Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Canoeing
Spring Green marks the southern end of the most populated canoe segment of the 92-mile
riverway; Sauk Prairie, 25 miles away, is the northern terminus.
The whole of the thing can be canoed, as there is nary a dam, cascade, rapids, or port-
age—among the longest unimpeded stretches of river in the Midwest. Many Spring Green-
area travelers pitch a tent at Tower Hill State Park. Other popular access points include
Peck's Landing, beneath the WIS 23 bridge, and the Lone Rock Landing, just east of the
WIS 130 bridge.
A number of canoe operations offering trips on the Wisconsin can be found in Sauk
Prairie.
Hiking
Hiking is grand, with trail networks along the Black Hawk Unit between Mazomanie and
Sauk City, and more between Muscoda and Blue River. Better—these 40 grand acres have
the wonderful challenge of no established trails. Know where you are, as private land does
exist.
Swimming
No matter what you see the locals doing, respect this river. Monthly drownings are not un-
common. The sandbars make for enticing beach-the-canoe-and-frolic spots, but the current
ismisleadinglyslow;thelayeredcurrentscandragyouunder.Worse,riverfluctuationscre-
ate deep sinkholes, which can be neither seen nor predicted by observing the current—step
in one and say bye-bye.
Fishing
Gamefish are present in the Wisconsin River's main channel, but panfish predominate on
poles and are especially pervasive in the sloughs and bayous off the river channel. For seri-
ous anglers, it might be worth a 17-mile drive east along U.S. 14 to Black Earth Creek, one
of the top 100 trout streams in the country, with more than 1,500 brownies per mile.
Camping
Free dispersed camping is allowed on all state-owned lands, whether inner-stream islands
orbanks.Troubleis,itisn'talwayseasytoknowwhatlandisinstatehands—checklocally
before setting up camp. In certain areas, only sandbars are not privately owned, and thus,
those are what you've got. They're grand, Huck Finnish ways to experience the river, but
