Canoeing the Oconto River,
Wisconsin
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Expert paddler Mike Svob
has been canoeing and kayaking the rivers of the Midwest for 30 years.
He paddled more than a thousand miles to complete these books. Below
are brief descriptions of the canoe trips that Mike goes into detail
with in his books with maps. The maps are very useful, showing rapids,
take in and take out points and other things of interest. |
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Oconto 1-Tar
Dam Road to Bagley Rapids- Oconto
County-9.5 miles. Definitly not for
beginners, this stretch offers a succession
of Class II boulder gardens. High
water raises the danger level. Put
in downstream right from the Tar Dam
Road bridge. This is private property
so ask permission from the owner.
The river starts off narrow with a
boulder strewn rapids followed by
a stretch of flatwater. After another
Class II rapids a flatwater stretch
leads to Loon Rapids at 2 miles.As
the Hwy. 32 bridge comes up there
is a long winding Class II rapids.
After the Hwy. 32 bridge there is
a very long continuous Class II boulder
garden that continues for a long time.Before
the old Krammer Dam at 5 miles you
come on to some quiet water. After
the river narrows the rapids resume.
A long stretch of flatwater takes
you under the County W bridge. As
you approach the Bagley Rapids Campground
the rapids resume.Take out at the
campground if you are registered or
otherwise take out a couple hundred
yards downstream on river left.
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Oconto
2-Underhill
to Oconto Falls- Shawano and Oconto
County-16.8 miles. This is an excellent
stretch for novices and quiet water
paddlers. Stay off the river when the
water is high. Put in at the city park
at Underhill, upstream from the Hwy.
Vbridge. Mud banks line the river for
the next 11 miles.After the Hwy. 22
bridge at 3.9 miles several gravel bars
jut out from the right shore. Approaching
Pulcifer the river is fairly wide and
deep. All the way to County BB the river
is consistently wide at about 75 feet.
A pleasant wayside landing is located
upstream right at the Hwy. 32 bridge.
The last 5.5 miles from the bridge to
Oconto Falls has virtuallyno current,
so you will be doing alot of paddling.
Take out at the public landing on the
left side of the lake, alongside Hwy
22, upstream from the dam.
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Oconto
3-Hwy.
141 to the Bay-Oconto County-12 miles.
This is a pleasant mix of wooded shoreline
and developed surroundings, with good
fishing. You will find excellent camping
in Oconto at Holtwood Park. Water levels
are largely dependant on the volume
of release from the Machickanee Flowage
dam at Stiles. Put in at the Machickanee
Public boat landing at the Hwy. 141
bridge. The river begins fairly narrow
with good current.There are many gentle
bends in the first couple of miles.At
3.5 miles you go under the Cty. J bridge.Suzie's
Rapidsappears downstream at 7.6 miles,
a Class I S curve with rocks and gravel
bars. Soon Copper Culture Park appearson
the left on the west edge of Oconto.
Take out just before the mouth of the
river at the public boat landing on
the left bank at Breakwater Park.
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