Out: Horseshoe Bend Road
An underrated prospect located 40 minutes southwest of Madison, with nice plantlife and tree canopies, but most of all, some splendid rock bluffs. There is a decent chance you haven’t heard of the East Branch of the Pecatonica River, as many paddle review sources do not cover it. This is odd…but kind of a consistent […]
Read More...Rock River – East Branch
Date Paddled: August 2nd, 2014
Put In: Gill Road bridge (by Hwy AY)
Take Out: Furnace Bridge Dam (Hwy 67 bridge)
For the most part, a weak paddling prospect, with slow, dirty current and open, scraggly banks. But…the river does have redeeming attributes and nearby sections of the river have potential, so keep reading… When you think of Wisconsin’s mighty watersheds…the Fox, Wisconsin and Chippewa all come to mind, but ultimately the Rock is larger than […]
Read More...Crystal River
Date Paddled: July 26th, 2014
Put In: Marl Lake Boat Launch
Take Out: Shadow Lake Road Bridge
A must paddle for southern Wisconsinites! This is actually a two-part trip that can be split in half. The first four miles run through the terrific Chain O’ Lakes and the second half consists of small river paddling with clear, riffly water and (for once) tasteful bankside landscaping. Both sections are five star prospects by […]
Read More...Robinson Creek
Date Paddled: July 20th, 2014
Put In: North Old Country Road Bridge
Take Out: Kelly Road Bridge
My new favorite water trail! I’ve paddled a lot of places…and have had a lot of top paddling experiences (including Bois Brule, Kickapoo, Wisconsin Dells Area, Halls Creek, Morison Creek and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore), but this is my new favorite and might be the best paddling prospect in all of Wisconsin. A little background […]
Read More...Waupaca River
Date Paddled: July 13th, 2014
Put In: Hwy Q Canoe Launch
Take Out: Brainard's Bridge Park
A classic water trail in central Wisconsin, the Waupaca River is a great prospect with striking boulder gardens, great water quality, and fun/safe riffles. The river starts close to the city of Stevens Point and winds east before emptying into the Wolf River. I’ve actually paddled the Waupaca before…well, kind of. Last fall, I paddled […]
Read More...Plover River
Date Paddled: July 5th, 2014
Put In: Jordan Park below dam
Take Out: Iverson Park (far west canal)
The Plover is a popular small river that flows southwest before emptying into the Wisconsin River at the city of Stevens Point. There are multiple sections of the river that are navigable for paddlers–the upper section being more rocky and “up northy,” with nice boulder gardens, and the southern section, which is more like the […]
Read More...Prairie River
Date Paddled: July 5th, 2014
Put In: Heineman Road
Take Out: Prairie Road Public Access
We did the Prairie River from Heineman Rd. to the public access at the end of Prairie Road. This stretch is only a few miles northeast of Merrill, in north central Wisconsin. The Prairie River proved to be a typical northern Wisconsin small river, with cool, clean, root beer-colored water that moved along at a […]
Read More...White River
Date Paddled: June 28th, 2014
Put In: 22nd Ave Bridge
Take Out: Hwy D
A river with two identities. The first 90%, you get clear water, sandy substrates and open, grassy vistas. The last 10% goes through woods and, unfortunately, has some deadfall to contend with. To clarify further, there are actually three White Rivers in Wisconsin. This is not the more famous one located by Lake Superior (a […]
Read More...Little Wolf River
Date Paddled: June 22nd, 2014
Put In: Wolf River Road
Take Out: Big Falls Public Access
