Turtle Creek

This is a South Central Wisconsin favorite.  While shallow, this creek is surprisingly clear, healthy and fast.

Trip Reports

School Section Road, Darien WI to Creek Road, DNR lot


Date Paddled: May 26th, 2021
Distance: 7.2 miles
Time: 11:45am to 3:30pm leisurely paddle with long lunch break

A guest review for Turtle Creek by School Section Road.

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School Section Road to East Creek Road


Date Paddled: September 10th, 2017
Distance: 6.9 miles
Time: 6 hours 3 minutes (3.5 hours would be more typical)

Clear water, springs, a multitude of fish and a lack of mud, make this one of the nicer paddles of the year.

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East Creek Road to Hwy 140


Date Paddled: August 8th, 2020
Distance: 6.8 miles
Time: Expect 3 hours

Good current, clear water, and surprise limestone bluffs highlight another nice trip on the Turtle.

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Hwy 140 to Sweet


Date Paddled: August 1st, 2021
Distance: 5.2 miles
Time: Expect 2-3 hours

This was a great trip with the highlights being fast current, clear water, and a historic five arch bridge.

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Town of Turtle Canoe Launch to Hwy 81


Date Paddled: July 15th, 2018
Distance: 4.9 miles
Time: 3 hours 11 minutes (2.5 hours is more typical)

With no obstructions and good current, this trip is perfect for lazy paddlers.  While mostly through the outskirts of Beloit, this is a relatively clean creek with densely wooded banks, and lush jungle-like vegetation.

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Overview Map

Detailed Overview

Nearby Guages

Videos

Comments

Jul 11th, 2024 - Aaron from Dell Creek
I appreciate the update. Note the photo album link didn't work? Maybe the permissions weren't set to public.
Jul 11th, 2024 - Jon from Starkweather
We paddled from O'Riley Rd. to Sweet-Allyn Park on 10July2024 at about 255 CFS on the Carver's Rock gauge. About 4 hours to paddle 9.75 miles, including a stop for lunch at the Hwy. 140 bridge. We liked this water level because you didn't have to worry about scraping or avoiding gravel bars. As always, one needs to pay attention to avoid strainers along the shore, especially at higher flows. Strainers had debris a few feet up in their branches - evidence that flows had spiked at 400+ and 900+ CFS within the last 3 weeks: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/05431486/#parameterCode=00060&period=P21D&showMedian=false Notable wildlife: Lots of herons (both green and blue), cedar waxwings, and a whitetail fawn in the creek. And the Tiffany stone arch bridge is always scenic: https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPKLcaQ74M9LejADsyK4COWT_SN0D_QU7e9xjr1
May 30th, 2023 - Aaron from Dell Creek
Diane...it's on the northwest corner: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Turtle+Lake+Public+Boat+Launch/@42.72681,-88.6889285,16z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x52ad6f82eebacf8d:0xe2caed56166515b8!2sTurtle+Lake,+WI!3b1!8m2!3d45.3944027!4d-92.1424066!16zL20vMDFtamdm!3m5!1s0x8805e58076d953cd:0xe0bbbf9208c30a27!8m2!3d42.7284906!4d-88.6892148!16s%2Fg%2F11h3df8nzz?entry=ttu
May 29th, 2023 - Diane morris from Darien
Is there a public fishing spot on Turtle Lake.. we drove all around.. could not find one.. went by turtle tap.. also the Mobil home park.. if so could you give us address and/or directions from Delaven.. thank you
Aug 3rd, 2021 - Aaron from Dell Creek
My worry is that some type of pesticide wiped them out. They are bottom feeders and strainers so are very sensitive to chemical pollutants.
Aug 3rd, 2021 - Sue J Kurth from Beloit
Re the clams: There are lots of clam shells at Macktown in Rockton in river running by Pecatonica?) Anthropologists who did the dig for that area determined Native Americans had eaten the clams and dumped shells back into river at this spot. Maybe something similar along Turtle Creek?
Jul 29th, 2021 - Aaron from Dell Creek
Hi Dixie. Figure 7.2 miles and 3 hours for that stretch. The creek is definitely low, so you may may need to get out and wade some sections.
Jul 29th, 2021 - Dixie Stever from Whitewater
How long does it take to paddle from Hwy C to Carvers Rock Road on Turtle Creek? Is the Creek extremely low?
Jul 5th, 2021 - Aaron from Dell Creek
Honestly, I'm just not much of an expert when it comes to fishing and I can't say for certain whether the Turtle is or isn't good in this department.
Jul 5th, 2021 - Zachary Timm from Turtle Creek
Really interested in creek fishing
Sep 21st, 2019 - Aaron from Dell Creek
That's too bad. If I hear anything, I'll definitely let you know.
Sep 21st, 2019 - Jean Borchardt from Johnson Creek, WI
It was very nice, a lot of rain so some areas had stronger currents. Lost my phone and wallet and keys. They are in an orange waterproof box. Please, Please if anyone find this please take it to the police department or give me a call at 920-699-5383 or 920-988-5816. There is a reward. Thank You, Jean b.
Jul 19th, 2018 - Aaron from Dell Creek
Thanks for the feedback. I've been curious about Comus Lake for a while and do want to check it out. As for clearing out logjams, locals do it all the time and it is quite common. I think it is ok, unless the DNR posts special rules for a creek. If you do the section below the dam, let me know how it turns out. There is a lowhead dam visible from satellite that might be a little problematic.
Jul 19th, 2018 - Steeny from Delavan. Dam Road.
Hey my name is Steeny. I live on Dam Road,in Delavan... about 1 mile to the Creek. I put in there sometimes and paddle towards lake Comus. i call it, like being in Disney Land. All the wonderful things to be seen. thousands of dragonflies to keep you mosquito free. Currently a Snowy White Egret has been hanging out at the bridge on Dam Road. I have a few pix, though grainy, as they were with telephoto on a cell phone. You can only go so far towards P...as there is a log jam to encounter every few yards of Creek. We went under a few. Is it legal to go in with a chain saw and make a path? Probably not. Had an Otter swimming towards us. Saw a great white heron on Lake Comus. Great site! Will be discovering the other Turtle Creek from the Dam to C/Fairfield or vice versa this weekend.

How did your trip turn out? Questions or comments? Feel free to leave your feedback.

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