Waukesha Counties Largest Lake, Pewaukee Lake

If you are ready to tackle Pewaukee Lake you are in for a treat. This is one of many lakes in the state of Wisconsin that require multiple trips to conquer it all. The first year I got my kayak I was out on Pewaukee Lake once a week. It doesn’t hurt that I work a half mile away from the east end making it easy to go before or after work when time, weather, and daylight allow.

Pewaukee Lake has two main boat launch sites. One is right next to the old train station in the Village of Pewaukee on the north end of the beach. This is on the east end of the lake. It is labeled with a sign near the peer. It’s a nice launch site when it’s not full of people. You either have to go early in the morning before eleven or after five’o clock during the week. Weekends, depending on Village activities can be a nightmare to launch and kayak so if that is your ideal launch site for the day I would do a drive by and be prepared to launch on the other side of the lake if you’re wanting a less chaotic day. If you decide to paddle even on a busy day there is a lot to do on this end. The beach itself has two restaurants directly across the street. There are multiple bars and restaurants on this end of the lake and it makes for a great day trip. Pewaukee Lake is a very popular lake for motorized boats, Jet Ski’s, and even is home to the Pewaukee Lake Sail Club. The east end is pretty busy with boats so always be aware of your surroundings. Most of the boaters are pretty respectful of kayakers but there is the occasional boater who feels the need to provide some unnecessary wake for the kayakers.

The second launch site is on the west side of the lake in the Town of Delafield. It’s a little tricky to find. It’s on Maple Avenue approximately one and a half miles north of Golf Road. It is one of two Waukesha County Park launch sites and it’s a great facility. The yearly pass for residents is twenty-eight dollars and as long as you are launching a non-motorized craft that is the only pass you need. Plus you have access to the other County Parks and the dog parks which are equally great. This launch site has full service bathroom facilities and it’s a really a great area of the lake to paddle. There are a lot of restaurant and bar options in this area, a island with a few homes, and a small natural area.

I have only paddled around the entire thing once it. It took me about five hours. It was my very first extended solo trip. Unless I go out before work at like six in the morning I always launch from the Delafield launch. I did the full lake on a Sunday. The plan was to paddle to the Village of Pewaukee and get out a grab a snow cone or some other treat from town before heading back out to finish the other half of the lake. I got all the way to the Village and realized I left my wallet in the car 7 miles away. Needless to say I just kept going and was pretty disappointed the rest of the way. Pewaukee Lake is a huge lake it is very long from east to west approximately 5 miles if you go straight across. Kayaking doesn’t lend its self to going straight across so hugging the shoreline paddling its entirety is approximately 14 miles. Depending on the day and the area of the lake it can be really rough or like glass. On most days it’s somewhere in between and on the day you go out some areas can be harder than others and it all depends on weather conditions.

It’s a great place to paddle I have probably paddled the lake more than fifteen times. There are some great homes to look at and drool over and there is a lot of nature. It’s a fairly shallow lake and by the end of summer some areas are pretty weedy. The city does trim the weeds around the beach but beyond that it all grows naturally. You can paddle through the weeds but when it’s really dense and hard to paddle through.

Pewaukee Lake is the start of the Milwaukee areas Lake Country. It’s a great lake to take longer trips. Some of the lakes in the region are nice but can be pretty short easy paddles. Which isn’t bad when you are in a time crunch but when you want to paddle for a longer time or tackle different parts of a lake on different trips Pewaukee is the place to do it? Like any trip you plan to start do your homework. Check the weather, it is a long way back in pouring rain and storms. Decided how long you want to be out. Pack water and a snack if you plan on being out for more than two hours. Be aware that if you go out on a weekend during the day assume there is going to be a lot of boat traffic. There are many other lakes to visit and enjoy in the area. Paddle safe and enjoy your day.

The Fox River(Start Point in Vernon, Wisonsin)

The Fox River is a great afternoon trip. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time in your day because if you are paddling with the current you can go really far before you realize you need to go back to where you started. I have paddled it twice so far. On both trips I started at the same location in the town of Vernon. It’s a free launch site off of National Avenue (Hwy ES) it’s unmarked and easy to pass it your first time out. The last street you pass going west is called Edgewood Avenue it’s a subdivision on your left. Shortly after you pass that road you will see a bridge and a large gravel area on the right side of the road with a garbage can. That is the parking for river access. It’s a pretty steep path to the river launch site it can be a little tricky doing it yourself. The steep grade and the loose gravel make it a little slippery.  The only benefit is it’s free.