This is a nice scenic river in which the whitewater is the highlight (or low-light). During the weekend of this trip, most rivers in south and central Wisconsin were flooded or too high to paddle (ironically, the Fever River was one of the exceptions). One water trail on my prospect list that caught my eye […]
Read More...Fever River (aka the Galena River)
Date Paddled: June 14th, 2014
Put In: Hwy W Park
Take Out: Ensch Road/Scrabble Branch Creek
The name of the river is confusing, because while originally named the Fever River, the state of Illinois (shamed to have a river named after smallpox) renamed it to the Galena River. This left mapmakers in Wisconsin confused…to this day. On the flip side, some old Galena residents in Illinois still refer to it as […]
Read More...Coon Creek – Hwy P
Date Paddled: June 8th, 2014
Put In: Hwy P Fishing Access
Take Out: Hwy 162/14/61 Bridge
An obscure paddling prospect with nice riffles, scenic hilly vistas, and no technical portages…but with some serious obstacles to contend with. In paddling circles, few will have heard of Coon Creek or its main tributary, Timber Coulee Creek, but for fishermen this is one of the most famous watersheds in all of Wisconsin and is […]
Read More...Morrison Creek
Date Paddled: May 31st, 2014
Put In: South Cemetery Road Bridge
Take Out: State Forest Access by Creek Mouth
A spectacular wilderness adventure through rapids, rock bluffs, massive boulders, wonderful plant life, clean water…and with not a single house in sight. This Black River tributary is not without its caveats though. This stream has possible access issues, an unpaved bike shuttle, the rapids were more serious than expected, and parasites were a drag. Let’s […]
Read More...Halls Creek
Date Paddled: May 24th, 2014
Put In: Trow Lake Dam
Take Out: Garage Road Bridge
One of Wisconsin’s crown jewel paddle trails. This is a terrific Black River tributary with frequent class 1 rapids, root beer colored water and terrific dells. So why haven’t you heard of it before? Because it is a “Goldilocks stream”–it has to have “just the right” water levels to run (which is unfortunately rare). In […]
Read More...Black Earth Creek – Black Earth to Mazomanie
Date Paddled: May 18th, 2014
Put In: Black Earth Community Park
Take Out: Olson Road Bridge (Mazomanie)
This is a very nice, clear, fast creek that runs from the Middleton Airport all the way to the Wisconsin River near Arena. On occasion, paddlers will run Blynn Road (the last bridge) to the mouth, and this is considered a good prospect that recently was cleaned up in 2011 of log jams by “Capitol […]
Read More...Big Slough
Date Paddled: May 11th, 2014
Put In: Malisch Road Bridge
Take Out: Big Slough Public Boat Access
A more obscure branch of Neenah Creek, with nothing absolutely spectacular, but all in all, a pleasant, peaceful paddle that I’m glad I did. You’ve probably never heard of Big Slough, so I’ll provide a bit of background here… The Fox River flows roughly south to north from Portage up to Green Bay. The first […]
Read More...Lodi Marsh
Date Paddled: May 3rd, 2014
Put In: Lee Road - Public Access (not recommended)
Take Out: Riddle Road Bridge
Lodi Marsh is a very nice natural area located a half hour north of Madison. Basically, it is an open valley marsh that is fed with freshwater springs and accumulates into “Spring Creek.” There it in turn flows through the city of Lodi and then eventually into the Wisconsin River at Okee Bay. There is […]
Read More...Hulburt Creek
Date Paddled: April 26th, 2014
Put In: Hwy H Bridge
Take Out: McDonald's (by Hwy 12 Bridge)
Hulburt Creek is an obscure little creek in the Wisconsin Dells area that few people paddle or even know about. Normally, it is just too shallow and filled with logs to paddle (more on that later). Thanks to our recent deluge of rain though, the creek levels really came up and I decided to give […]
Read More...Grand River
