We do recon Looking at | Quiet Paddling Wisconsin

Paddle Pass for Upham Woods Canoe Launch

Back Story / The Bad News

October, 2018: We wanted to paddle around Blackhawk Island when we could be sure we would not encounter Dells Boats in the narrow channel. We knew that Upham Woods (a UW facility) had erected a fence at the launch site on Highway N, but locals had told us it was OK to just go around it – so we did. (see relevant post) It was serene and lovely, and we were ready to do the same paddle the following year but found the fence now plastered with many “NO TRESPASSING” Continue reading Paddle Pass for Upham Woods Canoe Launch

Recon: McFarland’s Jaeger Park to Paddle down the Yahara

We scouted out Conrad Jaeger Park aka Thurn Marsh Park as a put-in to get into the Yahara. (map) Continue reading Recon: McFarland’s Jaeger Park to Paddle down the Yahara

Recon: McFarland’s Babcock Park to paddle down Yahara

We scouted out the idea of starting our paddle at Babcock Park to go down the Yahara but it requires going through locks immediately upon launch. Continue reading Recon: McFarland’s Babcock Park to paddle down Yahara

Recon: Fox River Wick’s Landing Lock & Dam

We are familiar with paddling north on the fox from Hiestand Park in Princeton but we had not paddled south. It made us wonder what the next put-in was and read about the goings on at Lock Road. Continue reading Recon: Fox River Wick’s Landing Lock & Dam

Recon: Sugar River Clarence Bridge Park

Sugar River Water trail is nicely mapped out but we have to know “is it for us”. Some sections are marked as “brutal” on the signage! At least they are honest. One of my worst paddles ever was on the Sugar River due to dead-fall but other places it is very serene. Continue reading Recon: Sugar River Clarence Bridge Park

Scouting Neenah Creek

Friends who know we are not adrenaline junkies have recommended Neenah Creek to us LOL paddlers. Since a number of the Neenah Creek trips posted online show riffles, rapids, rocks, logjams, ledges, culverts and wires strung across the creek, we decided to check out the creek ourselves on the way to a Tuesday afternoon paddle on the Fox River north of Portage. Continue reading Scouting Neenah Creek

Rock River Recon – Janesville

This put-in looks promising … we had this labeled “Recon Merwin Park” but I think we decided that launch was not for us (these notes need some discussion…)