Perry Creek Rapids

Perry Creek Rapids - View below the falls

The area surrounding Black River Falls seem to be abundant with rapids and waterfalls. My next stop at Perry Creek Recreation Area is a unique and smaller park that doesn’t seem to get much traffic. Access to Perry Creek is quite easy on a short and well maintained hiking trail. You will quickly come to … Read more

Ni-ho-kha-wa-ne-ey-ja

Ni-ho-kha-wa-ne-ey-ja

While still in the Black River Falls area I noticed the map was showing a water feature just below the dam in the downtown area labeled “Ni-ho-kha-wa-ne-ey-ja”, a Winnebago name which had me intrigued. Searching online, Google books shows an excerpt of this book giving the translation “where the black water goes over the rocks”. … Read more

Old Abe Rapids

Old Abe Rapids

Starting off the morning’s adventures and passed through Jim Falls, Wisconsin which has some huge rapids visible right from the road. I parked near this old abandoned bridge over the Chippewa River for a closer look. Directly below the bridge is a huge boulder field stretching hundreds of yards, maybe even a mile or more. … Read more

Hamilton Falls

Hamilton Falls

Just enough time for one last waterfall before sundown so I made a quick visit to Hamilton Falls in the tiny town of Wilson, Wisconsin. Access is very easy by following the signs towards Memorial Park on Hamilton Fall Road. Once you reach the metal gate at Eaton road keep going until the 3rd pull-out … Read more

Kinnikinnic State Park

Kinnikinnic State Park - Scenic Overlook of Kinnikinnic River Delta into St Croix River

More intermittent rain today but not enough precipitation to stop my plans. Next up was some hiking at Kinnikinnic State Park in River Falls, Wisconsin. To be honest I didn’t know much about this park before visiting but afterwards it’s easy to see why it’s a special place. From the far west parking area I … Read more

Big Falls (Seymour) from West Shore

Big Falls (Seymour)

In the length of time it took to consume a burrito the storms rolled by permitting me one last waterfall before the days end. Before we get there, please enjoy these gratuitous shots of the dramatic clouds over farms in the Eau Claire area. I had trouble deciding which version of this photo to share … Read more

Duncan Creek Rapids

Duncan Creek Rapids - Upstream view from bridge at Columbia Street

Another quick stop in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin at Duncan Creek Rapids. This one is very easy to access right from the bridge on Columbia Street just off WI-124.  The downstream views aren’t very exciting but there are smaller riffles for quite some distance. Upstream of the bridge is the real feature – several substantial rapids … Read more

Lake Wissota Rapids

Lake Wissota Rapids

Today was a bit less eventful due to the long drive & strong thunderstorms but I still squeezed in a few neat places.  First one was at Lake Wissota Rapids in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Access is quite easy through the Chippewa County Riverview Reserve / Area 178 nature park trails. Alongside the trail are some … Read more

Madeline Island

Madeline Island - Sunset at the La Pointe ferry docks

Due to some trails being closed at Big Bay State Park I was left extra time to explore La Pointe, Wisconsin on Madeline Island.  Sharing everything in one post for lack of a better place to put these odds & ends.  First step to visiting the island is actually getting there via the ferry that … Read more

Big Bay State Park – Bay View + Point Trail Loop

Big Bay State Park - Lake Superior Coastal Views

Bit of a late start this morning (had to move campsites, was the only way I could get a last minute reservation) but sometime around 10am I was on the trail.  Agenda for the morning was to hike Bay View and Point Trails looping back to the campground.  I started from camp towards the Bay … Read more