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Wisconsin Waterways

Kayaking

Kayaking is about slowing down. Let the methodical dip, rise, drip, dip, rise, drip pattern of the paddle slicing through the water transport you to an oasis of relaxation. It is a chance to merge with nature and experience waterway travel in a capacity that brings you closer to wildlife, uninterrupted. Staying close to the shore can offer safety from wind and large waves as well as a vantage point to view wildlife such as frogs, turtles, blue heron, muskrat, squirrels, deer and more! Southwest Wisconsin has an abundance of kayaking venues available.

Grant County • Wisconsin River (Spring Green to Mississippi River) • Mississippi River (Wyalusing State Park, Prairie du Chien to O’Leary Lake, Kieler) • Grant River (west of Potosi) • Platte River (east of Potosi) Iowa County • Avoca Lake (Avoca) • Black Hawk Lake (Highland) • Cox Hollow Lake (Gov. Dodge State Park, Dodgeville) • Twin Valley Lake (Gov. Dodge State Park, Dodgeville) • Ludden Lake (Mineral Point) Lafayette County • Pecatonica River (90 miles of paddling spanning the entire county) • Fever River (Benton) • Lake Joy (privately owned lake and

U O Y e b d l u o h This s

It's a fantastic family outing!

waterways. All beverages should be consumed from plastic or metal containers.

campground near Belmont) • Yellow Stone Lake (Yellow Stone Lake State Park, Argyle) There are fee areas if you plan to moor in any of Wisconsin’s State Parks or if you use privately-owned docking areas. Whether you bring your own raft or find a rental company you are going to have a great time exploring the scenic waterways of Southwest Wisconsin. A few key tips! • Always use a life vest! • Use a dry box for your electronic devices. A stump or rock unseen in the water could tip your raft and scatter your personal items. Karabiners can attach your personal items to the handles on your kayak, too. • Do not bring glass containers on the

• Take all of your trash with you! Do not litter. • Check a weather forecast before you cast off; you should never paddle in severe weather. Water levels can rise quickly and lighting can strike you on the open water. • Know your skill compared to other boats around you. If you see a high-speed boat approaching, turn your hull into the boat’s wake to keep from tipping over in the large waves. • If you plan to kayak alone, let someone know your timeline and route and check in with them when you return or if your plan changes.

! n u s r e m m u s e h t soaking up

Kayaks Available

Argyle www.pectimetubing .com

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By Dena Nechkash

Photo by Dena Nechkash

Crawford County water fun by Jodi Peterson

An exceptional cruise experience

❚ Marquette Marina Open May 20 through October 11, Wednesday through Sunday. Gas, pump-out station, private slips also available. Walking distance to restaurants and the Casino Queen, 563-880-8970, Hwy. 18 W, Marquette, IA. ❚ Winneshiek Marina Open April - October, gas, pump-out station, overnight and seasonal docking, bait shop, restrooms and showers, private slips available. 3 miles north on County K. 608-326-2888. ❚ Lynxville Lock and Dam #9 Impounds largest federally managed pool on the Mississippi River known as Lake Winneshiek. Pool area is spring and fall migration stopover for thousands of ducks and Tundra Swans. Over 6,000 lockages annually. An observation deck is on site. Wisconsin DNR/Crawford County boat landing one mile south. A popular spot for fishing and viewing eagles, 608-874-4311, Hwy. 35 N, Lynxville, WI. ❚ “Upper Miss” Refuge The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge provides many opportunities to hunt, fish, camp, watch wildlife or enjoy a lazy afternoon. Highlights in the Prairie du Chien area include the Sturgeon Slough Hiking Trail, (one mile trail) accessed from the rest stop located on Highway 18 between Prairie du Chien and Marquette. Displays and information at the District Office located at 470 Cliffhaven Road, Prairie du Chien. 608-326-0515.

www.facebook.com/statueparkpdc

❚ Mississippi River Sculpture Park This park features life-sized bronze statues of historical figures from the area. Located along Bolvin St. on St. Feriole Island adjacent to the Villa Louis, this city park is open year round, free of charge. A picnic shelter is available, call 608-326-7207 for reservation, www.statuepark.org.

The Riverboat Twilight delivers one of the most exceptional cruise experiences in the Midwest. Most of us have a mental picture of the Mississippi that has been formed from our view from the shore and bridges. Nothing prepares you for the experience of seeing the valley from the river side. This vast wilderness is hidden smack in the center of the densely populated center of our country. Who knew? A romantic could expound on the size, the commerce, the wildlife, the hidden qualities and the fact that the area is not much changed from the early explorer’s times. This is the river Mark Twain knew, not the one from our school geography books. The great Upper Mississippi River Valley can only be experienced by boat. Fly-over’s won’t do, there are few roads along the shore and small boats are too limited in range and too low in the water to appreciate the true majesty of the many islands, marshlands and palisades along the Upper Mississippi River. The Riverboat Twilight delivers one of the most exceptional cruise experiences in the Midwest. And it’s not just a cruise; it’s a conduit to reconnection, to relaxation and ultimately renewal. Marvel at the majestic Mississippi river while relaxing in style aboard a stunningly replicated Victorian Riverboat. Allow yourself to be pampered by the Twilight’s attentive, informative and welcoming crew. Delicious meals are prepared on board in the lower galley, while a full bar complete with top shelf liquors provides custom drinks to enhance your experience. Where the river runs deep, so do the discoveries. The Riverboat Twilight delivers one of the most exceptional cruise experiences in the Midwest. If you haven’t seen the river from the Twilight, you haven’t seen it. Discover us at riverboattwilight.com.