Date Paddled: April 18th, 2014
Put In: Hwy H Canoe Launch
Take Out: Fountain Creek Wet Prairie Canoe Launch
Think Lower Baraboo meets Horicon Marsh and ends on the Portage Canal for this trip. The Grand River is a pretty obscure prospect located southeast of Montello. It flows east to west through a couple of dams and a large marsh/flowage before it empties into the Fox River as a decent-sized tributary. The most prominent […]
Read More...Big Creek
Date Paddled: April 12th, 2014
Put In: Hwy F Bridge
Take Out: Hwy F Bridge
Initially, this trip was going to encompass Big Creek and the north end of Lake Redstone, but due to inclement weather and ice, I was only able to paddle Big Creek and parts of Lake Redstone. Big Creek is a northern tributary to the Baraboo River close to Reedsburg. Close to the mouth, there is […]
Read More...Neenah Creek – Oxford
Date Paddled: April 6th, 2014
Put In: W Chauncey St Bridge
Take Out: Hwy A Bridge
Neenah creek is an occasionally paddled creek that is normally known for its open grassy areas, wetlands, waterfowl, and for being the first major tributary of the historic Fox River. A far more obscure segment of the stream, rarely paddled, is the far upper section, which I learned about from Small River Canoe Adventures of […]
Read More...Pine River – Richland Center
Date Paddled: October 12th, 2013
Put In: Canoe Port 1 or Hwy AA
Take Out: Canoe Port 4 or Hwy Q (Old Community Center)
The Pine River is an under-rated prospect sandwiched between the Baraboo River and the Kickapoo River. The lower third from Richland Center to the Wisconsin River gets occasional paddling traffic which is an ok prospect but it gets beat up by flooding. The upper third starting from Rockbridge Park is a great prospect which I’ve […]
Read More...Eau Claire River – Harstad Park
Date Paddled: September 21st, 2013
Put In: Harstad Park
Take Out: Hwy D Bridge
There are actually three Eau Claire Rivers in Wisconsin, so this can be very confusing. I previously reviewed the Eau Claire River that flows into the Wisconsin River at Wausau here. There is another Eau Claire that flows into the St. Croix, but in this case the review will focus on the river that flows […]
Read More...Upper Dells – 2
Date Paddled: September 8th, 2013
Put In: Town of Lyndon Landing (by River Bay Resort)
Take Out: Black Hawk Island Landing
Of the many areas in the Dells to paddle, this is the best and is a must paddle for Southern Wisconsinites. In a previous review, I paddled the first half of the Upper Dells from Two Rivers landing to about halfway on the flowage lake (take-out at River Bay Campground). For this trip, I’ll pick […]
Read More...Tomorrow River
Date Paddled: September 14th, 2013
Put In: Hwy 161/Loberg Road
Take Out: Amherst Dam
A tributary to the Wolf River, this is a very nice river/stream that is often overlooked because of its popular neighbors (Little Wolf/Waupaca/Crystal/Wolf/Plover). The Tomorrow never gets very big before it gets to Amherst and “magically” turns into the Waupaca River (an oddity, as Rivers don’t usually change names like this). Despite this being September […]
Read More...Bois Brule
Date Paddled: August 28th, 2013
Put In: Stone's Bridge Landing
Take Out: Winneboujou Landing
This is one the cleanest, nicest paddling prospects in Wisconsin. Never getting very big before it empties into Lake Superior, the river is filled with fun rapids, clear pools, historic resorts, attractive banks, and wonderful plant life. In fact…I would rank this as the best paddling prospect in Wisconsin (the Kickapoo had that honor before […]
Read More...Namekagon River – Hayward to Stinnett
Date Paddled: August 27th, 2013
Put In: Hayward Dam
Take Out: Stinnett Landing
One of the more popular legs of the Namekagon starts just below Hayward.
