Best Places to Kayak in Southern Wisconsin
Wisconsin may be known for cheese and the Green Bay Packers, but it’s also a paddler’s dreamland with over 15,000 lakes and rivers – offering kayakers everything from peaceful lakes to challenging rapids for kayaking adventures of every sort!
The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage has long been likened to Wisconsin’s Boundary Waters, featuring an intricate maze of islands and bays connected by causeways and bridges. You’ll encounter beautiful rock formations and cliffs along its route.
Clark Lake
Clark Lake is a stunning forest oasis nestled at the center of Kent. With its serene atmosphere and peaceful fishing dock, boardwalks and bridges to stroll, and wildlife aplenty to spot, visitors to Clark Lake can find respite from city life at Clark Lake Park. Additionally, this park also features a BMX track for riders of all abilities as well as access to Green River Trail.
Community pride runs deep here, and residents have taken many measures to preserve local history. One popular effort was adding a virtual artifact from 2013 onto this website: an illustrated map by Cincinnati Northern Railroad surveyor depicting Clark Lake at its peak as a recreational destination in 1844.
At its heart is an exquisite landscape of boreal forest, tundra, freshwater lakes and rivers, snow- and glacier-capped mountains, coastal beaches and salt marshes, with each ecosystem possessing its own set of plants and animals. Some, like bears or blueberries, can exist across multiple environments while others require special conditions in order to thrive.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is an exquisite piece of nature, filled with volcanic eruptions, salmon streams, craggy mountains, turquoise lakes, indigenous cultures still dependent on the land for survival, brown and black bears, the Mulchatna caribou herd of 100,000, Dall sheep – to name but a few of its attractions!
There are a variety of lodges throughout the park that provide an all-inclusive wilderness experience, perfect for anglers, wildlife enthusiasts and anyone wanting to simply relax. These lodges provide comfortable accommodations, meals and transportation in addition to activities such as fly fishing, bear watching and hiking.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve oversees one of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fisheries, managed by Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Each year they monitor sockeye populations within its watershed – which is protected further by Chilikadrotna, Tlikakila, and Mulchatna Rivers which have been designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in this park’s watershed.
Marl Lake
Marl Lake is a shallow lake situated between Fenton and Tyrone in southern Michigan. An all-sports lake, Marl is popular among residents due to its all-sports nature and natural surroundings. Summer months offer the best time for visiting, when its warm temperatures bring out its Caribbean blue hue courtesy of calcite particles dissolving into its waters – the lake forms part of South Higgins Lake State Park for outdoor enthusiasts to take pleasure from nature’s offerings.
Lake Waushara boasts a maximum depth of 35 feet and is located in Waushara County. It provides shelter to various fish species such as Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike and offers excellent opportunities for boating and kayaking activities.
Marl lakes are lakes containing carbonate sediments known as “marl.” They typically exhibit high alkalinity, clear to deep blue-green water, and boast an abundant community of macrophytes including Najas, Potamogeton and Chara species. Marl lakes can be found all around the world where carbonate geology exists and their ecology and palaeolimnology have been well studied; furthermore they are recognised as important habitats in Europe, and receive special protection via European Union Habitats Directive.
Like other lakes, marl lakes contain highly unstable and organic-rich sediments which quickly erode and redeposit, leaving them susceptible to pollution from agriculture in their catchments or human sewage and industrial effluents as well as silting or changes in level caused by drainage and invasive species.
Not only do these lakes boast distinctive ecological communities, but the sediments found within can also be dated with radiocarbon dating techniques and used as climate proxies over time. For instance, Pretty Lake in Indiana contains chlorophyll degradation products which allow researchers to reconstruct its history of biological productivity.
Michigan Lakes Initiative’s Michigan Lakes Report details the condition of many Michigan waters and provides recommendations for their protection and conservation. The initiative brings together communities, organizations and businesses within Michigan in an effort to preserve its lakes as ecosystems for both people and wildlife alike.
Devil’s Lake State Park
The park’s famed bluffs, formed over 1.6 billion years ago, are geological marvels that you can enjoy during any season. You’ll also love walking along its trails during summer when foliage turns vibrant green – not to mention its nature center for learning about local ecology and programs such as snakes, animal skulls, worms, rock climbing beetles Indian mounds and birds!
After hiking the 29 miles of trails, enjoy boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming in the lake. Take a guided kayak tour for even more excitement if desired! This peaceful lake boasts clear water of high quality as gas motors are prohibited on it; additionally rowboats paddleboats and kayaks can be rented at the park concession for added fun!
Devil’s Lake State Park is an ideal destination, whether for just the day or camping overnight. Family-friendly attractions here include fishing and birdwatching activities or simply lounging by the water – plus there’s also a playground and picnic area! Camping sites feature electric hookups as well as clean restrooms and showers!
Ice Age Campground, Quartzite Campground and Northern Lights Campground make up the campgrounds within the park and each offers their own set of amenities – Ice Age is for RVs while Northern Lights features both wooded electric sites as well as non-electric ones surrounded by forest for those who seek an escape from modern life.
While the park provides recreational activities, it also possesses an incredible history of Native American culture. The Ho-Chunk people believe that its effigy mounds represent the battle between thunderbirds and water spirits – they should not be disturbed as part of this ancient ceremony.
Devil’s Lake State Park opens up certain sections of its grounds for hunting in winter months and provides snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow sledding, popular sledding hills, and equipment checkout services for ice fishing equipment – plus it is an ideal place for stargazing!
Lake Geneva
Geneva is an idyllic lakeshore village brimming with lakefront villas, Gilded Age mansions, modern astrophysics laboratories and wineries – as well as being host to outdoor activities and wineries year-round. No matter the season – be it golfing, gourmet dining or visiting an animal park; Geneva has something special in store for every visitor.
Geneva is known as the “Napa Valley of the Midwest”, boasting wineries, restaurants and an inviting lakeshore in southwestern Wisconsin. Other recreational opportunities can be found here such as boating, fishing, hiking and camping – making Geneva an increasingly popular tourist destination from Chicagoland region.
Lake Geneva can be enjoyed for much less than you might imagine, with plenty to offer visitors of all budgets. Lakeside resorts and hotels, plus other accommodations such as campgrounds offer affordable getaways – some even provide full spa services!
Are you seeking relaxation on the water? Try cruising, kayaking or paddling along the shoreline. Swimming and walking along Geneva Lakeshore Path – which spans over two miles – is also great ways to unwind on this gorgeous trail that opens year-round. Or explore further with White River Bike Trail which covers 11.4 miles moderately trafficked point-to-point trail that also allows dogs and horses.
An alternative way of enjoying Lake Superior is renting a scooter. These easy-to-use devices are suitable for people of all ages and skill levels. A full orientation and rider training session is offered before each scooter rental. Scooting offers an inexpensive way of seeing its beauty without incurring expensive boat rental or guided tour fees.
Geneva Lake is one of the finest spots in Southern Wisconsin for kayaking, but there are other attractions worth experiencing as well. One such site is Black Point Estate – once owned by Chicago beer tycoon Conrad Seipp – featuring luxurious interiors and observatory views to tour.
