Cameron Crossing Bridge to Au Train Heritage Landing A truly splendiferous (and serendipitous) paddle through the outskirts of the Hiawatha National Forest between Marquette and Munising in the north-central nub of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this trip features extraordinary clear…
Highway 55 to Highway 139: A truly enchanting landscape surrounding a creek-like river, this trip down the borderline Brule is simply terrific and, in our opinion, worth whatever logistical hassles it may incur. Paddlers will be rewarded with clear,…
Parsley Bridge to Lanesboro Access: A simply stunning escape deep in the heart of the Minnesota Driftless Area that is abound in towering bluffs lush with exquisite limestone outcrops, rolling hills and miles of undeveloped public land. These two…
Graue Mill to Plank Road Meadow: A very convenient paddle on a small creek in west suburban Chicago that flows through an oak forest nature preserve into the much larger Des Plaines River near the historic “Chicago Portage.” For…
Here’s some video of a Crawfish River section which was a far more interesting paddle than I ever expected. The first half is narrow and intimate with easily-navigable deadfall followed by a section strewn with boulders, boulder gardens, and…
Here’s some video of one of my favorite paddles on the Crystal River near Waupaca, Wisconsin, a lightwater paddle that’s pure fun over crystal clear water with an amazing amount of diversity from beginning to end for beginner and/or…
Video of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River, a generally easy-going and beginner-friendly trip at first, before flowing through two forest preserves full of large amounts of deadfall which require the right skill level and patience to navigate…
Here’s some video of the lower Kickapoo River – a less popular section than upstream – but full of uninterrupted beauty along rolling hills, wooded ridges and with very little development in the peripherals. (Adjust to 1080p for the…
Here’s some Big Rib River video of an unassuming but really engaging and somewhat-secluded section captured last year. With modest outcrops and plenty of gentle riffles, it’s a fun day trip that’s perfect for novice paddlers, provided the water’s…
Video of the short but popular upstream section of Central Wisconsin’s Tomorrow-Waupaca River that begins as a charming and woodsy small-stream paddle, but then transitions to wide marsh-like environs towards the takeout. (Adjust to 4k for the best picture.)…
Kishwaukee River video of a simply solid Northern Illinois day trip. While not particularly scenic, there’s enough unique features to keep it interesting. When the water levels are right, it’s worth a visit. Have a look. (Adjust to 4k for the…
Part two of two on the South Fork of the Eau Claire River- a scenic, wily and beguiling stream that courses through undeveloped thickets of gorgeous county forest in a near-wilderness setting with conditions that range from quietwater to Class…
Part one of two on the South Fork of the Eau Claire River- a diamond in the rough if ever there was one – that courses through undeveloped thickets of county forest that rewards patient and intrepid paddlers with…
With another year in the (dry) bag, we’re officially calling it on 2022 in a very short year-end review. For us, it was a relatively quiet – but very good year of paddling new miles. We posted 16 trip…
185th Street to Highway Y31: For the sake of brevity and bang-for-your-buck alone, this clip on the Maquoketa River’s North Fork is second to none. Astounding natural beauty and an atypical sense of wildness (for Iowa) make this trip…
Steuben to Plum Creek Road Another wonderful daytrip down the lower Kickapoo, away from the hoo-ha and hoi polloi of the more popular segments upstream, this trip makes for a full outing of uninterrupted beauty along rolling hills, wooded…
Columbus to Astico Park: A far more interesting paddle than I ever expected due to a surprising amount of variety – provided, you enjoy some wide-river paddling. The first half is narrow and intimate with easily-navigable deadfall followed by…
Elkader to Garber: With wooded ridges and robust bluffs lined down the river one after another, together with limestone rock outcrops, enormous boulders, frisky riffles, a dedicated Class I-II rapid at the put-in, a gorgeous historic mill building midway,…
Lanesboro Access to Peterson Access: A gorgeous journey through the heart of the Minnesota Driftless Area featuring towering bluffs with exquisite limestone outcrops, rolling hills, reputable current (including a few solid Class I rapids) and bountiful wildlife, this scenic…
Rural to Shadow Lake Road: The Crystal River is just that, crystal clear and as charming as the town of Rural that it flows through. It’s never very deep and you’re never far from civilization, so it’s about as…
Kingston to Irene Road: A tale of two personalities on a long-ish section of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River, a generally easy-going and beginner-friendly trip at first, before flowing through two forest preserves full of large amounts…
County Road W to Highway 47: A quintessential northwoods narrative known not for its rapids or granite boulders, but rather its soft features and easy float, this classic paddle on the Manitowish River is a natural delight for slow-flow…
County Road A to Rib Falls: There’s something unassuming and subtle, but really engaging about this somewhat-secluded section of the Big Rib River. With many modest outcrops and plenty of gentle riffles, it makes for a scenic and fun…
Nelsonville to Amherst: This short but popular section of the Tomorrow-Waupaca River located in Central Wisconsin is an easy-going paddle that begins as a charming and woodsy small-stream paddle at the put-in, and then transitions to wide marsh-like environs…
Touring The Apostle Island’s Sand Island: Truly a stunning and scenically spectacular paddle unlike anything I’ve had the good fortune to experience, the trip out to and back from Sand Island (originally named Waabaabikaa-minis in Ojibwe) – part of…
Dunnville to Durand: Combining the tail end of the Red Cedar River with a lower segment of the Chippewa River, this trip makes for a quintessential loaf float for a lazy summer day. While it’s not as scenic as…
By Jared Wold A Miles Paddler Contributor In case you haven’t heard about it by now, I’ve been working on a map of Wisconsin that consolidates a fair amount of information we have about the rivers, creek, lakes, and…
Dickinson Road to County Highway G: A diamond in the rough if ever there was one, a wily and beguiling stream coursing through undeveloped thickets of gorgeous county forest, the South Fork of the Eau Claire will reward patient and…
County Line Road to Red Horse Bend: A simply solid Northern Illinois day float, this section of the Kishwaukee River is a delightfully appealing paddle with easy accesses to boot. While not particularly scenic, there’s enough unique features to keep…
90th Street to Zumbro River County Park: An accessible, beginner-friendly, and beautiful paddling experience in the driftless region of Rochester, Minnesota. This section of the South Fork of the Zumbro River is only a short drive from downtown, but…