Read More...Cedar Creek
Date Paddled: August 17th, 2013
Put In: Covered Bridge Park
Take Out: Grafton Lions Park
Cedar Creek is a decent-sized tributary of the Milwaukee River that runs through the small town of Cedarburg just 30 minutes north of Milwaukee. While not widely known state-wide, the locals know all about it, and it is a popular paddling location for Milwaukee area residents. There are a number of put-in options (see map), […]
Read More...Upper Eau Claire Flowage
Date Paddled: August 10th, 2013
Put In: Dells of the Eau Claire Park
Take Out: Dells of the Eau Claire Park
The initial plan for this trip was to paddle the Eau Claire River either 7 miles above Eau Claire Dells County Park or 7 miles below. (Note: Wisconsin has two Eau Claire rivers and this is the Wausau one…not the Chippewa River one.) At this time of the year, the Eau Claire runs very low, […]
Read More...Platte River – Ellenboro
Date Paddled: August 4th, 2013
Put In: Airport Road Bridge
Take Out: Platte Road bridge
Located in the SW corner of the state, the Platte is a very nice river often overlooked by paddlers. Unlike its more popular neighbor, the Grant, it has little in the way of rock outcroppings (although it has a few). It also suffers somewhat from poor agricultural use and barbed wires running across the river. […]
Read More...Black River – Mason to Irving
Date Paddled: July 27th, 2013
Put In: Masons Landing
Take Out: Irving Landing
This route starts 4 miles downstream of the Black River Falls dam at Mason’s landing and goes 9 miles to the Irving landing. You can put in earlier (see map for options), but that would have made a long trip IMO. You can also take out at the campground (see map), which is close to […]
Read More...Lemonweir River – 19th Ave to HH
Date Paddled: July 20th, 2013
Put In: 19th Ave Landing
Take Out: HH Landing
Having done and been pleasantly surprised with the previous two sections of the Lemonweir below Mauston, I decided to do the “middle section,” which is a 14 mile stretch from the 19th Ave Landing to the HH landing (bridge to bridge). If you haven’t already, go ahead and read my review for the first five […]
Read More...Black River Flowage
Date Paddled: July 13th, 2013
Put In: Halls Creek Landing
Take Out: Black River Falls Dam Landing
There are a number of nice prospects in the Black River area, but for this trip we did a more obscure segment that is probably only say the 4th/5th best route…yet was still very nice. You can kind of divide the Black River in two. Paddling above the dam at Black River Falls and paddling […]
Read More...Pheasant Branch
Date Paddled: July 7th, 2013
Put In: Lake Street Ramp (Lake Mendota)
Take Out: Lake Street Ramp (Lake Mendota)
Pheasant Branch Creek is located near Madison and feeds into Lake Mendota’s northwest side. It’s not a very large creek, so it is not very popular with paddlers. You can usually paddle up to and past the first pedestrian bridge, but not much further due to the shallow depth and abundance of aquatic weeds. There […]
Read More...Baraboo River Floodplains
Date Paddled: June 30th, 2013
Put In: Cty U Bridge
Take Out: Waterfront Road Landing
This is the last paddlable segment on the Baraboo River before it hits the Wisconsin. Normally this is a mediocre prospect due to dirty water, lack of sandbars, and occasional log jams (rumor has it that it might have been cleaned out locally). But it’s not a bad section to paddle that can be very […]
Read More...Portage Canal
Date Paddled: June 23rd, 2013
Put In: Hwy 33 (Ice Age Trail Access)
Take Out: Hwy 33 (Ice Age Trail Access)
This used to be a much more popular paddle destination than it is now. But unfortunately, the Wisconsin River end of the canal was permanently sealed and the main locks left open. Silt, weeds, and even logs have invaded certain sections, which makes this difficult to paddle in low water. The ‘main’ access point to […]
Read More...Kickapoo – Far Upper
Date Paddled: June 16th, 2013
Put In: Bridge Upstream of School
Take Out: Ontario - Titanic (Private Livery)
While the Kickapoo is one of the most popular paddle rivers in the Midwest, virtually nobody does the sections upstream of Ontario. Before doing this trip I had heard mixed stories about the navigability of the far upper sections. I emailed a local tour operator (Fred Flasher) who said he had actually done the Kickapoo […]