Now for the trip you decide to take. Whether you go north or south from the launch point you will find a pretty windy river in either direction. After two trips in this area of the river I would say the more enjoyable paddle is to start out going north. On my first trip I went about 3 miles paddling in 1 direction. I was within another 30-45 minutes of Lawnsdale Road (Hwy I) the majority of the area is a Protected Wildlife Area. There was a lot of wildlife. There was a young eagle flying overhead, a beaver zipping across the river after a canoe had just passed going in the opposite direction, a bunch of turtles sunning themselves, and a few fish making a splash as they came to the surface of the river for a quick snack. It’s a great ride north. There is large train bridge you get to go under and the 4 hours I was out my first trip 2 trains went by.

A few weeks ago I went south off the same ES launch site in Vernon. It has been a pretty dry summer so far. There were a few points in the river where I hit bottom and almost got stuck a few times. I paddled for about 2 miles in one direction until I came across a few broken clay birds and got stuck in the river again and couldn’t get beyond it. So I gave up and turned around and headed back. I am sure I could have gotten out and pushed till I got to deeper water again but 4 hour rides are generally my max. The paddle against the current on the return trip was definitely harder with the 3-4 shallow spots where I could barely get a full paddle in the water. The forces of the water at those shallow points were more intense. The water pressure was greater which meant if I would have taken less or slower strokes I wouldn’t have made it through those points. Depending on the type of paddling you would like to do I would say this portion of the river was moderately difficult. Who knows after some rain it could be an easier paddle. Outside of difficulty of this area of the river it had just as much wildlife as going north off ES. There were a lot of turtles sunning themselves and a lot of birds. There are a few homes lining this area but the journey still feels very remote. There is less noise in this area than there is going north and the train is a lot farther from this point of the river. Outside of going under I-43 there isn’t much traffic noise either. This area is pretty far from major highways reducing the noise pollution. This area has a lot more trees and vegetation which blocks a lot of the noise. The river to the north is surrounded by cattails and reeds which seem to block less of the noise.

No matter which direction you go you can’t go wrong. It can be a long day in either direction so plan accordingly. Bring a few bottled waters, a granola bar, a banana and a smart phone in case of an emergency. A good rule of thumb is to decide how much time you want to spend on the river and whether you want to start out going with the current or against the current. If you start going with the current remove 15 minutes from your half way point. If you decide to start going against the current you can add 15 minutes to your turn around point.

A side note on this area of the Fox River. The Mukwonago River joins the Fox River just south of the boat launch. It actually joins the river just before you paddle under the I-43 overpass. The Mukwonago River eventually connects to Phantom Lake. It’s definitely doable in a longer day trip.

Big Muskego Lake

Big Muskego Lake in Muskego, Wisconsin is one of the best places to kayak in southeastern Wisconsin. It’s more of a deep water marsh than a lake which makes it an ideal spot to kayak, enjoy the wildlife, and not be bothered by the skiers, jet skis and high speed boaters you find in other lakes around the area. Since I got my kayak three years ago I have probably paddled this lake a dozen times. It’s always a different and unique experience. The $7.00 launch fee is reasonable and is the typical going rate for any boat launch no matter if you have a motor or are self-propelled. It’s a huge lake that can be tackled a lot of different ways. I have launched from both the Boxhorn boat launch and the Durham Drive boat launch. Both sites have their benefits. I have yet to paddle the entire perimeter of this lake. Without stopping it would probably take 4-5 hours. I generally don’t spend more than 2-3 hours at any given time unless I have planned and prepared for it. This means I make sure I have plenty of water and a granola bar. If it’s your first time out on Big Muskego or any new lake it’s a good idea to have a little food and water along.

Depending on the type of paddle I would like to do on any giving day is how I determine my launch site and areas in which I will paddle. The Boxhorn launch is a good place to start for your first time out. It’s the easiest launch to find again after a few hours out on the lake. Generally if you go straight west from the launch cross the entire lake and start your paddle south and follow the perimeter back to the launch it should take 2-3 hours depending on your pace. The southern end is pretty wide open there are a few cattail islands but they are fairly large and there is a lot of lake between the islands which is quite different from the north end. There are a lot of birds in this area a large portion of the lake is designated as a wildlife protection zone. The eagles nest is located at the southern end near the damn. I have seen the bald eagle a lot in my time out there. The southern end is also home to some of the Potawatomi Burial grounds which date back to pre-European settlement of the area. When they built Caesars Dam at the south end of the lake a canoe believed to be from the Potawatomi’s was uncovered(1).  

