Wisconsin River
The Wisconsin generally speaking is pretty good for kayaking. In Central Wisconsin dams are a serious impediment for paddlers, but from Wisconsin Dells to the mouth there are many great water trails to be enjoyed. Highlights include scenic bluffs, sandstone outcrops, and huge sandbars.
Trip Reports
Mead Park to Blue Heron Boat Landing
Date Paddled: October 1st, 2022
Distance: 5.2 miles
Time: Expect 2-3 hours
Despite three dam portages, this was a fun trip and featured some surprisingly nice geology.
Read More...Biron Dam by Hwy 66 to Veterans Memorial Park
Date Paddled: October 4th, 2020
Distance: 4.4 miles (with side trips 6.4 miles)
Time: Expect 2 hours
This was a fun adventure that featured two dams, two paper mills, several scenic boulder gardens, and one tricky portage.
Read More...Port Edwards to Riverside Park
Date Paddled: July 25th, 2021
Distance: 3.7 miles
Time: Expect 2 hours
A flowage drawdown is providing a rare opportunity to see the river and rapids on this stretch the way Native Americans, early pioneers, and raftsmen saw them.
Read More...Plank Hill Boat Ramp to Chester Creek Landing
Date Paddled: August 22nd, 2021
Distance: 5.7 miles
Time: Expect 2-3 hours
Located just upstream from Petenwell Lake, this is a fairly overlooked stretch of the Wisconsin. While it mostly consists of slow current and uninteresting scenery, it does feature two ginormous sandbanks that are really cool.
Read More...3rd Street boat launch to 3rd Street boat launch
Date Paddled: July 9th, 2022
Distance: 6.8 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
This was a round-trip on Wisconsin's second largest inland lake to check out some large sandbanks, sloughs, and islands.
Read More...Castle Rock Lake Dam to Two Rivers Landing
Date Paddled: August 12th, 2012
Distance: 10 Miles
Time:
This is a tweener section of the Wisconsin River between the string of dams up-north (which makes those sections largely un-kayakable) and the Dells. While lacking the quantity of rock formations downstream, this is a pleasant section with mostly wooded banks, some development, and a number of sandbars and sloughs. The start of this trip […]
Read More...Two Rivers Landing to River Bay
Date Paddled: August 19th, 2012
Distance: 7 Miles
Time:
The most famous section of the Wisconsin River is in the Wisconsin Dells area. This is commonly divided into ‘Lower Dells’ (below the Kilbourn Dam) and ‘Upper Dells’ (above the Kilbourn Dam). And in the Upper Dells you can kind of divide that in half….this review will be about that upstream half. The put in […]
Read More...Town of Lyndon Landing to Black Hawk Island Landing
Date Paddled: September 8th, 2013
Distance: 6.5 Miles
Time: 8 hours (abnormally slow though)
Of the many areas in the Dells to paddle, this is the best and is a must paddle for Southern Wisconsinites. In a previous review, I paddled the first half of the Upper Dells from Two Rivers landing to about halfway on the flowage lake (take-out at River Bay Campground). For this trip, I’ll pick […]
Read More...28th Ave to 28th Ave
Date Paddled: May 29th, 2010
Distance: 2.5 Miles
Time: 90 Minutes (estimate)
A very nice trip in and of itself is the Blackhawk Island loop. It’s about 2.5 miles and the current isn’t too bad. The west side is protected from the big boats because it is relatively shallow (although private boats/jet skies can be a nuisance on the northwest side). The east side is the main […]
Read More...Hwy 12 Dam Launch to Indian Trails Landing
Date Paddled: June 13th, 2021
Distance: 6.0 miles
Time: Expect 3 hours
The Lower Dells is a classic water trail famous for its fantastic freestanding rock formations and even several caves you can paddle into. Unfortunately, it is also very crowded, noisy, and features huge waves that are a big problem for paddlers.
Read More...Pine Island Boat Ramp to Hwy 33 Access
Date Paddled: May 25th, 2020
Distance: 6.0 miles
Time: 3 hours 6 minutes
This is an obscure section of the Wisconsin River sandwiched between the Lower Dells and Portage. It's not an elite stretch of the Wisconsin because of its lack of unique features...but it does have many nice sandbars.