Read More...Seeley Creek
Date Paddled: June 9th, 2013
Put In: Seeley Lane Landing
Take Out: Seeley Lane Landing
Located in the heart of the Baraboo Hills close to North Freedom, Seeley Creek is one the largest tributaries to the Baraboo River. Just a couple miles upstream of the mouth, the creek is dammed to form an artificial lake, which is popular with local fishermen. Officially, there is a DNR landing for canoes there, […]
Read More...Rocky Run Creek to Lake Wisconsin
Date Paddled: June 2nd, 2013
Put In: County V Bridge
Take Out: Private Residence (map has public options)
This was a segment run during very high flood water (4.6 feet down by Muscoda and 11 feet up by Wisconsin Dells per USGS). Normally, this would be a bad thing to do on the Wisconsin River, as the high water covers up the sandbars, but in this case the high water was actually a […]
Read More...Little Wolf – Guest Review
Date Paddled: May 15th, 2013
Put In: DNR Parking Area
Take Out: Big Falls Boat Landing
The Little Wolf is one of the nicer rivers I have kayaked. It has very nice scenery. The forest is healthy and filled with ferns, hemlocks, and wildflowers. Bird life is abundant. There are several boulder gardens with some very large boulders. Throughout the stretch, there were numerous riffles and a couple of rapids to […]
Read More...Spring Creek
Date Paddled: May 18th, 2013
Put In: Lodi Spring Creek Fishery Area
Take Out: Lake Park
This is a very nice creek that starts near the town of Lodi and empties into the Wisconsin River close to (and across from) the city of Merrimac. Spring Creek itself primarily starts in a marsh southwest of Lodi (which would be a nice kayak spot if there were access). It then winds through town […]
Read More...Spring Brook – Lower
Date Paddled: May 20th, 2013
Put In: Lake Delton Boat Ramp
Take Out: Lake Delton Boat Ramp
Spring Brook is one of two creeks that empties into Lake Delton by Wisconsin Dells. This is not a well traveled creek, despite being next to Lake Delton, as it is usually very shallow, lacks good public access, and has a nasty log jam. If it were more accessible, it would probably be swarming with […]
Read More...Honey Creek – Upper
Date Paddled: May 11th, 2013
Put In: Hwy PF
Take Out: Leland Park
This is a small creek located in the foothills of the Baraboo Hills, close to Natural Bridge State Park and Hemlock Draw. For the most part, the creek is rarely paddled except for the lower section, which is closer to Sauk City and empties into the Wisconsin River. The other exception is an area above […]
Read More...Kickapoo River – Rockton to La Farge
Date Paddled: September 17th, 2012
Put In: Rockton Landing
Take Out: La Farge Landing
Of all paddling rivers in Wisconsin this might be the most popular. And of all sections on the Kickapoo, this is probably the second best stretch to run after Ontario to Rockton. There are a large number of landings on the river, at least shuttle/rental services, so you do have a lot of options as […]
Read More...Black River – Hwy 35
Date Paddled: September 8th, 2012
Put In: Hwy 53/93 Landing
Take Out: Hwy 35 Landing
While the Black River is one of the more popular rivers to paddle in Wisconsin, this downstream section close to the mouth is very rarely reviewed. You can put in at a canoe landing located at Highway 93/53. The landing is nice and has parking, but there are no bathrooms and it is a steep […]
Read More...Cox Hollow Lake
Date Paddled: September 3rd, 2012
Put In: NW Boat Landing
Take Out: NW Boat Landing
This is the smaller of two man-made lakes in Governor Dodge State Park. Cox Hollow is a pleasant paddle that has abundant wildlife (blue herons, eagles, clams, snails, turtles and much more from what I saw). This and it’s sibling lake, Twin Valley, prohibit motor traffic, which is always a very big plus when it […]
Read More...Upper Dells – 1
Date Paddled: August 19th, 2012
Put In: Two Rivers Landing
Take Out: River Bay
