Browsing Tag

2016

Grant River
★ ★ ★ ★

Grant River I

Short Cut Road to County Road U: When it comes to Wisconsin driftless paddles, the Grant is as captivating as they come with its twists, turns, riffles and rock formations. However, there’s currently one big caveat and by big, we…

Turtle Creek
★ ★ ★

Turtle Creek II

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…

Sheboygan River
★ ★ ★ ★

Sheboygan River VI

St. Cloud to Sheboygan Broughton Marsh County Park: A surprisingly varied and pleasant trip for what otherwise might seem like a monotonous marsh, this section of the Sheboygan River rewards paddlers with a historic bridge, woodsy corridors, a labyrinth…

Sheboygan River
★ ★ ★

Sheboygan River V

Sheboygan Broughton Marsh County Park to Kiel: An odd duck of a trip if there ever was one, this section of the Sheboygn River begins below one dam and ends above another, with a big ‘ole flatwater, cattail-lined marsh…

Sheboygan River
★ ★ ★ ★

Sheboygan River IV

Millhome to Johnsonville: Arguably the wildest and wooliest section of the Sheboygan River, this trip will be most suitable for roguish paddlers who are comfortable with the occasional discomfort of obstacles to dodge in a current that shouldn’t be…

Sheboygan River
★ ★ ★ ★

Sheboygan River III

Johnsonville to Dassow Park: One of the prettiest and most intimate segments on the Sheboygan River, this short trip will reward the paddler with clear water, a riffly current, steep wooded and attractively eroded banks, and more solitude than the…

Sheboygan River
★ ★ ★ ★

Sheboygan River II

Dassow Park to Sheboygan Falls: Everything you could ask for in a river but nothing to go out of your way for unless you live nearby or are passing though, this trip on the Sheboygan is generously endowed with…

Sheboygan River
★ ★ ★ ★

Sheboygan River I

Sheboygan Falls to Lake Michigan: Hardly a destination river trip to make a bucket list, but a splendid final segment of a great, underrated river in southeastern Wisconsin. This trip on the Sheboygan is never far away from development…

Milwaukee River
★ ★ ★ ★

Milwaukee River VII

West Bend to Newburg: One of the funnest sections on the mighty Milwaukee River, this trip begins and ends with Class I rapids surrounded by parcels of development as well as wild corridors in between. Notoriously shallow, you’ll want…

Cedar Creek
★ ★ ★

Cedar Creek

County Road M to Cedarburg: A pleasant and peppy stream that loops around the posh suburban backyards of Cedarburg, Cedar Creek still offers some breaks from the large residences where paddlers will be treated with riffles, small boulders, crystal clear water,…

Mirror Lake
Video

Mirror Lake Video

Mirror Lake, a popular paddling destination located near the Wisconsin Dells, offers a diverse canoe and kayak experience not often found in a lake setting. It’s wonderfully scenic and especially pretty in fall. Have a look. (Adjust to 1080p…

Onion River
Video

Onion River Video: County Road V to Sheboygan Falls

Almost definitely a spring trip, or after heavy rains, the Onion River is a fun little paddle with a swift current, mild waves and splashy riffles. Have a look. (Adjust to 1080p for the best picture). Onion River I County…

Bois Brule River
Video

Bois Brule River Video: Highway 13 to Lake Superior

Combining light-whitewater, riffles and flatwater that culminates in a meeting with the majestic Lake Superior, the last miles of the Bois Brule River are as varied of a paddle as one could ask for. Have a look. (Adjust to 1080p…

Billings Creek
Video

Billings Creek Video

Have a look at Billings, a scenic and intimate driftless creek and tributary of the Kickapoo River. This was one of our favorite paddles of 2016. (Adjust to 1080p for the best picture). Billings Creek County Road F to Landing…

Covel Creek
Video

Covel Creek Video

Covel is an absolutely beautiful Illinois creek full of stunning scenery and continuous rapids – neither of which are evident from the put-in or take-out. This hidden gem is a thirsty creek, but paddlers who like small streams will…

Big Bureau Creek
Video

Big Bureau Creek Video

Big Bureau is the kind of creek you have to hit at just the right levels, and one that we’ve wanted to paddle from the moment we laid eyes on it in videos from Tom Lindblade and Morrall River…

Grant River
Video

Grant River Video: County Road U to Chaffie Hollow Road

Years between visits, this return paddle was an absolutely delightful run on a beautiful section of the Grant River located in the Wisconsin driftless region which is flanked by modest hillsides, some beautiful rock formations and one glorious seep as the…

Grant River
Video

Grant River Video: Short Cut Road to County Road U

When it comes to driftless paddles, the Grant River is as captivating as they come with endlessly engaging twists, turns, rock formations and riffles. (Adjust to 1080p for the best picture). Grant River I Short Cut Road to County Road…

16 Best Paddles of 2016
Feature

16 Best Paddles of 2016

2016 saw many changes for Milespaddled.com, starting with the appearance of the site itself. Behind the scenes, we had been busy working up a new site, while at the same time reporting on 42 trips that covered over 400 miles of…

Lake Mendota Governor's Island
★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Mendota: Governor’s Island

Touring Governor’s Island on Lake Mendota in Dane County: A quick lark of a lake paddle to make the most of a winter’s day and take in the phenomena of the season before the water freezes and the air temperature…

La Crosse River
★ ★ ★ ★

La Crosse River III

Veterans Memorial County Park to La Crosse: A unique mix of urban and undeveloped – but always bluff-framed and beautiful – this last section of the La Crosse River goes out with a commanding performance before quietly slipping into…

Canoeing & Kayaking South Central Wisconsin
Gear Review

Canoeing & Kayaking South Central Wisconsin

Following in the footsteps of notable paddling guides and authors, Timothy Bauer, co-author of milespaddled.com, has added to the paddling landscape by highlighting less-traveled opportunities in the Southern Wisconsin area. Much like Michael Duncanson, or the derivative paddling bible,…

Black River
★ ★ ★ ★

Black River III

Melrose to North Bend: One of the best sections anywhere on the lower Black River, this trip features miles of lush sandy beaches (perfect for picnics or overnight campouts), a sense of sheer wilderness and being away from it…

Mullet River
★ ★ ★

Mullet River

Plymouth to County Road M: A truly engaging little stream surrounded by a lot of natural beauty, but the two main problems a paddler will face on the Mullet are low-water conditions and a considerable amount of deadfall – often in…

Onion River
★ ★ ★

Onion River II

County Road A to County Road V: A paddling reconnaissance to determine if the “official” Onion River trip (from County Road V to Rochester Park at the Sheboygan River confluence) could/should be extended by putting in further upstream. This short segment…

Milwaukee River
★ ★ ★

Milwaukee River VI

Fredonia to Grafton: A perfectly pleasant albeit monotonous day trip on a wide river with a mix of natural corridors and development, this stretch of the Milwaukee River offers occasional riffles, one random and fun Class I+ rapid, good…