The Durham Drive boat launch in the northeast corner of the lake caters more to those who want to paddle the north end of the lake. There is a small channel that will lead you to the main part of the lake. Before you exit the channel you should notice that there are two faded orange buoys. These will help you find the right channel when you want to return to the launch. You can definitely start paddling in any direction but I really like following the north rim of the lake that leads to an area of the lake that has very high cattails with canals running throughout the northwest part of the lake. If you follow the maze and take all the north leading channels you will eventually make it to bass’ bay. Its a great little lake that is maybe a 30-45 minute paddle. There are a lot of houses and if you would want to get out for swim this would be the place to do it. Its clean and deep. Outside of being able to make your way to Bass’ Bay you can really pick any branch of the maze and you will have a great trip. This area of the lake is where I typically see the occasional beaver and the blue herons trying to hide amongst the weeds.  The herons don’t generally let you get real close before they take off but it’s great to watch them take off with no noise. The maze’s for the most part end when you hit the half way point of the western side. At that point you can keep going and do the whole lake but that generally where I make my turn around. There aren’t many noticeable landmarks on the lake. There are few homes along the middle portion of the eastern end of the lake but they can be hard or impossible to see depending where you are in the reeds. Some of the best points of reference on the lake are the 2 gun clubs on the lake. One of them is Boxhorn it’s the same place as the Boxhorn Boat launch on the eastern side of the lake. The other is Hunter’s Nest located on the north end of the lake. When they have shooting going on, which is fairly often during the week and mornings on weekend days. The sound really helps navigate the lake when there are no visible points of reference.

Regardless of where you want to paddle for the day you really can’t go wrong with either launch site and really I encourage you to go in any direction. Again outside of the occasional fisherman I pretty much have the lake to myself. The number of kayakers has increased over the years but it’s so large that the other people really don’t get in the way at all. I guarantee if you go once you will be hooked and will definitely make many trips back.

(1)Patch.com Muskego’s Big Lake: A History Book of the City; By Denise Konkol’

Bonus Link:
http://www.cityofmuskego.org/DocumentCenter/View/288
(Map of Big Muskego Lake)

http://patch.com/wisconsin/muskego/muskegos-big-lake-a-history-book-of-the-city
(Great Article on Big Muskego)

Menomonee River

The Menomonee River is another great river to paddle in the city. It is currently at the point the Milwaukee River was 10 years ago. There is still a lot industry that calls the river valley home. There are a lot of initiatives underway to improve the waterway and to clean areas that really need it.

I actually paddle the Menomonee River the same day I paddled the Milwaukee River. It was an accidental paddle that lasted 2.5 hours. I had launched from the Bruce Street Launch. I had paddled to the North Avenue damn paddled back and returned back to the branch of the river where the Milwaukee and Menomonee River connect. There is an active train trestle bridge that goes over the access point to the Menomonee River. The plan was to just go under the bridge. I got lucky and had the opportunity to paddle under the trestle as the Hiawatha was returning to the station. It was really cool it’s one of those things that puts a grown woman at awe and feel for a brief moment like a kid again. I went under the bridge and saw the 6^th Street Viaduct that wasn’t too far so I kept going. At that point I had a great view of the valley that led up Miller Park and that became my goal. It was a great goal although I only made it just past the 35^th Street Viaduct and in one of the back lots of Miller Park. I got to a point where it was too shallow for me to continue. The boat itself wasn’t bottoming out but I wasn’t able to dig my paddles in without hitting bottom so I finally turned around.

For the most part it was a great ride. There is a lot of industry along the way however I wasn’t able to see most of it because I was so low to the water in the boat. With the tall retaining walls along the sides in areas it’s hard to see. Surprisingly it was fairly natural in some areas. At no point did I forget that I was in the city. The sound of the city was definitely loud. Traffic, sirens, the huge train roaring over the massive bridge near the 27^th Street Viaduct was pretty intimidating. That was also the point in the river where all the debris of the city, parking lots, and businesses accumulated. It was almost trapped on the south side of the bridge with no way to get through so it just sat there. It was pretty disgusting and it was hard to continue on at that point. I did keep going and it did clear up and actually become very remote. The river became more natural and the water actually was clearer than it had been until that point. The river runs alongside the Hank Aaron trail and besides the occasional walker or biker I had the river all to myself. Unfortunately after the 35^th Street Viaduct the river became very shallow and couldn’t continue. I was maybe a ¼ mile from Miller Park which was a bit disappointing.  The ride back was great. Outside of the point near the 27^th Street bridge it was clear paddling. One of the great aspects of the Menomonee River is there was very little boat traffic. There is one restaurant off of Canal Street call the Twisted Fisherman which had a live band outside that day. There is rumor that they have great seafood and delicious margaritas. I didn’t stop because I was kayaking solo but it seemed like a comfortable place to grab some food and a drink. It’s maybe a ½ mile from the Milwaukee River branch and is a little more remote than the bars along the Milwaukee River. The rest of the way back into the city was neat. Going under all the bridges a lot of folks on the street & bridges above liked to wave. A couple folks even asked a few questions about kayaking.

