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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 […]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Overview Map

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Detailed Overview

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Comments

Oct 13th, 2022 - Aaron from Dell Creek
Thanks for the warning. I 100% agree that dam is very dangerous and should be avoided.
Oct 12th, 2022 - John Vollrath from Plover River, McDill Pond
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.
Mar 30th, 2021 - Aaron from Dell Creek
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.
Mar 30th, 2021 - Gwyn from Green Bay 54302
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.
Nov 15th, 2020 - Aaron from Dell Creek
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.
Nov 15th, 2020 - Eric Guderyon from Wingra
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.
Jul 13th, 2020 - christen Kirby from Fox river
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
Apr 14th, 2019 - Aaron from Dell Creek
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.
Apr 14th, 2019 - Ali Reigstad from Arlington
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!
Jul 18th, 2018 - Aaron from Dell Creek
Drat...well paddlers could always launch on the east bank by the public sandbar with parking by the powerhouse.
Jul 18th, 2018 - Jay from Wisconsin Dells
Unfortunately this is the put-in on the West bank below the dam that you are referring to in your review.
Jul 17th, 2018 - Aaron from Dell Creek
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.
Jul 17th, 2018 - Jay from Wisconsin Dells
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)
Feb 28th, 2016 - admin
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
Feb 28th, 2016 - James T from Aurora
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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