Packed to Paddle

Duck Creek - Wisconsin

Date: July 5, 2022; Length: 6 miles; Duration: 2 hours 15 min

Put In: County G Bridge

Side of the road parking with rustic access options. The downstream left side of the bridge had a cleared path leading to the water.

Takeout: Duck Creek Rd Bridge

Bridge with rustic access options. I took out on the upstream left side of the bridge where there is a small cleared spot. The bridge is located on a short trail with gates on both ends (parked by the south gate).

Paddling Experience = 3/5

The creek does a lot of winding early on but lacks much of a current. Later on there are more wide open stretches which more often than not are covered with vegetation.

Natural Scenery = 4/5

This 6-mile section only has one other access option a half mile before the takeout and few houses in sight. The creek is clear and has grass banks with trees off in the distance, giving an open marshy feel.

Solitude = 5/5

Access is limited and the surroundings are open but natural. I didn't come across any other people while out on the water.

Gradient & Water Level

Gradient: Flatwater with a semblance of a current at times.
Experience Paddling at this Water Level: There was plenty of water for paddling at this level.

Gauge Information
Here is information on stream gauge readings around the date of this paddle (Note: No gauge for Duck Creek.):

Overall Experience

Planning: I came across Duck Creek by just scanning around on Google Maps and then read up on past trips taken by the websites Miles Paddled and Wisconsin River Trips. One completed a 3-mile section just upstream of the other’s 6-mile section, with 9 miles of possibility to choose from. The 3-mile section had dams and warnings of issues with property owners. The 6-mile section from County G to Duck Creek road became my choice.

Shuttle: Duck Creek road was my takeout and is gated off to motorized vehicles for a good portion of it including the bridge. I parked my car by the south gate and hiked the trail portion of Duck Creek road passing the bridge, continuing on the remaining 5.4 mile route of county roads over to the put in, in a little over an hour and a half.

Paddling: Early on the paddling was decent with the narrow winding nature of the creek. Water level and downed trees were never an issue but the water lacked a current. In the second half of this trip the creek widened out at times with vegetation covering much of the water, making paddling more of a grind.

Observations: The water was clear, with grass banks and trees off in the distance. A few bridges occurred early on but were either railroad or private, while houses were rarely in sight. I didn’t come across any other people on or off the water but did see some ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, a turtle, and three deer.

Reflecting: The solitude and early on winding to the creek were some of my favorite parts to this trips. But I’ll also remember the flat vegetation covered water to paddle through. So I’m content with paddling this section of Duck Creek being a one time thing.