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Root River North Branch
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Root River: North Branch

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…

Crystal River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Crystal River I

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…

Lake Superior Sand Island
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Superior: Sand Island

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…

Black River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Black River VI

Highway 73 to Willard Road: Two-for-one fun combining primitive-feeling creek paddling with the bigger but still rugged Black River, this outstanding trip is blessed with easy accesses and multiple options to shorten or elongate your time on the water…

Wolf River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wolf River III

Langlade to Markton: An exhilarating trip where the former “teen” Wolf becomes a millennial and starts its sprint. More rambunctious than the segment upstream, but not as volatile as the next segment downriver, this trip is pretty much pitch-perfect…

Wolf River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wolf River II

Hollister to Langlade: A spectacular stretch of a spectacular river, it’s here where the former Wolf pup enters its teen years, transitioning in earnest from its quiet flatwater and wild rice beds upstream to its tumultuous spill down riotous…

Pine River (Florence County)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pine River II (Florence County)

Chipmunk Rapids Campground to Goodman Grade Road: The next sequence on the spectacular Pine, here the winding river takes on its Wild and Scenic attributes in true colors, featuring two difficult pitches of whitewater ranging in Class II-III rapids…

Popple River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Popple River

Newald Tower Road/Forest Road 2159 to Highway 101: One of the first three rivers to be classified as Wild & Scenic in Wisconsin, the Popple River throbs through the heart of national forest and offers paddlers a splendid mix…

Yahara River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Yahara River VI

Stebbensville Road to Murwin County Park: A wonderfully scenic quietwater paddle that’s perfect for beginners and families, this section of the Yahara River is one of our all-time favorites and one that provides a different experience every time we…

Brule River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brule River I

Highway 139 to National Forest Road 2150: Arguably the best a northwoods paddle can offer in terms of beginner paddler-friendly and with reliable water levels, while still offering a bounty of rambunctious beauty, outstanding wildlife, sheer lack of development, and…

Black River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Black River V

Willard Road to Grand Avenue: A long outing that could be easily divided into two separate day trips on account of excellent accesses, this stretch of the beloved Black River offers the paddler a medley of outstanding features such…

Little Wolf River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Little Wolf River III

Big Falls to Highway 110: A lively and lovely trip beginning at the base of a rough-and-tumble Class III-IV falls and featuring an exhilarating Class II rapids shortly afterward, with a bounty of big boulder gardens and innumerable riffles…

Badfish Creek
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Badfish Creek I

Old Stage Road to Casey Road: It’s no secret that we love Badfish Creek, or that this is our absolute favorite paddling stretch near Madison – we’ve directed paddlers to Old Stage Road numerous times over the last decade.…

Black River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Black River IV

River Avenue to Riviera Avenue: A gorgeous and largely undeveloped stretch of the beloved Black River, this trip features some of the best “lightwater” rapids anywhere on the Black with two separate stretches of mile-long and half-mile long Class…

Bark River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bark River VI

Sugar Island Road to Atkins-Olson Memorial Park: Quite possibly the prettiest part of the Bark River, with crystal clear water, lush sand and/or gravel bottoms, a mix of marsh and woods with pines, tamaracks, oaks, this scenic trip packs…

Flambeau River North Fork
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Flambeau River: North Fork III

Highway W Landing to Flambeau Lodge Landing: After long hearing rumors of how great paddling on the Flambeau River was, it’s been a trip high on my must-visit list. And those rumors were indeed true – it didn’t disappoint.…

Whitewater Creek Iowa
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Whitewater Creek

Whitewater Drive to Highway D61: A short stretch of water that is simply stunning in its rugged, essentially undeveloped beauty – defined by bluffs with an outpouring of exposed rock outcrops and stupendous boulders – all while cruising along…

Blue River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Blue River

Bluff Road to Shemak Road: A swift, intimate trout stream meandering through soaring hills and sweeping vistas (not to mention some of the biggest boulders in the Driftless Area, the Blue River is a beguiling gem in southwestern Wisconsin.…

Lusk Creek
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lusk Creek

Saltpeter Cave Crossing to Eddyville Blacktop Road: A true destination trip in every sense, Lusk Creek is an obscure stream set in a glorious wilderness environment featuring steep-walled canyons, cliffs, caves, boulders as big as school buses, waterfalls, jade…

Plover River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Plover River II

Esker Road to Bevent Drive: A chance encounter with some fellow paddlers led to a wonderful discovery. This often-paddled, but well-kept Central Wisconsin secret, is an exceptional day trip for paddlers with some experience under their belt. With convenient…

Ontonagon River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ontonagon River: Middle Branch

Watersmeet to Forest Road 5250: An amazing day-trip down a beautiful river located within the Ottawa National Forest, the Ontonagon has it all: peaceful flat water sections, whitewater up to class II and a waterfall to boot. Fun, rejuvenating and…

Little Platte River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Little Platte River I

Old Lancaster Road to County Road O: A return trip to one of our favorite paddles anywhere in southern Wisconsin, this time to make good on unusually high water levels after some significant rain only a few days prior.…

Flambeau River North Fork
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Flambeau River: North Fork II

9 Mile Creek Landing to Dix Dox Landing: The north fork of the Flambeau River is famed for its beauty, abundant wildlife and trips that offer varying degrees of difficulty from flatwater to Class II whitewater. The Nine Mile…

Moon Lake
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Moon Lake

Touring Moon Lake in Marquette County: A beautiful little lake surrounded by a lot of solitude, a quiet float atop its tranquil waters will be sure to restore your spirits. By Sheila from Waukesha A Miles Paddled contributor Rating:…

Upper Iowa River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Upper Iowa River II

Kendallville to Bluffton: Tall chalky limestone bluffs towering above clear swift water in an almost entirely undeveloped environment, this section of the stunningly picturesque Upper Iowa River showcases the best of its best rock formations that should be on any paddler’s…

Robinson Creek
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Robinson Creek I

Old County Road I to Kelly Road: Quite possibly the prettiest, most intimate stream we’ve been lucky enough to paddle, Robinson Creek is a dazzling palette of colors – copper, cream, and green – hidden in the hollows and…

Halls Creek
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Halls Creek

Trow Lake Dam to Halls Creek Landing: Halls Creek is one of many excellent paddling destinations in the Black River Falls area. With countless riffles, a few Class I ledges and numerous stunning rock formations that decorate the twists and turns through an…

Prairie River
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Prairie River II

County Road C to Stange’s Park: The Prairie begins as a swift, narrow trout stream that flows through rolling hills as its gradient decreases through lowland prairie. There is plenty of quiet water to catch one’s breath in between…