Wisconsin River - A 92 mile beach and sand box
photo by Ted Nelson
The Lower Wisconsin River Valley is a 92 mile beach and sand box and the ultimate outdoor destination for three day or two day weekend from Chicago. The last dam on the Wisconsin River is at Sauk City, which is just west of Madison, Wisconsin. After that the river meanders 92 miles to its junction with the Mississippi at Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.
The river is completely sand bottom from Sauk City to the confluence with the Mississippi. This makes the river an ideal place to camp out or swim, fish, play in the sand, drink beer, play frisbee, or just chill and watch the river flow. Many adventure travel activities become unpleasant during the summer with high humidities and problems with mosquitos. The swimming on the Wisconsin River makes it a great destination all summer long.
The river has a nice flow and there are no rapids or portages, so canoeists and kayakers of all levels can enjoy a leisurely paddle on this scenic river. The scenery is amazing with tree covered bluffs, lush jungle like vegetation lining the banks, football size pristine sand bars covered with gold colored sand, and bald eagles seem to fly off of every dead tree.
The best part of the whole deal is the area is undiscovered by the masses. Due to its semi-remote location in south western Wisconsin it is bypassed by most. The towns along the river like Boscobel and Muscoda are unknown and unheard of except from those that are lucky enough to start or end a Wisconsin River trip from one of these locations.
Instead, Chicago travelers and others head in droves to Door County, the Wisconsin Dells, and Northern Wisconsin. Those destinations are great and recommended, but none of those locations have a 92 mile beach and sand box.
The sand and the availability to swimming make this the ideal family trip. There is nothing more fun for kids than sand, water, and swimming. Make sure that young children have life preservers when swimming. Despite the placid look to the river, multiple people drown each year on the river. The current looks calm, but it moves quicker than it looks. A life preserver will ensure a safe experience for young adventurers.
Wisconsin River
photo by Ted Nelson
Check out the Lower Wisconsin River Valley for a weekend and if without boats or equipment rent from Wisconsin River Outings in either Sauk City or Boscobel.
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Comments
Looks like the perfect spot to waste away some hot summer days and nights.
Door County is fun, but this looks really special - I love the easy kayaking for all skill levels :)
That looks like a pretty stunning place. The beach looks wonderful for camping.
This sounds awesome! I am assuming that one could canoe and camp along the entire route? If a person wanted to take a week off are there any issues one may face? In other words, are the camping sites designated or can one camp where ever they feel like it? This sounds so awesome. I thought Door County was a complete bore, I camped out there over a weekend and rode a couple hundred miles on my bike but found it quite lame. This looks incredible. Keep letting us know about these gems. I would love to see a series of articles that you write while exploring these 92 miles. You might think about compiling these articles and put them in a pdf file so people can download them. you have the best suggestions.
Agree this area is a good place to vacation. People who haven't been here don't realize how lovely it is.
Beautiful sunset pic in the slideshow... Perhaps this was your Memorial Day weekend getaway site?
Great photos.
This is wonderful that there are opportunities like this so close to Chicago.
92 mile sandbox?? I know a couple of hundred kids who are going to be in heaven!
Now this is a place I could enjoy.
Looks awesome.
Great photos. There is more sand than I would expect from a river.
Looks like a fun place..conditions seem good for a lot of activities for campers, etc.
Cheers..
Love the sunset pic. Makes me feel like I'm there. Thank you
Love the sunset picture. Having been there before I feel as though I'm beside the river right now.
This is a very wonderful area, but can be dangerous. The area is loaded with sand bars(islands) that can be there one day & wash away the next. undertow, drop offs are just a few of the unseen dangers of this "slow moving river".
Because of the shear volume of flow this river has even though its slow moving it's VERY powerful. every year good swimmers die at this rivers hand, not somewhere I would take my kids to vacation.
I actually know someone who lost there son to this river standing beside his mother one minute, gone the next, never to be found again.
This is why I recommend life preservers for children. I have swam and canoed on this river since I was 10 in all types of water levels and never felt the least bit threatened. I know that this river can be dangerous for some as 3 children and a mother all drowned together at the Woodman sandbar. We canoed past this sandbar a couple of weeks later and they were still digging for the bodies.
However, life is full of danger. Many people die in backyard pools. Does that mean we do not go swimming in swimming pools? People of all ages die in car accidents, so do we not drive a car? 390+ people died in a Cambodian festival. Does this mean we avoid festivals?
Unfortunately, there is a chance of dying with everything we do. We must take precaution, use common sense, but first and foremost, we must continue to enjoy life. For me that includes swimming on the Wisconsin River, and I will do that till I am too old to paddle, and I will encourage others to do the same.
Thank you for reading and the comment.
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