Canoeing & Kayaking South Central Wisconsin: 60 Paddling Adventures Within 60 Miles of Madison

By Timothy Bauer

South-central Wisconsin provides an impressive array of opportunities for all types of paddling, including some of the very best day trips in the entire state and even Upper Midwest. Paddling South Central Wisconsin, by experienced paddler and author Timothy Bauer, guides all types of paddlers, whether veteran or novice, through whitewater adrenaline or flatwater calm routes near Madison, Rockford, Janesville, Waukesha, and Milwaukee.

This paddling guide is the perfect companion for those seeking "the rowed less taken." It describes the best times to paddle 60 diverse routes, alerts readers to each paddle's difficulty level and estimated length, and suggests side trips, optional trip extensions, and alternate routes to paddle, depending on weather conditions. Easy-to-follow maps, complete with GPS coordinates and driving directions, add to this book's high value. In addition, the author provides contact information on local paddling clubs, outfitters, and Internet links.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
• Release date: Aug 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781634040211

Book preview

part one

NORTHEAST OF MADISON

1Beaver Dam River

2Crawfish River A

3Crawfish River B

4Duck Creek

5Fox River A

6Fox River B

7Horicon Marsh

8Maunesha River

9Mecan River

10 Montello River

11 Oconomowoc River

12 Puchyan River

13 Rock River

14 Rocky Run Creek and Wisconsin River

15 Token Creek

16 White River (Green Lake County)

17 Yahara River A

The stately century-old railroad bridge over the Beaver Dam River (see Trip 1, next page)

1 Beaver Dam River: BEAVER DAM TO COUNTY ROAD J

• THE • FACTS •

Put-in/take-out Cotton Mill Park/County Road J

Distance/time 5.5 mi/Allow for 2.5 hrs

Gradient/water level 10 fpm/See USGS gage 05425912. The ideal level is at or above 200 cfs. At 300 cfs or higher, the river will be pushy and should be considered only by paddlers with good boat control.

Water type Several Class I rapids, riffles, and quietwater

Canoe or kayak Kayak

Skill level Experienced

Time of year to paddle Anytime

Landscape Urban in first half, secluded woods with hills in second half

OVERVIEW This exhilarating trip begins in an urban downtown but ends in the country, with constant riffles and a dozen Class I rapids along the way. A wooded corridor between the put-in and take-out adds to the variety of this trip. You might spot pelicans at the lake above the dam, but expect to see ducks, geese, muskrats, fish, and great blue herons below US 151.

SHUTTLE 5.1 miles. From the take-out, head northeast on CR J. Turn left onto CR G and take it into town. Turn left onto Mill Street. Turn right onto Madison Street, then left into the parking lot at the dam.

TAKE-OUT N43° 23.640' W88° 52.132'

PUT-IN N43° 27.278' W88° 50.570'

• THE • FLAVOR •

PUT IN AT COTTON MILL PARK on the north bank of the river below the dam, opposite the large brick building that used to be a mill but now is rehabbed apartments. Cotton Mill Park is little more than a strip of land in the backyards of residential houses. It is open to the public, though, and parking is permitted in a lot contiguous with the apartment building. Launching here is via rocky riprap, where you will be sharing space with those who come here to fish.

Only 50 yards ahead is the Beaver Street bridge, beneath which is a small low-head dam. Normally, you should not entertain the notion of running low-head dams, but this one is an exception to the rule. There is enough clearance between the top lip of the dam and the water surface to run without scraping, and the drop itself is only 18 inches or so.

Wintertime paddling can be thrilling, but always dress appropriately (and have a spare change of clothes just in case).

If you run the dam, it’s best to do so with some speed and not just inch up to the edge. That said, there is a backroller at the bottom of the drop, so caution is critical. You can portage the dam at the far left where there is an eddy as well as some rocks along the concrete wall of the bridge; use this wall to dock, get out, and pull your boat below the drop. Scout this before you run it, and steer away from the I-beams in the water.

Below Beaver Street, the rapids begin as the river makes a clockwise 180-degree turn through downtown. After the Center Street bridge, both banks of the river are lined with attractive rock rubble, no doubt adding to the stream’s riffles. Approaching the water tower on the left be mindful and keep a wide berth of remnant posts sticking out of the water; the current here is fast, so you don’t want to run into these. (In higher water, these will be submerged.) On your left will be a high, flat wall creating a canal feeling—and again adding to the swiftness of the current. A fun drop lies just below the wall. This in turn is followed by an even better drop just below the Mill Street bridge.

A long, narrow straightaway announces the gigantic Kraft factory on your right. Light rapids and riffles will continue through a series of pleasant city parks around which the river meanders. At Cooper Street, you’ll come upon four culverts. They look intimidating because they lie on a diagonal, so you can’t see proverbial light at the other end of the tunnel. You can easily portage around these, but rest assured it’s totally safe. Choose the rightmost culvert, as there’s a fun small rapid just below the clearance. Consider this short-but-lively stretch part one of this