I was recently asked by some Danish friends to be interviewed for their link-type site about bags, specifically an article on packing for kayaking. So I pulled together some things I’ve learned throughout the years, and also a presentation…
2017
The annual Fools’ Flotilla – an event to raise awareness of the work of the Wisconsin River Alliance – is this Sunday, June 10th. Last year, the first family of Miles Paddled took part and we had a blast! Take…
One of our favorites in Central Wisconsin, this section of the Plover River is an exceptional day trip for paddlers. And with convenient access points, countless riffles, mild rapids and amazing boulder gardens, it combines all our favorite elements of…
The Waupaca River from downtown to Highway 22 is a surprisingly fun section, though it’s rarely paddled. The last few miles after 22, however, are often slow, uneventful and a little noisy from the highway that gets closer and…
Starting just north of Madison in DeForest, this trip on the headwaters of the Yahara River is an unexpected delight. More creek-like than anything, this intimate adventure has a whole lot of riffles and small boulder gardens to add…
This trip down the Menomonee River was the tale of two types of paddles. In the beginning we were met with a couple dense and trying portages – one being the ugliest we’ve ever encountered. But after surviving those,…
One of the biggest surprise discoveries of 2017 was the West Branch of the Fond Du Lac River. At the right levels, this paddle is extremely fun, full of lengthy riflly runs in an engaging and ever-changing environment. It…
Have a look at the last miles of the Waupaca River before its eventual meeting with the Wolf River. To be expected, the current is slower and the environment widens but it’s generally quiet, serene, and quite lovely all…
Sure there’s a newer version of GoPro’s Hero camera – the HERO6, but the HERO5 was brand-spankin’ new to us before the newer version was released last fall (GoPro does follow an annual Apple-product-release-like schedule, therefore reviews like this are less…
Clocking in at just over four miles, this popular and easy paddle down the last legs of the beautiful Crystal River is perfect for beginners or those looking for a leisurely afternoon. And if you were ever curious as…
Black River Falls is one of our favorite areas to paddle in Wisconsin because of creeks like Robinson. With narrow corridors, beautiful outcrops, lengthy riffly stretches and woodsy surroundings, it’s a very engaging, intimate and fun paddle. Have a…
Halls Creek is one of our favorite paddles in all of Wisconsin. When we paddled it in May last year, the levels were lower than ideal but it’s still exceptional – even though scrapy – at these levels. Have…
We have generally steered clear from politics or sounding political, if only because a paddling website feels like neither the time nor place for that. (Besides, there is no shortage of political blogs out there – left, right, or…
Quitewater paddlers will enjoy this estuary paddle that starts in Forestville, Wisconsin, and ends in Lake Michigan. With a convenient waves-to-trails bike shuttle along the Ahnapee State Trail, and the excellent Ahnapee Brewery at the take-out in Algoma, this…
Miles Paddled was one of thousands of niche content creators to receive an email from Youtube this week, which basically said, “sorry, you’re small potatoes and you probably create questionable videos for our advertisers, therefore we’re giving you 30 days to…
On this return trip to the Piscasaw, (only a few days after our first-ever visit) we were treated to a more interesting run than upstream due to three runnable farm dams, and a very swift and riffly current. With…
The Piscasaw, located near Chemung in Illinois, is a great little prairie creek best caught in Spring when the water is up. This section has very mild riffles so beginners shouldn’t find it too challenging but do expect to…
2017 was easily the most eventful year for Milespaddled.com yet. Never could we have imagined just how many opportunities would come our way when the year began. For two guys who generally fear self-promotion, (well, one guy, Timothy’s OK…
2018 is almost upon us, can you believe it? Before we say goodbye to this year and head into what will be the tenth year of Milespaddled.com, here’s our annual year-end look back at some of the places we…
Pecatonica River Nature Preserve to Trask Bridge Forest Preserve: A simple paddle that’s as pleasant as it is dull, where merely being on the water is more important than the surrounding landscape or fun rapids. This short jog on…
With the gift-giving season upon us, we’re always looking for paddling-related gifts for our fellow canoe and kayak friends who already have all the usual paddling gear. While doing some Black Friday shopping, we fell into a rabbit-hole of…
Spring Green to Lone Rock: An easy, straightforward, entirely delightful stretch of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway featuring innumerable sandbars, wooded islands, rolling hills and even an exposed sandstone rock wall. Great accesses at the put-in and take-out make for…
Buchholz Road to County Highway Q: A long section with a generous mix of good and bad – the pluses being swift current, clear water, giant boulder gardens, attractive tall banks and great accesses; the minuses being notoriously shallow…
We want to extend a huge and heartfelt thanks to those who came out to Rutabaga Thursday night. The attendance was far greater than we could’ve imagined. Your support and enthusiasm left us feeling like rock stars (once again)…
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…
Riverview Park to Reek Road: We’ve paddled the Waupaca many times but never have we explored the section from downtown to Reek Road, which is the furthest access point one can paddle to before reaching the stagnant waters of…
Highway 164 to Merton: A brief trip made even shorter on account of inauspicious conditions – a river that, this far upstream is more like a brook you’d proverbially jump than a stream you’d paddle, and a streambed that…
Old County Road PB to Highway 69: With a lot of deadfall, climbovers, duck-unders, tree dodging, cow dodging, shallow spots, several very low cattle gates and a 100-yard tunnel, this trip isn’t for everyone. That said, for the courageous paddler,…
Hey all, we’ll be spending the evening of November 9th, at Rutabaga Paddlesports in lovely Monona, Wisconsin, to talk about the book, the website and paddling in general. The fun starts at 6 and here are the rest of the details:…
Highway 58 to Dog Hollow Road: A scenic trip that’s as thrilling as it is serene set in the gorgeous Driftless country of Richland County. The best that Willow Creek has to offer the paddler is here, beginning with…