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…
Browsing Tag
2017
Schneeberger Road to Albany: A pleasant trip that begins in dense floodplain woods, courses though meadows within a wildlife area, and then skirts some rock outcrops before meeting up with the “big” Sugar River in a braided network of…
Mud Lake to Lake Kegonsa: Out first ever full-moon paddle on the next to nonexistent current of the Yahara River between lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa. The sizeable width of it makes for a great landscape to dabble in paddling…
We’ve encountered more wire strung across rivers in Southwestern Wisconsin than any other region in the state. Paddling up to and making your way under, or over, can be a little nerve-racking, and dangerous to say the least. Be…
Oak Park Road to County Road O: A short but lovely jaunt that begins wonderfully and rewards the paddler with several glorious bluffs, exposed rock outcrops, as well as some riffles, but ends in a tangled obstacle course of…
Fritz Road to County Road PB: A beautiful paddle through beautiful countryside, this trip guarantees a few hours of complete alone-time through some above average Southern Wisconsin locales. Be prepared though, because due to its lack of popularity, you’ll…
Pilgrim Road to Frontier Park: A despicable section of an otherwise wonderful river on account of its multiple logjams and difficult portaging. While there are some charms to this trip – clear water, a couple rapids, enclosed tree canopies…
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.…
Touring Downtown Chicago: This was a very unique experience for us (and would be for anyone) because paddling through the middle of a lively downtown in the third biggest city in the United States, surrounded by the sights and…
Castle Rock Dam to Lyndon Station: A peaceful trip that is light on individual details, but luxurious on general overall feel. There’s very little development along the banks, and several humongous islands that divide the mainstream into beguiling side channels.…
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…
Frontier Park to Jacobus Park: A unique urban paddling trip that is surprisingly natural and preserved, featuring a ton of riffles and Class I rapids. There are several caveats, however – notoriously low water levels, two of the most…
Touring Cherokee Marsh in Dane County: Quietwater enthusiasts love Cherokee Marsh for its abundant wildlife and acres of no-wake water. On various days in the marsh, you might spot sandhill cranes, geese, ducks, bullfrogs, eastern painted turtles and carp…
Highway 23 to Lake Winnebago: The rarely traveled Fond Du Lac River is an undiscovered gem that can and should be run at higher levels for a wildly frisky and fun paddling trip. It’s best for the intermediate paddler…
Monches to Okauchee Lake: A wild and wooly trip that offers a wonderful diversity of paddling platforms from boulder gardens, glacial moraines, wooded forest, floodplains, rapids and lakes, this is an awesome but little known segment of the Oconomowoc…
Weyauwega to Decker Memorial Park: On the last leg of its journey before its eventual meeting with the Wolf River, the Waupaca River’s last few miles will appeal to those who appreciate quietwater paddling and the tempered excitement of…
Little Hope to Shadow Lake: A very short trip down the last (realistically) paddleable section of the wonderful Crystal River is sparse on unique features, scenery or excitement, but it’s still a pleasant afternoon trip, or a dessert to…
Paddling isn’t always pretty as evidenced by our latest (and, again, mildly amusing) outtakes reel. Here’s what hit the cutting-room floor from our last three seasons of paddling rivers and creeks throughout our beloved Wisconsin and its neighbors. (Adjust to…
Recently, we were invited to review a new book by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, just published in 2017, The Chippewa: Biography of a Wisconsin Waterway, by Richard D. Cornell. As lovers of Wisconsin rivers in general and authors of our…
Veterans Memorial Park to Windsor Road: Adventurous paddlers will enjoy paddling the headwaters of the Yahara River, because at the right levels, it’s swift, riffly and just a whole lot of fun. Expect some deadfall but also expect to…
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…
Highway 59 to Highway 104: A very pleasant paddle through a mix of marsh, meadows, woods and savanna, with very little development along the way and outstanding wildlife. Accesses aren’t great, but they’re doable. Allen Creek is a fairly…
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…
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…
On June 11th, we participated in the 7th Annual Fools’ Flotilla, an event created to bring awareness to the (great) work that the River Alliance of Wisconsin does. Timothy volunteered to help keep boats in line while Barry, Emilie and…
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…
Bowers Road to State Road 120: Unquestionably, the single worst, most disastrous “trip” in Timothy’s tenure of exploring the obscure by kayak, this paddling debacle incurred thirteen portages around fallen trees and low-clearance bridges in under two miles, getting…
Denny Road to Squaw Prairie Road: An almost great trip with pretty scenery, fabulous wildlife, engaging riffles and light rapids, alas, it comes with some serious caveats: it’s usually too shallow to paddle, it’s dangerous and it may be illegal.…
Forestville to Algoma: The Ahnapee River is a flatwater paddle in a wide, sometimes marsh-like estuary – perfect for silent sport enthusiasts. Dammed at Forestville it gently winds its way to its ultimate destination with Lake Michigan. With a convenient…