It was a great ride but it made for a long day and something I recommend after a long day of paddling would be to stretch or if you are in cleaner water (not the Milwaukee or Menomonee Rivers) take a quick swim. A great day of paddling can easily be ruined by a week of muscle pain.


Bonus Links:

http://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/muwt_map_0.pdf

(map of the Milwaukee River, Menomenee River, & Kinnickinnic River)

The Milwaukee River

The Milwaukee River is a great place to start this blog. It’s a Milwaukee hero in its own right. The city itself probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t such a great point of entry from the Great Lakes. Ten years ago if someone would have asked me to go kayak on it I probably would have thought they were joking and said no. Its gross, dirty, smells, and its unsafe for humans to even exist around it. Comments I have heard from people I have told I kayaked the river. To be honest it was never really on the radar as a place for recreation. It was primarily a point of reference and nothing more.

               This summer I felt like making a change in the places I paddled. I always wanted a place to paddle that was a little bit closer to home. So far I have been out on it twice this summer. Both were great rides. I got on the river from the Bruce Street Boat Ramp. It’s a Milwaukee County Park boat launch. The cost is $6.75 for residents and $7.00 for non-residents to launch. There is a lot of free street parking which is hard to come by downtown. It was easy to drive up to the launch drop off the boat, pay the fee, and park the car. From the launch site at a steady pace I was able to make it to the North Avenue Damn in an hour and if I would have gone straight back to the launch it would have taken me another hour. On the first trip I opted to head under the train trestle to the Menomonee River and ended up spending about 4.5 hours on both rivers. The second time out was great too. My cousin came to paddle with me and honestly the Milwaukee River is the best place to show off the town. The Milwaukee River has so much to offer in the way of entertainment and the ability to make a great day out of it. There are multiple bars that you can paddle right up to. You can either tie up your boat or pull it up on the dock and stack them up so there is still room to walk around. We made two stops. One stop was at Lakefront Brewery which is one of the last stops on the river. Stubby’s is the very last stop but Lakefront Brewery has a more familiar name especially to out of town guests. We also stopped at Ale Asylum because my cousin wanted to stop there but I would have rather made the stop at The Harp because it’s a landmark. Rock Bottom and the Milwaukee Ale House are great stops too but if we hit them all I am not sure if we could have driven home much less paddled back to where the car was.

I think the Milwaukee River is great for anyone who wants a change of pace. It’s a lot of fun going under all the bridges. If you are lucky you will hit one or a few with a bigger boat that will get the bridges to go up. It’s also really cool to watch the train trestle bridge that leads to the Menomonee River make its swivel for the larger boats. I lucked out the first time when I got to go under it when the Hiawatha was making its way over the bridge as I passed under. It’s a unique experience that most people have never had the opportunity to experience. It is fun paddling the river solo. However I think it’s a lot more fun with 2 or more people so that you can make a few of the stops. It’s a blast to paddle up to one of the bars. Grab a beer, maybe an appetizer, and a stool along the river and watch the other boats go by.

 There are few places to rent kayaks from along the river. I saw a lot of rentals out and the boats seemed like comfortable boats to ride for a partial day trip. Milwaukee Kayak Company is a good start. If you would want to kayak a lot becoming a member of the Urban Ecology would be great start too because with a membership you are able to use there kayaks and if you have a friend joining you they can also borrow a boat and that is included in the membership. They do offer a bunch of kayaking events. I am debating on hitting one of the night kayaks at the end of July and there is one more in August. You can check out either website for more info.

Paddle Safe & Paddle Smart!


Bonus Links:
http://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/muwt_map_0.pdf
(map of the Milwaukee River, Menomenee River, & Kinnickinnic River)

Welcome To Paddle South

After eighteen years of kayaking. Countless hours of paddling several lakes, a few rivers, and small section of the Gulf of Mexico I have finally decided to start documenting my journeys. I am attempting to not only document my experiences but educate myself while speeding up the learning curve for others. In regards to the natural, historical, and fun associated with kayaking the lakes in primarily southeastern Wisconsin but I am not limiting my blogs necessarily to this area.

My goal in this blog is not only to document my journeys but force myself to keep educating myself about the places I plan on paddling and places I have been. So if you are a beginner and are just looking for information about launch sites or things to look out for on particular lakes. Its here. If you are a more experienced paddler and would like to learn more about the history or nature of a particular place I am looking to build on that too.

The First 10 Kayaking Sites:
The Milwaukee River
The Menomonee River
The Kinnickinic River
Big Muskego Lake
The Fox River(Vernon)
The Fox River(Waukesha)
Beaver Lake
Pewaukee Lake
Oconomowoc Lake
Little Muskego Lake