Read More...Hwy 33 to Dekorra Park
Date Paddled: June 26th, 2022
Distance: 7.8 miles
Time: Expect 3-4 hours
This is a nice tweener leg of the Wisconsin River between busy Wisconsin Dells and Lake Wisconsin. Thanks to its shallow waters, you won't encounter many motorboats and can enjoy epic-size sandbars.
Read More...Dekorra Landing to James Whalen Memorial Park
Date Paddled: August 16th, 2020
Distance: 6.9 miles
Time: Expect 3 hours
A terrific section with rock outcrops, large island deltas, hidden sloughs, and nice sandbars. Unfortunately this part of the river is popular with motorboats and jet skis which can be a plague.
Read More...Prairie du Sac Dam to Ferry Bluff or Arena
Date Paddled: August 13th, 2011
Distance: Ferry Bluff (8 Miles) or Arena (14 Miles)
Time: 3 Hours 20 Minutes (Ferry Bluff)
From the Prairie du Sac Dam to the Mississippi River is probably Wisconsin’s most popular all-around canoe and kayak destination (well…if not top, tied with the Kickapoo and St. Croix for popularity). A number of reasons why this section is so popular: It is not impeded by any dams Great sandbars (at least after Ferry […]
Read More...Mazomanie Adlers Landing to Arena Public Boat Ramp
Date Paddled: August 8th, 2015
Distance: 9.65 miles (not bad because of how straight this is)
Time: 4 hours 46 minutes (without breaks you can do this under 4 hours)
A long overdue visit to the sandbar capitol of the state. Terrific bluffs and sandbars make this a must paddle for those living in southern Wisconsin.
Read More...Arena Landing to Hwy 14 Landing
Date Paddled: August 3rd, 2019
Distance: 8.3 miles
Time: 4 hours 50 minutes (3.5 hours would be more typical)
A return to the Lower Wisconsin with its broad waters and scenic grandeur. This popular stretch is known for its sandbars and has one of the highest concentrations on the river.
Read More...Lone Rock Boat Landing to Gotham Boat Landing
Date Paddled: August 7th, 2017
Distance: 8.3 miles
Time: 5 hours 13 minutes (3-4 hours is more typical)
One of the most scenic sections of the Lower Wisconsin that includes a 2.3 mile stretch of sandstone outcrops, huge sandbars, interesting sloughs, and impressive sand banks.
Read More...Victora Riverside Park Landing to Port Andrew Boat Landing
Date Paddled: September 30th, 2022
Distance: 6.8 miles
Time: 3 hours
A guest review for the Wisconsin River from Muscoda to Port Andrew.
Read More...Boscobel Landing to Woodman Landing
Date Paddled: July 8th, 2022
Distance: 9.5 miles
Time: 3.5 hours
A guest review for the Wisconsin River between Boscobel and Woodman.
Read More...Millville Boat Landing to Wyalusing Beach
Date Paddled: October 10th, 2021
Distance: 10.8 miles
Time: 5.5 hours
A guest review for the final stretch on the Wisconsin River.
Read More...Overview Map
Quick Overview
- Upstream of Stevens Point: I don't have information yet on these stretches.
- Stevens Point to Lake Petenwell: ~42 miles. This stretch in Central Wisconsin used to have many natural rapids, but most have been buried under 8 dams, some of which are now difficult portages. Despite this there is still some good paddling to be had in this region.
- Lake Petenwell: 14.9 miles. This is a large flowage lake that is challenging for paddlers because of frequent strong winds and big waves.
- Castle Rock Lake: 14.5 miles. Another large flowage lake that is likely too big for enjoyable paddling.
- Castle Rock Lake Dam to Lemonweir River: 9.4 miles. This pre-Dells leg isn't elite, but is a pleasant stretch.
- Lemonweir River to Indian Trails Landing: 21.7 miles. This includes the famous Upper Dells and Lower Dells which feature many scenic sandstone outcrops.
- Indian Trails Landing to Portage: 16 miles. This is an overlooked section sandwiched between the Dells and Portage. While the scenery isn't top-notch, it does have many sandbars and few people which is a nice combination.
- Portage to Lake Wisconsin: 14.3 miles. This is a neat stretch of the river with many sandbars and cliffs, but the shoreline is very developed and motorboat traffic can be heavy on weekends.
- Lake Wisconsin: 14.5 miles. This is a challenging lake for paddling because of the huge and frequent waves created by motorboats.
- Prairie du Sac Dam to Port Andrews: 57 miles. This is the first half of the famous Lower Wisconsin Riverway. This is a super popular stretch for paddlers with the highlights being large sandbars, big bluffs, occasional cliffs, and fun side sloughs to explore.