The most famous section of the Wisconsin River is in the Wisconsin Dells area. This is commonly divided into ‘Lower Dells’ (below the Kilbourn Dam) and ‘Upper Dells’ (above the Kilbourn Dam). And in the Upper Dells you can kind of divide that in half….this review will be about that upstream half. The put in […]
Read More...Wisconsin River – Castle Rock
Date Paddled: August 12th, 2012
Put In: Castle Rock Lake Dam
Take Out: Two Rivers Landing
This is a tweener section of the Wisconsin River between the string of dams up-north (which makes those sections largely un-kayakable) and the Dells. While lacking the quantity of rock formations downstream, this is a pleasant section with mostly wooded banks, some development, and a number of sandbars and sloughs. The start of this trip […]
Read More...Baraboo River – La Valle
Date Paddled: August 5th, 2012
Put In: La Valle Public Ramp
Take Out: Lake Redstone County Park
This is a nice little section of the Baraboo River between the city of La Valle and a take-out near Lake Redstone. Put in at the main boat ramp on the west end of town. You can’t park at the bar there…but have to drive a block north and park at the bike park where […]
Read More...Menominee River
Date Paddled: July 27th, 2012
Put In: Mill Street Landing (by Little Quinnesec Dam)
Take Out: Gravel Landing Near Piers Gorge Road
For the most part, despite it’s clean water and scenery, the Menominee River isn’t a super hotspot for canoes and kayaks. The issues are the many dams and the few rough rapids in between. One of the most popular sections is from Niagara, Wisconsin to Piers Gorge Park (roughly three miles). There is a trail […]
Read More...Fox River – Swan Lake
Date Paddled: July 15th, 2012
Put In: Indian Trails Campground
Take Out: Swan Lake Public Launch
Despite being only an hour drive from Madison, the upper Fox River tends not to be super popular with most kayakers. This is the same historic Fox that runs right west into Portage and then north towarda Green Bay. Mike Svob reviews two sections from the canal downstream (which I hope to run eventually), but […]
Read More...Yahara River
Date Paddled: July 7th, 2012
Put In: W Stebbinsville Rd
Take Out: Murwin Park
Originating from a chain of lakes in the Madison area, the Yahara is very popular with locals. It’s not a super long river and has a number of dams, so there aren’t that many navigable areas before it reaches the Rock River. The most popular section is from the site of the old Stebbinsville Dam […]
Read More...Badfish Creek
Date Paddled: June 23rd, 2012
Put In: Old Stage Road
Take Out: N. Casey Road
This ‘creek’ is probably one of the best kayaking prospects in southern Wisconsin. Quite large, the Badfish Creek should perhaps instead be referred to more accurately as Yahara West. This was kayaked during the height of the 2012 drought, and we had little problems with navigation. The key thing to know, of course, about this […]
Read More...Lemonweir River – Mouth
Date Paddled: June 17th, 2012
Put In: County HH Snowmobile Bridge
Take Out: Two Rivers Landing
Again, if you’ve read my previous review of the Lemonweir you know there are three segments below Mauston and to the Wisconsin River based on the landing options: a five mile section, a ~14 mile section, and then a remaining 5 mile section to the Wisconsin. This review will be of that last section. You […]
Read More...Horicon Marsh
Date Paddled: June 9th, 2012
Put In: Green Head Landing
Take Out: Horicon Marsh Boat Tours
This is a trip that takes a lot of planning to get right. Basically, the Horicon area is a drained swamp that has been artificially restored by a dam near the center of the city of Horicon. As you probably know, this is a VERY popular area for birds. While there are different canoe/kayak options, […]
Read More...Honey Creek – County C
Date Paddled: June 3rd, 2012
Put In: Country Road C Bridge
Take Out: Elm Road
After the Baraboo River, the next largest tributary in Sauk County flowing into the Wisconsin River is Honey Creek, which gets to a decent size before it empties into the Wisconsin near Ferry Bluff/Prairie du Sac. The bottom section (about 5 miles up from the Wisconsin River) gets an odd canoe review or two, but […]
Read More...Lemonweir River – Mauston
Date Paddled: May 25th, 2012
Put In: Mauston Dam
Take Out: 19th Ave Landing
