Things to do nearLower Wisconsin State Riverway

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway was established in 1989 to preserve one of the few remaining undammed river corridors in the upper Midwest, protecting a broad floodplain that includes oak savannas, wetlands, and the dramatic sandstone and limestone bluffs that define this corner of southwestern Wisconsin. Stretching roughly 92 miles from Prairie du Sac downstream to where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi near Wyalusing, the riverway encompasses more than 80,000 acres of largely public land managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Visitors come primarily to paddle the wide, sandy river, which moves at a gentle pace and is well suited to canoes and kayaks of all experience levels. Sandbars appear and disappear with the seasons, creating natural campsites that can be used for free under state regulations. The surrounding uplands offer hiking trails that climb to bluff-top overlooks with sweeping views of the river valley below. Wildlife is abundant throughout the corridor, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, river otters, and a healthy population of bald eagles.

The town of Muscoda, situated along the riverway's midsection, serves as a practical base with river access points and local services nearby. Anglers prize the river for walleye, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. The combination of accessible paddling, free primitive camping, rich wildlife, and a landscape that has changed little in character over centuries makes the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway a genuinely rewarding destination for anyone drawn to unhurried time on a living river.