- Port Andrews to Wyalusing: 40 miles. This is the second half of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway which has far fewer paddlers and sandbars. But the bluffs and sloughs are larger and more interesting.
Detailed Overview
- Upstream of Stevens Point: I don't have enough information yet on these legs to comment.
- Stevens Point Dam to Blue Heron Boat Landing: 4.2 miles.
- Steven Point Dam to Whiting Dam: 2.6 miles. Starts slow and uninteresting, but the river becomes very scenic after the Hwy HH bridge. The rock formations below both dams are very striking. Many alt access points.
- Whiting Dam to Kimberly Clark Dam/Al Tech Park: 0.6 miles. Incredible scenery with exposed bedrock and boulder gardens below the Whiting Dam. Some rapids, but nothing major. The Kimberly Clark Dam is a dangerous low-head dam and should be treated carefully.
- Kimberly Clark Dam to Blue Heron Landing: 1.0 miles. Class 2 rapids below the dam, but after that the river slows dramatically and splits into many sub-channels and islands. Round trips on this leg are possible. I chose the far western channel where there were some nice rocky stretches.
- Blue Heron Landing to Mill Creek Landing: 4.1 miles. Likely a mediocre paddle with nothing special. Galecke Park is an alternate access.
- Mill Creek Landing to Biron Dam North Gate: 7.6 miles. Mostly uninteresting flowage paddling. Several alternate access options on route.
- Biron Dam North Gate to Veteran's Memorial Park: 4.5 miles.
- Biron Dam North Gate to Biron Landing: 1.0 miles. Super scenic stretch by two islands with many granite boulders.
- Biron Landing to Legion Park: 3.0 miles. A nice stretch by Big Island. The west channel is more undeveloped...but the east channel has several scenic granite islands.
- Portage through Legion Park: 680'. A steep wall separates the park from the river but in two locations the wall is short enough to get over (see map). Paddlers may want to consider a longer portage to bypass some of the shallow rocky stretches by Legion Park.
- Legion Park to Veteran's Memorial Park: 0.4 miles. A scenic stretch that features a large boulder field and the powerhouse of a large paper mill.
- Veteran's Memorial Park to Port Edwards Landing: 3.8 miles
- Veteran's Memorial Park to Demitz Park: 0.8 miles. A pleasant stretch that includes Belle Island.
- Demitz Park to Ben Hansen Park: 1.2 miles. This leg goes by Garrison Island and Edwards Island. Lyon Park is located across the river from Demitz Park and is another access option.
- Ben Hansen Park to Port Edwards Landing: 1.8 miles. Nice prospect that includes paddling past some historic islands. The Centralia dam should be an easy portage (east bank by golf course).
- Port Edwards Landing to Nekoosa/Riverside Park: 3.6 miles.
- Port Edwards Landing to Port Edwards Powerhouse: 1.3 miles. A half-mile portage is required. A very scenic boulder field is located below the dam. At high levels, the rocks are submerged and produce a half mile stretch of rapids (some strong).
- Powerhouse to Moccasin Creek Landing: 1.8 miles. A generic wooded stretch that isn't super interesting.
- Moccasin Creek Landing to Riverside Park: 0.5 miles. During the Nekoosa dam drawdown, this stretch had nice boulder fields and rapids.
- Riverside Park to Hwy 73: 0.8 miles. An ok stretch of the river. There are scenic cliffs south of Hwy 73, but these are past the dam warning line. Hwy 73 is not a good access option.
- Hwy 73 to Point Basse Ave (Portage of the Nekoosa Dam): 1.5 miles. A difficult 1.5 mile portage through downtown Nekoosa. Don't try to portage the south bank. There is a steep hill, cliffs, and large Domtar paper mill fences to deal with.
- Point Basse Ave to Jim Freeman Memorial Boat Landing: 0.8 miles. A generic stretch going by historic Point Basse. If you're willing to backtrack to the dam, you can see scenic boulder fields (during low flows) and a few cliffs. Point Basse Ave is a somewhat speculative access, but it seems public and doable for launching.
- Jim Freeman Memorial Boat Landing to Plank Hill Small Boat Access: 2.0 miles. Generic stretch.
- Plank Hill Small Boat Access to 19th Drive Landing: 5.3 miles. Features two epic sand banks. The main channel has some minor sandbars. Several of the side sloughs can provide fun side adventures.
