Northwest

Stream and lake canoeing with a slow to moderate current and a few gentle rapids. Access is available at numerous road crossings and public landings. NOTE: Aquatic growth may hinder navigation in mid-summer.An intimate and scenic river, with many riffles and rapids. Excellent fly fishing, canoeing or kayaking on the sleepy yet breathtaking Yellow River flows out of Spooner Lake in Washburn County, through Burnett County to meet the St. Croix at Danbury.

The upper Wisconsin (Vilas - Oneida County to Merrill) is a relaxing way to view the natural beauty of the Northwoods. Winding through forest and farmland, the majority of the river offers a slow current with few obstacles. There is one portage at the Rainbow Lake Dam. Rainbow Rapids offer some excitement, but the rocks are usually submerged. For more information, contact the Wisconsin DNR station in Rhinelander.

A relatively unknown and unspoiled river flowing 27 miles through Iron County lakes and wilderness into the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage at Lake of the Falls. Some Class II-III rapids may require portaging dependent on water levels. Portage at Shay's Dam Falls required. Numerous public access points and state and county campsites. Call for river maps in Iron County.

Offers a medium to fast current including two difficult rapids on the lower stretches of the river. Access is available at dams and road crossings.
22 miles of the Tomahawk River constitute one of the least paddled but most attractive canoeing streams in the state.

Designated a 'National Scenic River,' the St. Croix combines smooth water and low to medium-hazard rapids. It is navigable from its source at Solon Springs to its mouth on the Mississippi River. There is, however, a dam and portage at St. Croix Falls. The lower portion (below St. Croix Falls) is open to commercial traffic.

The St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers offer 252 miles of clean water gliding past a lush green landscape, with glimpses of a human presence.

The Red Cedar runs 60 miles from Chetek to the Chippewa River below Menomonie. The upper 20 miles are relatively shallow and wide with a brisk current and lots of islands -- an ideal float trip for novices and families. The lower 15 miles parallel the Red Cedar State Bike Trail. Fishing is good all along the river. Access is available at numerous county parks. Canoe rentals are offered at many towns along the river.

Known for camping and fishing, the Namekagon provides lake and river canoeing with some low hazard rapids. Low water is the chief obstacle, and levels should be checked locally. Access is available at towns, (Cable, Seeley, Hayward and Trego), and road crossings.
The Namekagon River preserves its water and riverbanks by prohibiting motorized craft in the waterways. Water lovers will enjoy canoeing and inner tubing through the flowage areas, the excellent trout fishing, and the variety of swimming beaches.

Wisconsin's "north coast" along the southern shores of mighty Lake Superior offers the kayak and canoe enthusiast a chance to step back in time. As far back as 1650, Native Americans would paddle from their settlement on Madeline Island to the mouth of the Montreal River in large lake canoes. From there they would follow the Flambeau Trail south. Paddling along the shores will give you a variety of coastal views, from gentle sandy beaches to steep, red clay cliffs. Along the shoreline you can find agates.

A river for variety and fun for canoeing, kayaking and tubing. Flows from Presque Isle in Vilas County, through Boulder Junction and Manitowish Waters, to the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage in Iron County. The upper portion connects 25 lakes including the famous Manitowish Chain of Lakes. With numerous access points and boat landings, and more than fifty campsites, paddlers can design trips of any length.

One of the best whitewater rivers in the Midwest. The north fork provides the most stable water flow, traversing five Wisconsin counties as it falls from the Willow to the Holcombe Flowage. Along its upper reaches, the eighteen miles from the Turtle Dam to Park Falls are rated Intermediate to Expert with many Class I & II rapids. (For maps and information, call the Iron County Development Zone at 715/561-2922.) The southern sections also provide the challenge of rapids and whitewater. The most traveled stretch is from Nine Mile Creek to Ladysmith.