PADDLING

Enjoy the relaxing glide of a canoe or kayak on any local lake or take a day trip down the Wisconsin River. The peace and tranquility of Conover’s heavily wooded waterways allow relaxation for the quiet sport enthusiast.

Wisconsin River Carry-In Access Points in Conover

• Rummels Road

• Hegemann Road & County Highway K West

• River Road

• Heart Lake Road

Upper Buckatabon Springs State Natural Area

This natural area features a complex of at least five undeveloped soft-water springs and spring ponds that drain into the upper reaches of the Wisconsin River.

From the intersection of US Highway 45 and County K West go 4.7

Wisconsin River Centennial Trail-Trip 1

Map Link: https://www.vilaswi.com/wi-river-centennial-trail-trip-1/

Length: 25 miles

Time: 11.5 hours

This first trip from the dam on Lac Vieux Desert to the River Road Landing in Conover runs the gamut from narrow but passable (be prepared for beaver dams and deadfalls) through twists and turns (may need to walk through a stretch of low hazard rapids) to broad floodplain with occasional oxbows and moderately fast current. There are some portages (by the dam, across the road, and some beaver dams). There are also several landings suitable for take-out or put-in. There are also two campsites (one night only) along the route at Rummels Road and the Buckatabon Creek.

Wisconsin River Centennial Trail-Trip 2

Map link: https://www.vilaswi.com/wi-river-centennial-trail-trip-2/

Length: 23 miles

Time: 9 hours

This trip segment from the Riv er Road Landing in Conover to the beginning of the Rainbow Flow age crosses the broad floodplains through Watersmeet Lake (slow cur rent with boat traffic) to the Otter Rapids Dam area. From the dam to Hwy O, the tailwater area is fast with many boulders. The river chan nel narrows through the wooded uplands and marshy lowlands to the beginning of the Rainbow Flowage. Winds can make crossing the flowage difficult. There are portages by the dams along with several landings suitable for take-out or put-in. No camping is allowed on the reservoir shoreline.