- 19th Drive to the Petenwell Dam: 14.9 miles. This is Lake Petenwell which is a large and challenging lake for paddling. Waves and strong winds are frequently an issue. But when calm there are nice sandbanks on the northwest shore, hidden sloughs, and large islands to explore. See the overview map for more info.
- Petenwell Dam to Ganter Lane Landing: 3.8 miles. This stretch isn't too impacted by dams and may have nice sandbars at low levels.
- Ganter Lane Landing to Castle Rock Lake Dam: 10.7 miles. Castle Rock Lake is likely too big (wind/waves) for enjoyable paddling. There are many alternate launch options along the shore.
- Castle Rock Lake to the Lemonweir River: 10 miles. An ok section.
- Lemonweir River Mouth to River Bay Landing: 7 miles. The first half of the classic Upper Dells.
- River Bay Landing to Blackhawk Island: 6.5 miles. Second half of the classic Upper Dells known for its fantastic outcrops. Note, the Blackhawk Island landing is no longer accessible without special permission from the local 4H club.
- Black Hawk Island to Wisconsin Dells Dam: 2.0 miles. More nice sandstone outcrops. You can take out at a public ramp off Indiana Ave or portage the dam and take out SW of the dam by a launch off Wisconsin Dells Pkwy/Hwy 12.
- Dells Dam to Indian Trails Landing: 6.2 miles.
- Dells Dam to Newport Park: 2.2 miles. This is the heart of the famous Lower Dells with many scenic outcrops. Unfortunately jet boats are a serious plague on this stretch.
- Newport Park to Indian Trails Landing: 4.0 miles. Features the famous "Sugar Bowl" and four super cool caves. The outcrops soon disappear and this stretch is mostly uneventful (but peaceful) big river paddling.
- Indian Trails Landing to Pine Island Boat Ramp: 9.8 miles. Few paddle this stretch as it isn't as interesting. But...it does have a good concentration of sandbars and few competing paddlers for them.
- Pine Island Boat Ramp to Portage/Hwy 33 Access: 6.0 miles. Not an elite section that is lacking in cliffs and bluffs. It does have good sandbars though.
- Portage to Dekorra Park: 7.7 miles
- Portage to Baraboo River/Thunderbird Road: 5.2 miles. A good section with great sandbars. Close to Portage there are few motorboats.
- Baraboo River to Dekorra Park: 2.5 miles. River splits around massive Lib Cross Island. West channel has nice sandbars. St Lawrence Bluff has scenic sandstone outcrops and includes a cave you can paddle into.
- Dekorra Park to James Whalen Memorial Park: 6.6 miles.
- Dekorra Park to Camp Rest Park: 5.1 miles. A terrific section with rock outcrops, large island deltas, hidden sloughs, and nice sandbars. Unfortunately this part of the river is popular with motorboats and jet skis which can be a plague. Multiple alternate access options.
- Camp Rest Park to James Whalen Memorial Park: 1.5 miles. Not a great section because of the open water paddling, powerboats and big waves. The west shore though does have nice outcrops.
- James Whalen Memorial Park to Prairie du Sac Dam: 14.5 miles. The river turns into “Lake Wisconsin” here...an inadvisable section due to the amount of open water paddling required. There are many intermediate access options.
- Prairie du Sac to Mazomanie: 8 miles. An ok section of the Wisconsin but lacking in sandbars.
- Mazomanie to Arena: 9.7 miles. A great section with nice sandbars and scenic bluffs.
- Arena to Hwy 14: 8.0 miles. Good section with a high concentration of sandbars. One of the more popular legs on the Lower Wisconsin.
- Hwy 14 to Hwy 23/Spring Green: 2.2 miles. Neat mini-section with sandstone outcrops. Very popular in the summer.
- Spring Green to Lone Rock: 7.4 miles. Another fine sandbar/bluff section with some nice rock outcrops too.
- Lone Rock to Gotham: 8 miles. This stretch has super impressive rock outcrops and sand banks.
- Gotham to Muscoda: 7 miles. Cool limestone rock outcroppings.
- Muscoda to Port Andrew: 7 miles. A good stretch with many islands and sandbars.
- Port Andrew to Boscobel: 9 miles. Wooded islands start to get massive.
- Boscobel to Woodman/Big Green River: 9 miles and start of the less paddled stretch of the Lower Wisconsin. Far fewer sandbars from here to the mouth, but good bluffs and side sloughs to explore.
