It’s rare that you can paddle against the current on the Wisconsin River but the water level was low as was the wind speed so we revisited this paddle we did in 2011.
The Launch
The launch is an easy one. After dropping off gear, the parking lot is across the street. There is an historic well to notice at the entryway.
Flow
3200 cu ft/sec WI River at WI Dells. Median for this date approx 4200 cu ft/sec
The Paddle
We all turned right and hugged the river bank. There are some pretty bluffs that we followed all the way around through the right turn into the sloughs. The area looks so very different than it did in 2011, it was astounding. There used to be a pedestrian bridge that has been taken out; the area can still be identified. The water can be low there so we had to back out a couple of times. Lots of birds back there but they were distant, not sure what they were.
After exploring the slough area, we paddled across the river to tool around a small island and, a short distance downstream, the sandy bank and a sandbar. We were fighting the wind much more over there, so didn’t go up river. Afterward our curiosity was satisfied, we crossed back to the take out in the same location.,
The launch is quite sandy, and we had sand in the Kevlar canoe. I had trouble getting out of the boat because the sand made it slippery! A kind fisherman gave me a hand and it really was humbling to need help.
The Photos:
