A kayaker heads down the Kinnickinnic River. responded back. In this sporty town on the Wisconsin River, just go with the flow. Kayaking is a great way to experience the outdoors, get healthy exercise, and have fun. She has dropoffs for 45 … I've been waiting a week for a response, and have not had one. Event Details. We had been able to kayak, swim, bike and listen to music, all in one day. But we spent most of our time a little farther down, where there was a sandy bank and a deep stretch where we could swim in the cool water, dog-paddling against the current or floating on top of it, letting it twirl us like oak seeds. It is clear, cold, and shallow different than most local rivers. Kayaking: The eight-mile stretch of the Lower Kinni is shallow and full of rocks, so single kayaks negotiate it better than canoes. So one August, my husband and I drove to River Falls, a college town that calls itself "The City on the Kinni.". No permits are needed. What hit is River Guide Kayaks, where novices to experienced kayakers can rent kayaks (along with paddles, dry storage, life jackets), receive basic kayaking instruction and get shuttled to and from start and end points, all to enjoy a several-hour trip down the Kinnickinnic River. The river-liberation movement recently claimed another victory. My wife, I and 10 & 8 year old daughters did the 1.5 hour kayak ride with these folks. Kinnickinnic River Guest Author: Sumner Matteson, The River Raptors Date Paddled: May 16th, 2017 Put-in: Glen Park, River Falls Take-out: Hwy F Distance: 8.1 Miles Time: 4.5 Hours Gradient: 13.3' per mile Water Level: Kinnickinnic River @ River Falls 158 CFS or 10.55' I awoke on 16 May to cloudy skies after a night of rumbling storms in the River Falls area of western Wisconsin. The Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks, Inc. is offering beginner, family-friendly kayak lessons. Think the sport looks cool? Delightful! On a fine day, go sightseeing in a canoe or kayak. For canoeists, this vast wilderness is the promised land. Its pristine water and its banks, so far unmarred by development, are zealously guarded by the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, Trout Unlimited and the many others who want to preserve it. With the river current rolling along at roughly 3 mph, it will take approximately 30 hours to paddle the entire 92 miles of the Lower Wisconsin River, should that be your goal. The Kinnickinnic River is an exceptional natural resource in western Wisconsin. After the road met Wisconsin 29/35, a paved bicycle trail took us to the edge of town. On rivers, guided paddle trips offer a one-way ticket with nonstop scenery. The last third is the most scenic, with sandstone cliffs and wooded bluffs that shade the water and perfume the air with the scent of pine. We have kayaked before but would still probably be a half step above beginner. All the person in the boat has to do is sit tight and steer. MidwestWeekends.com — Your Travel Guide to the Upper Midwest. The Kinnickinnic River originates from a series of springs upstream of Interstate 94 in central St. Croix County and flows through the City of River Falls into Pierce County and eventually enters the St. Croix River south of the City of Hudson in Kinnickinnic State Park. Camping: On the east side of River Falls, Hoffman Park has electric hook-ups, bathrooms and showers. Time (Tuesday) 10:45 am - 3:00 pm. Quickened by springs and creeks as it flows toward the St. Croix, the Kinni is no lazy river. Carrying the 12-foot kayaks down wooden steps, we put in below a dam, where three fishermen were casting flies; the Kinni is a Class I trout stream, full of native brown trout and, especially on its upper stretch, some brook trout. Benefits of the Kinni. The Kinnickinnic The Kinnickinnic Tour and Rental Description: The Kinnickinnic is the perfect blend of relaxing wilderness and high energy rapids. By then, we liked River Falls quite a lot, and I made a mental note to come every summer. From one cliff face, the "weeping cliffs," streams of water fell steadily, seemingly straight out of clumps of moss. Located in the heart of a river gorge that leads into the St. Croix. After we had agreed to a pick-up time at Kinnickinnic State Park, our shuttle driver loaded us and two Old Town Otter kayaks into a van and took us down to Glen Park. Boating, canoeing and kayaking The park includes a beautiful sand delta alive with boats and people enjoying the St. Croix River. On the Wolf River in northeast Wisconsin, novice kayakers learn the moves at Bear Paw resort. To shuttle yourself, leave a car at the Angler's Lot in Kinnickinnic State Park, off County Road F just north of its junction with County Road FF. Tried several times to schedule on weekends and they were always busy. Thanks to all the guys and gals who volunteered there time to make this a great morning on the Mississippi River. 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