- Woodman to Adiantum Woods State Natural Area: 3.9 miles.
- Adiantum Woods State Natural Area to Millville: 3.8 miles.
- Millville to Bridgeport: 5.3 miles. A peaceful stretch with few paddlers, yet good river bluffs and islands.
- Bridgeport to Wyalusing (the mouth): 9 miles.
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Comments
Thanks for the warning. I 100% agree that dam is very dangerous and should be avoided.
Put in at the north end of Mead Park, where the dog beach is. You can park on the street very close to the water. There is a sand beach there. The spillway (which you call a low head dam) is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Two people (one of my students and his father, one of my colleagues at the University) drowned there. I would not recommend that anyone get anywhere near it. Especially in the Spring.
You saw a campground on the Lower Dells? I honestly don't know. On the Upper Dells Holiday Shores Campground is located next to Witches Gulch.
On the Ducks we saw lots of turtles on the shore, there also was a camp ground. Does anyone know the name of the camp grounds? Or where this is located so we could explore.
Thanks so much.
Worst case scenario, you just launch on the opposite side of the river by the public beach. Great to hear that you had a nice trip without those annoying tour boats. Fall is really the optimal time to experience the Dells.
Did this trip on 11/7/20, we put in at the same place you did, behind and down river a bit from Bella Goose Coffee shop, by the docks for Dells Boat tours, and took out at Indian Trails take out. As it was Nov there were no tour boats operating and there were only a few people fishing so it was an easy place to launch, in high season I am not sure you are allowed to park/launch at this spot. But during high season, if you were just stopping for a cup of coffee, and happen to unload your, and then drive down to the take out, I don't know if any would/could stop you. We did a bike shuttle, easy trip 4-5 miles, fairly flat, most of it on small roads, bike trials, just a short section on Cty A, but it has a nice shoulder. This section is so beautiful it really should be enjoyed in peace and quiet, so it is worth the effort and planning to do it early or late in the year when there will be no jet boats, no ducks, no boat tours. 2 hrs on the water, 20 min bike shuttle. The landing is a bit hard to see from the water, but there is a big boat launch right across the river that can be used as a landmark to find takeout.
I am getting ready to do this trip. I am camping along the way. I have taken 2 nights to allow me enough time for this. I am currently studying
maps for this. My first long trip
From the Dells dam to Portage would be 22 miles...an extremely long trip that I haven't done. This section is plenty navigable with nice sandbars at lower levels...but no outcrops and some interstate noise. It is on my todo list. I suggest subdividing this trip based on my overview map above...or to turn it into a camping trip (but only when levels are low enough for sandbars). You do this, let me know how it turns out.
Wondering if you have ever traveled the river all the way down to Portage. Interested in a trip from the Dells to Pawquette Park in portage just north of where Hwy 33 crosses the river. Some areas look quite shallow. Do you know if this is doable?
Thanks!
Drat...well paddlers could always launch on the east bank by the public sandbar with parking by the powerhouse.
Unfortunately this is the put-in on the West bank below the dam that you are referring to in your review.
Is this the put-in or the take-out? I just checked the put-in and didn't see any signs restricting access. If the put-in, paddlers could always launch across the river on the east by the portage path. Not as nice, but doable and public. If the take-out, paddlers can completely skip Riverview and use the neighboring public launch instead. They just have to be careful not to park in the trailing parking lot.
The ramp at the lower Dells is not a public launch. It is actually owned by the Riverview Company and they lease it to a new Kayak and canoe rental place. This new company allows launching but at a $5 per kayak fee or they also offer to pick you and your kayak up and return you to your car for $15 per kayak (launch fee included)
Hi James,
Are you referring to Dekorra Park by the Baraboo River? If so, that is a long trip from the Dells! I have used that landing but can't recall if there are overnight restrictions.
You might consider contacting the Wisconsin DNR to ask about this landing's rules. Hooker's resort is a competing privatizing landing next door that you could contact and they might be able to answer your questions. (608) 635-7867. Plenty of other take-out options in the area (two by the Baraboo River and numerous landings by Lake Wisconsin outlet).
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Aaron
Do you ever use the public boat launch at Dekorra? There's a parking lot across the street, Just curious if it's available for overnight parking on a multiday excursion
How did your trip turn out? Questions or comments? Feel free to leave your feedback.
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