Stoughton

As we embark on a new season, our commitment to strengthening our community and local businesses has never been stronger!

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Everybody’s tubin’ at Pec Time! We invite you to come visit us in Argyle, Wisconsin and enjoy an afternoon floating down the Pecatonica River. It will take you about 3½-4 hours to get down river and it’s worth every bit of that time! Beautiful scenery, happy cows and lots of wildlife await you, not to mention a heck of a good time soaking up some sun and havin’ a whole lotta fun! It’s a great way for families and friends to spend the hot summer days. Don’t forget to pack a cooler, but leave the glass bottles at home, everyone’s bare feet will be happy. Come join us each summer, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. We are openFriday-Sunday, plus the holidays of Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED- You can get on the water anytime between 10:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. CASH ONLY at check in

THINGS TO BRING - Waterproof phone case, camera, speakers and radio - Sunscreen - Bugspray - Lots of water to keep hydrated - Sunglasses - Water toys for the kids How It Works We keep it simple for you! Everyone will pay for their tube/kayak rental and sign the liability waiver in our home office at 112 South State Street. Consider renting a paddle, it helps guide you and you only need 1 or 2 per group. We can even hold your keys for you in the office. Once you are all ready to go you will load one of our buses with your cooler and anything you want to bring on the river with you (whatever goes on the river with

you, must also come off the river with you). We will then transport you to the entry landing and help get your tube/kayak unloaded and you can get set on your way! REMINDER - Our standard Tube and Kayaks are supplied with a life vest, however, our Youth Tube with a solid bottom IS NOT. If your child desires a solid bottom tube we require you to provide a size appropriate life vest/jacket.

Your river float will be about 3½-4 hrs., depending on river current, and any upstream breeze. There is beautiful scenery to take in and a lot of wildlife to see! Relax, enjoy the summer day, and have a blast with your family and friends. The exit landing will be clearly marked and located on the left side of the river. Our buses will arrive about every 20 to 30 minutes for pick up. There are recycling and trash bins, and a port-a-potty for your use while you wait for the next bus to arrive. Once your bus arrives the driver will get tubes loaded onto our trailer and you can take your seat. Don’t forget your coolers! Our drivers will bring you back to our building, where you can disembark. Once back at the office feel free to use the wash station and changing rooms and don’t forget your keys! We hope to see you this summer! Check out our website for more information at www. pectimetubing.com

Safety tips for water sports enthusiasts

Bodies of water like lakes, rivers and oceans often elicit fond memories of fun times spent under the sun. Safety should always be a priority when spending time on the water, especially when participating in water sports, including swimming and water skiing. According to the World Health Organization, more than 40 people die by drowning every hour of every day, which equates to around 372,000 deaths each year. Many of those deaths, the vast majority of which occur in low- or middle-income countries, are preventable, and safety is at the core of drowning prevention. Though drowning incidents are not as prevalent in the United States and Canada as they are elsewhere in the world, the popularity of water sports in both countries underscores the importance of revisiting the various ways to stay safe when out on the water. ❚ Take water sports lessons. The carefree nature of spring

and summer can make it easy for water sports enthusiasts to forgo lessons before trying their hands at water skiing and wakeboarding. But such lessons can teach people techniques that can keep them safe on the water. Courses teach everything from how to get up and out of the water to how to properly handle a tow rope. They also can teach boaters how to navigate waters while towing skiers, tubers and wakeboarders. ❚ Learn hand signals and go over them before getting in the water. The National Safety Council emphasizes the importance of basic hand signals, which can be used to help boaters communicate with the people they’re towing. Hand signals are vital because water sports tend to be noisy, so nonverbal communication may be the only way boaters can communicate with the people they’re towing. Signals can be used to communicate anything from directions of turns to speed requests to the condition of the person being towed. A list of hand signals can be found at www.boaterexam.com/safety/safety-common-hand-signals.aspx. ❚ Inspect tow lines. The NSC advises inspecting tow lines prior to beginning. Such inspections can confirm that tow

lines are not caught in the propeller or wrapped around anyone before the activity begins. ❚ Wait for the propeller to stop before getting back on the boat. People being towed should always wait for propellers to stop before climbing back into the boat. It doesn’t take long for propellers to stop, and those extra few seconds can dramatically reduce risks for accidents or injuries. ❚ Avoid water sports at night. Visibility is compromised once the sun goes down. That can make it hard for boaters to see any obstacles that might appear in the water, and it also makes it very difficult for them to communicate with the people they’re towing. As a result of such difficulties, the NSC urges water sports enthusiasts to only engage in such activities during daylight hours. Water sports make summer even more fun. Safety should always be the utmost priority for anyone involved in such activities. www.metrocreativeconnection.com

Visit...

www.experiencemississippiriver.com

Pecatonica River TRAILS PARK First Come - First Served - No Reservations Historic Downtown Darlington, WI Pecatonica River Cheese Country Recreation Trail 32 campsites: 30 electric sites, $25/night and 2 non-electric sites, $15/night Sites include fire ring, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, RV dump station, playground equipment, canoe launch, handicapped fishing pier.

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