Hanover to West Whitton Road: A supremely pleasant trip that comes with some caveats, this lower slice of the Apple River is not nearly as scenic or swift as its upper “core,” but it’s more reliable and less illegal.…
Browsing Category
★ ★ ★
Highway 22 to Shaws Landing: A return visit with a twist, this trip on the Little Wolf treats paddlers to boulder gardens galore and tasty Class I rapids before ending in bayou-like bottomlands at its confluence with the Wolf…
Symco to Highway 22: An “interlude” between two more popular trips, this segment of the Little Wolf doesn’t raise the Class II hackles of Big Falls or the yahoo heckles in rental tubes in between Royalton and New London.…
Lime Springs to Highway 30: A long and mostly slow-going trip with intermittent riffles and simple Class I rapids, this upper stretch of the Upper Iowa River doesn’t glitter with outrageous rock outcrops or bubbling natural springs as its…
Touring Loew Lake within the Kettle Moraine State Forest: This is an easy there-and-back trip on the impounded waters of the Oconomowoc River and the little bulge called Loew Lake, surrounded by the Kettle Moraine State Forest featuring pretty…
Elgin to Elkader: A pleasant but by no means spectacular section of the Turkey River in between the towns of Elgin and Elkader, paddlers can expect good wildlife, gravel bars galore, and a mix of meadows with cornfields in…
Rainbow Flowage Dam to Bridge Road: A mix of northwoods, lowlands, and home lawns, this long-feeling, slightly monotonous day trip on the Upper Wisconsin River does have a few moments of fun, pop, and pretty, but not enough to…
Kruger to the Mississippi River: The final leg of the mighty Zumbro, this trip will appeal only to purists and aspiring river-adopters. But truth be told it’s got plenty of grit and heart to it, redounding the paddler with…
County Highway E to Apple River County Park: I took on two slices of the Apple River in northwestern Wisconsin on successive days during a sultry July weekend in 2024. This is a review of the first slice –…
Bobcat Lane to Paoli: A return trip to reflect the many updates, improvements, and changes that have occurred in the last decade, this segment of the upper Sugar River is vastly better than what it used to be –…
U Avenue to Eldorado: A trifecta paddle that comprises three separate but interrelated rivers in one long day trip, this mini odyssey begins with unabashed grandeur, but soon fizzles and never matches its initial enchantment. Alternate accesses allow paddlers…
Galena to Mississippi River: A fairly primitive yet tidy trip, this last leg of the Galena River starts in its historic namesake city and then ends in a side channel of the Mississippi River. While the current is next…
Skokie River Dam to Bunker Hill Bridge: The location of the legendary Chicago River along the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan was key to establishing native American, fur trader and later European settlements in its namesake city that would…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Russell Road to Wadsworth Road: This section of the Des Plaines River is a sliver of an oasis located between a densely populated area of northeastern Illinois that flows through the open wetlands of a series of preserves. This trip…
Touring Lower Six Mile Creek: A delightful little jaunt in the Madison area, the lower half of Sixmile Creek offers a pleasant respite without the commitment of a long drive or shuttling (it’s a there-and-back outing), plus a wide…
Graf Park to Durango: A trip rich in potential but poor as dirt in reward, this upstream clip of the Little Maquoketa River can only be done at higher water levels (unless you enjoy getting in and out of…
Oxford to County Road A: With steady, reliable flows, water that’s cold and clear as gin on the rocks, a sinewy stretch through a marshy area, some tight turns and occasional obstacles of the wooden variety to keep you awake,…
28th Court to Poy Sippi: An appetite for trying as many Pine Rivers in Wisconsin as I can, and a mild late fall day, led me to this rarely explored river segment. Though offering few standout memories, it has…
Indian Creek Road to The Mississippi River: A relaxing “lake paddle” on the Platte River to the Mississippi is a great way to spend an evening enjoying nature’s creatures, the sounds of the wonderful outdoors, or enjoying a cold beverage while…
Highway 33 to County Road O: For all intents and purposes, this trip is the first chapter in the epic story of the historic Fox River in Wisconsin. Beginning at the famous portage that gave a city (and county)…
Touring Dorn Creek: A perfectly pleasant wetlands paddle that is predominantly surrounded by public land, Dorn Creek makes for an easy, tidy trip – without need for shuttling, even – that’s great for early morning before chores, a cocktail…
Al Tech Park to West River Drive: A fun and scenic trip featuring terrific accesses and excellent wildlife, together with a tranquil drift that’s fit for beginners, this overlooked section of the Wisconsin River has a lot to look…
O’Riley Road to Sweet-Allyn Park: Upstream from the most fun and interesting stretch of Turtle Creek lies a wooly (but not wild) trip on a rather wide and slow stretch. This quiet excursion (aside from some highway noise) is…
Highway 106 to County Road D: A birder’s paradise and paddler’s quagmire, this section of the Scuppernong is part of the Glacial Heritage Area and might be of interest to silent sport enthusiasts. Well, except when a jon boat…
Lake DuBay Dam to County Road HH: An often overlooked section of the mighty Wisconsin River, this trip doesn’t offer the rapids further north or the rock outcrops and wooded bluffs down south, but it does reward the paddler with…