This is probably not one of the more well known rivers, but it is very nice never-the-less. It empties into the Wisconsin River just north of the Dells rock formations. The upper sections are absolutely not as popular as the lower sections. Mike Svob does review one such section north of New Lisbon, but it […]
Read More...Upper Spring Brook
Date Paddled: May 13th, 2012
Put In: Spring Brook Landing
Take Out: Spring Brook Landing
If you plan on kayaking in the Dells/Lake Delton area, chances are you’ll do either Mirror Lake, the Upper Dells, the lower Dells, or even Lake Delton. Somewhat of a secret that most paddlers don’t know about is Spring Brook, which is a very cool creek north of Dell Creek and empties into Lake Delton […]
Read More...Baraboo River – Wonewoc
Date Paddled: September 11th, 2011
Put In: Union Center - Hwy 33 Bridge
Take Out: Wonewoc - County Rd FF
This is as about upstream as you can get on the Baraboo. I believe you can put in further upstream (it seems deep enough…barely) but the main shuttle company in the area doesn’t like to because the river cuts through a golf course and their insurance company won’t cover this. This section is cleared out […]
Read More...Wisconsin River – Prairie du Sac Dam
Date Paddled: August 13th, 2011
Put In: Prairie du Sac Dam (VFW Park)
Take Out: Ferry Bluff or Arena
From the Prairie du Sac Dam to the Mississippi River is probably Wisconsin’s most popular all-around canoe and kayak destination (well…if not top, tied with the Kickapoo and St. Croix for popularity). A number of reasons why this section is so popular: It is not impeded by any dams Great sandbars (at least after Ferry […]
Read More...Pine River – Far Upper
Date Paddled: July 23rd, 2011
Put In: Pier Natural Bridge County Park
Take Out: Hwy Aa Bridge (or better yet Dd Bridge)
The Pine River is an interesting prospect located between the Kickapoo River and Baraboo River, perhaps overlooked by so many river reviewers because Wisconsin already has three other rivers named ‘Pine River’ (one of which is a popular paddling location). The cool thing about the Pine River is the rock formations that run along the […]
Read More...Baraboo River: Giese Park to Gander World
Date Paddled: July 9th, 2011
Put In: Giese Park
Take Out: Gander World
A popular add-on trip to the city of Baraboo section. There are no rapids, but there it was still a pleasant section of the river with a few rock outcrops.
Read More...Kickapoo River
Date Paddled: August 28th, 2010
Put In: Ontario (one of the private landings or County P Bridge)
Take Out: Bridge #7
In terms of popularity the Kickapoo is one of the most popular canoe and kayak rivers in Wisconsin. Probably doesn’t have quite the rental volume of the lower Wisconsin River, but certainly has the highest paddler to river mile ratio in the state. What makes the Kickapoo attractive is the relatively clean water (at least […]
Read More...Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Date Paddled: August 14th, 2010
Put In: Meyer's Beach
Take Out: Meyer's Beach
There are a number of paddling opportunities on Lake Superior, but by far and away the best section is the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and surrounding area, which will be touched on in detail below. Kayaking on Lake Superior is obviously very different from river paddling, as the water can get very cold and the […]
Read More...Mirror Lake
Date Paddled: May 29th, 2010
Put In: Delton Boat landing
Take Out: Lake Delton Boat Ramp
This is a very good route and in fact would be a great introductory route for somebody who just purchased a kayak or is new to the sport. The only downsides are slow current and ‘people issues’ during the weekends, but all in all this is very nice. The water is pretty clean for the […]
Read More...Blackhawk Island
Date Paddled: May 29th, 2010
Put In: 28th Ave - Mile North of Upham Woods
Take Out: 28th Ave - Mile North of Upham Woods
A very nice trip in and of itself is the Blackhawk Island loop. It’s about 2.5 miles and the current isn’t too bad. The west side is protected from the big boats because it is relatively shallow (although private boats/jet skies can be a nuisance on the northwest side). The east side is the main […]
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