UPDATED 5/15/2012: The overview for
this THREE-DAY weekend trip is to paddle on Friday
from Spring Green toward Gotham and camp on a sandbar Friday night.
(Note: Due to high water conditions,
sandbar camping this weekend is extremely unlikely. Arrangements
have been made for group camping at the Wisconsin Riverside Resort,
information at right.) This trip is approximately 13 river
miles, with takeout at the Buena Vista landing. The sandbar camping
group will rendezvous with fresh paddlers for Saturday's paddle
AT BUENA VISTA LANDING and continue down river to
Blue River, WI. Camping will be coordinated for those that wish at
the Wisconsin River Resort in Spring Green. Sunday's route will be
"paddler's choice" on backwaters of the Lower Wisconsin River,
exploring "out and back" route to minimize logistics related to
group coordination and shuttling. (Registration forms
HERE)
Schedule and Trip Map
Click the map image at the right to open up a
printable copy. The planned - but approximate - schedule for
this paddle event:
Friday May 18
- 11:00 a.m. Unload at Wisconsin Riverside Resort, Spring
Green
- 11:30 a.m. Shuttle cars to Beuna Vista Landing in Gotham
area
- 1:00 p.m. Launch from Wisconsin Riverside Resort; group will
find a snack break location along the way
- 5:30 p.m. Approximate arrival at Buena Vista Landing
- Evening social activity/ group camping at Wisconsin Riverside
Resort
Saturday May 19 (Friday/ Saturday group)
(Sandbar camping not likely due to high river flow conditions)
- Sandbar campsite packup and cleanup
- Launch from sandbar, paddle to the Buena Vista Landing
- Join Saturday paddlers to Blue River
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Saturday May 19 (Saturday start group)
- 10:00 a.m.Meet and unload gear at Buena Vista Landing
- Shuttle option - ad hoc shuttle vehicles back to Spring Green,
or use commercial shuttle service from end of trip at Blue River to
launch point or Spring Green Riverside Resort
- Launch, paddle to Blue River
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Saturday May 19 - Combined Group
- 11:00 a.m. Launch full Saturday group from the Buena Vista
Landing
- 3:30 p.m. Arrive at Blue River landing
- Take commercial shuttle back to Buena Vista landing or
Wisconsin Riverside Resort in Spring Green
- Optional group camp/ dinner at Wisconsin Riverside Resort
Sunday May 20 - Tour of Backwaters!
- 10:00 a.m. Meet at Wisconsin Riverside Resort
- Travel to launch location and paddle - "out and back" route, no
shuttle required!
- May be hiking opportunity, too!
Lower Wisconsin River Notes - Rules of the
River!
Paddlers on the Lower Wisconsin River need to
follow special rules designed both to protect users of the river
and the environment:
- No glass containers of any sort are allowed in canoes, kayaks
or any other sort of water craft.
- Each paddler must carry a garbage bag for proper disposal of
trash encountered on the river or sandbars in the river.
- Be aware that strong river currents tend to shift sandbar
locations and water depths can change very quickly.
- Many stretches of shoreline along the Lower Wisconsin River are
heavily covered in poison ivy. Be very sure you know what you are
touching or walking through!
- Paddlers returning to clean waters (Upper Fox, inland lakes,
etc.) must disinfect their boats and paddling gear to prevent
spread of aquatic invasive species from the Lower Wisconsin
River.
Joining Us?
If you are planning to participate,
please let us know!! Just click the button at the right to launch
an email with your plans to our coordinating committee. Edit the
content and hit SEND! This does not commit you to the event or the
fee, but helps us plan. Thank you for your cooperation!
Shuttles
Arrangements have been made for
commercial shuttle service support for paddlers who want to drive
their vehicles to the Buena Vista landing on Friday. The shuttle
service will return them to the Spring Green launch site. Shuttle
service will also be available to carry paddlers, boats and gear
from the Blue River landing on Saturday back to the Buena Vista
landing. There is a nominal fee charged for this service by the
commercial service provider.
Participants who miss the shuttle
will be able to arrange a ride back to the launch either day to
retrieve their vehicle so they can return to the takeout and load
their boat and gear.
Details for the
commercial shuttle service:
- Friday 5/18: Unload paddle gear at Wisconsin Riverside Resort;
drive vehicle to Buena Vista Landing and ride shuttle back to
launch location.
- Saturday 5/19: Shuttle boats and gear from Blue River Landing
back to vehicle at Buena Vista landing.
Overnight Accommodations
Friday Night -Plans
to camp on a Lower Wisconsin River sandbar near Gotham are now
highly unlikely due to high river flows and potentially inclement
weather condtions. Group camping has been arranged at the Wisconsin
Riverside Resort for both Friday and Saturday night, and other
local motel or camping options are also readily available in the
area. If you want to camp on a sandbar, be sure to have:
- Camping gear - tent, sleeping bag, pads
- Food - water, cooking gear and utensils, for Friday night
dinner and Saturday morning breakfast
- Personal gear - bug repellent, sun screen, long sleeves,
toiletries and change of clothing
- Remember - NO GLASS containers and don't forget your garbage
bag!More information? Check out this WDNR Lower
Wisconsin State Riverway Visitor guide!
Saturday Night - Group
camping is available for FWHP 2012 participants at the Wisconsin
Riverside Resort in Spring Green for tents and RVs. The resort also
offers inside lodging and features an outstanding restaurant. For
more information, check out their website at http://www.wiriverside.com.
Other nearby lodging is available.
Boat Rental
Paddlers looking for boats and
paddle gear have several options for paddling the Lower Wisconsin
River. Several can be quickly found through a web search of
"wisconsin river kayak rental."Paddlers returning to clean waters
(Upper Fox, inland lakes, etc.) must disinfect their boats and
paddling gear to prevent spread of aquatic invasive species from
the Lower Wisconsin River. Disinfection can be accomplished by
thoroughly drying out all wet gear and your boat for a several day
period, or by wiping everything down with a dilute bleach
solution.