25 Pewaukee River and Illinois Fox River
31 White River (Walworth County)
part one
NORTHEAST OF MADISON
14 Rocky Run Creek and Wisconsin River
16 White River (Green Lake County)
The stately century-old railroad bridge over the Beaver Dam River (see Trip 1, next page)
1 Beaver Dam River: BEAVER DAM TO COUNTY ROAD J
• THE • FACTS •
Put-in/take-out Cotton Mill Park/County Road J
Distance/time 5.5 mi/Allow for 2.5 hrs
Gradient/water level 10 fpm/See USGS gage 05425912. The ideal level is at or above 200 cfs. At 300 cfs or higher, the river will be pushy and should be considered only by paddlers with good boat control.
Water type Several Class I rapids, riffles, and quietwater
Canoe or kayak Kayak
Skill level Experienced
Time of year to paddle Anytime
Landscape Urban in first half, secluded woods with hills in second half
OVERVIEW This exhilarating trip begins in an urban downtown but ends in the country, with constant riffles and a dozen Class I rapids along the way. A wooded corridor between the put-in and take-out adds to the variety of this trip. You might spot pelicans at the lake above the dam, but expect to see ducks, geese, muskrats, fish, and great blue herons below US 151.
SHUTTLE 5.1 miles. From the take-out, head northeast on CR J. Turn left onto CR G and take it into town. Turn left onto Mill Street. Turn right onto Madison Street, then left into the parking lot at the dam.
TAKE-OUT N43° 23.640' W88° 52.132'
PUT-IN N43° 27.278' W88° 50.570'
• THE • FLAVOR •
PUT IN AT COTTON MILL PARK on the north bank of the river below the dam, opposite the large brick building that used to be a mill but now is rehabbed apartments. Cotton Mill Park is little more than a strip of land in the backyards of residential houses. It is open to the public, though, and parking is permitted in a lot contiguous with the apartment building. Launching here is via rocky riprap, where you will be sharing space with those who come here to fish.
Only 50 yards ahead is the Beaver Street bridge, beneath which is a small low-head dam. Normally, you should not entertain the notion of running low-head dams, but this one is an exception to the rule. There is enough clearance between the top lip of the dam and the water surface to run without scraping, and the drop itself is only 18 inches or so.
Wintertime paddling can be thrilling, but always dress appropriately (and have a spare change of clothes just in case).
If you run the dam, it’s best to do so with some speed and not just inch up to the edge. That said, there is a backroller at the bottom of the drop, so caution is critical. You can portage the dam at the far left where there is an eddy as well as some rocks along the concrete wall of the bridge; use this wall to dock, get out, and pull your boat below the drop. Scout this before you run it, and steer away from the I-beams in the water.
Below Beaver Street, the rapids begin as the river makes a clockwise 180-degree turn through downtown. After the Center Street bridge, both banks of the river are lined with attractive rock rubble, no doubt adding to the stream’s riffles. Approaching the water tower on the left be