Canoeing and Kayaking Water Trails in Wisconsin

• Water trails in state parks and forests
• Flowages and other DNR properties
• Wild and Scenic Rivers
• Other water trails in Wisconsin
• Biking and paddling trails
• More information

With more than 15,000 lakes, 43,000 miles of rivers, and 659 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, there is no shortage of paddling opportunities in Wisconsin. Water trails provide a network of access points, resting places and attractions for users of water craft on lakes and rivers. In Wisconsin, some trails are interpretive routes, some take paddlers to campsites, some connect communities, but all allow visitors to experience the natural beauty of our state by this original mode of transportation.

Water trails in state parks and forests

The following parks and forests have specific mapped or marked water trail routes.

• Big Bay State Park - Lake Superior Water Trail
• Brule River State Forest
• Buckhorn State Park
• Flambeau River State Forest [exit DNR]
• Northern Highand-American Legion State Forest
• Perrot State Park
• Peshtigo River State Forest
• Wyalusing State Park

In addition, planning is underway for a Wisconsin Segment of the Lake Michigan Water Trail

A specially adapted kayak is available for use by people with disabilities at Buckhorn, Devil's Lake, Mirror Lake, and Perrot state parks.

Flowages and other DNR properties

• Chippewa Flowage
• Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
• Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area

Wild and Scenic Rivers

Wisconsin's Wild and Scenic Rivers are great places to paddle.

• Wisconsin's Wild and Scenic Rivers
• Pine and Popple Wild Rivers
• Pike Wild River
• Totagatic Wild River
• National Wild and Scenic Rivers System [exit DNR]

Other water trails in Wisconsin

• Capitol Water Trails (Dane County) [exit DNR]
• Jefferson County Waterways [exit DNR]
• Kickapoo River [exit DNR]
• Lake Michigan Water Trail [exit DNR]
• Lower Wisconsin State Riverway [exit DNR]
• Milwaukee Urban Water Trail [exit DNR]
• Rhinelander Whitewater Trail [exit DNR]
• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway [exit DNR]
• Yahara Waterways Trail (Madison) [exit DNR]

Are you working on a water trail project? We'd love to hear about it. Contact the state trails coordinator.

Biking and paddling trails

Several of Wisconsin's state trails are ideal for bike and paddle trips. Sections of these former rail corridors parallel rivers and streams. You can paddle downstream and then bike back to your starting point or vice versa. Most of these trails require a state trail pass for bikers age 16 and older.

• 400 State Trail (Baraboo River)
• Ahnapee State Trail (Ahnapee River)
• Chippewa River State Trail
• Great River State Trail (Mississippi River)
• Oconto River State Trail
• Old Abe State Trail (Chippewa River)
• Red Cedar State Trail (Red Cedar River)
• Sugar River State Trail

More information

• American Whitewater [exit DNR]
• River Alliance of Wisconsin – dams [exit DNR]
• River Alliance of Wisconsin – water trails [exit DNR]
• National Park Service – Rivers and Trails Program [exit DNR]
• UW Extension – Lakes Program [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin Association of Lakes [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin boat and developed fishing shore access
• Wisconsin Department of Tourism - paddlesports [exit DNR]
• Iowa water trails [exit DNR]
• Minnesota water trails [exit DNR]