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8 Maunesha River: MARSHALL TO WATERLOO

• THE • FACTS •

Put-in/take-out Access road off Waterloo Road/Firemen’s Park in Waterloo. See “The Flavor” for an alternative put-in.

Distance/time 8.2 mi/Allow for 4 hrs

Gradient/water level 6 fpm/There is no gage for the Maunesha. For the best run of the rapids, do this early in spring or after a hard rain. In downtown Waterloo, two bridges cross the river on Madison Street/WI 19; scout the water at the bridges, and if it is high enough here to paddle without scraping, you will be fine upstream, too.

Water type Riffles, several Class I–II ledges, and 1 mile of Class I rapids

Canoe or kayak Kayak

Skill level Experienced

Time of year to paddle Early spring, after a hard rain, or anytime there’s enough water

Landscape Woods, farms, drumlin hills, marsh, urban downtown

OVERVIEW This fun and scenic trip offers considerable diversity in only 8 miles, including a scenic mill, a hometown amusement park, rustic railroad bridges, old oaks, drumlins, and several small but reputable rapids. It’s well worth the occasional tree to dodge or portage, which you will definitely encounter. Expect to see deer, turtles, hawks, sandhill cranes, geese, clams, and fish.

CAR SHUTTLE 4.2 miles. From the take-out, head south on Hendricks Street, then turn right onto East Madison Street/WI 19. (Leaving downtown Waterloo, you’ll cross the river four times on WI 19. Any of these bridges is a good place to scout the river for water level.) Stay on WI 19 until you enter Marshall. Turn right on Cherry Lane, then left on Waterloo Road. Cross the river once. Just before the stop sign at Hubbell Street and WI 73, turn left onto the dirt road or park on Waterloo Road.

BIKE SHUTTLE 5.5 miles. Follow the directions above, but turn right off of WI 19 onto Canal Road as you leave the town of Waterloo; then turn left onto Cherry Lane, then right onto Waterloo Road.

TAKE-OUT N43° 11.359' W88° 58.999'

PUT-IN N43° 10.027' W89° 03.607'

• THE • FLAVOR •

PUT IN AT THE END OF AN INCONSPICUOUS ACCESS ROAD off of Waterloo Road near the bridge and dam. This will be on the north bank of the river, or river left, below the dam. The road here is muddy and rutty. If it’s impassable, you’ll have to schlep your boat and gear to the water (a very short walk) or put in at the other Waterloo Road bridge on the downstream side, river right, where a gravel area leads to the river (N43° 10.093’ W89° 02.803’).

The current here is swift as the water comes out of the dam. On the opposite bank is a scenic old mill. Only 200 feet downstream, a concrete ledge offers the first of several light rapids on this trip. Run the ledge toward the left side. The river is usually muddy and about 50 feet wide. Shortly downstream, you’ll probably be treated to the sights and sounds of a quaint amusement park called Little Amerricka, depending on the time of year. A straightaway leads you to the first of six times you’ll paddle under WI 19. After a few meanders, you’ll see a small bridge on your right. If you follow this detour only 25 yards, you’ll end up at an adorable tyke-sized railroad bridge that’s part of the park above a fun spillway.

An occasional set of riffles will lead you to the next two bridges at WI 19 and Koch Drive, respectively. There will be obstructions to avoid here and there, but none that should require portaging. Just after the next bridge at Waterloo Road, you’ll see a couple of huge old bur oak trees at water’s edge on the left. These sentinels are particularly attractive in spring and late fall. As the river then bends to the left, a gentle drumlin appears on the right. For a moment, you’ll paddle parallel to but then cross under a set of power lines.

After the power lines, the river will narrow, the gradient will increase, and the current will pick up some speed. A tall bank with pine trees lines the left as you approach the first railroad bridge, 20 feet tall on wooden piers. Be careful passing underneath. Below the bridge is a fallen tree with little clearance. You can relax for a moment as the current slackens and the landscape flattens out. You’ll see a few farms on the left-hand side as the Maunesha heads north. Just after the modest bridge at the intersection of Canal Street and Cherry Lane, the Maunesha changes its directional mind and now heads south. Here, you will encounter some downed trees, most of which can usually be negotiated without your having to portage. A second railroad bridge soon appears, this one supported by attractive limestone foundations.

Following an abrupt left-hand bend, the river can be obstructed by deadfall where again the current will quicken. Depending on water levels, there may be some ledges. Portage if the conditions feel unsafe. Soon the left bank rises 40 feet high; the setting is woodsy and remote, almost wild-feeling. For a moment, the woods on the right will clear and you’ll see an old red barn, but then the river will veer to the left and back into the woods. WI 19 will appear on your right and run parallel to the river for a short while. At this point, the landscape is all marsh. If water conditions allow and you’re feeling adventurous, you can portage around a beaver’s nest and explore the backwaters in between the mainstream and WI 19, a fun and unique diversion.

A relaxed current and a straightaway take you to the third and final railroad bridge. This one is the most prominent but also the most intimidating. Roughly 30 feet high and supported by a system of wooden piers, it affords only one open slot between piers to paddle through, followed by a 2- to 3-foot drop. Furthermore, old piers remain just below the drop on both left and right. You need to have solid boat control and line up for this just right. If in doubt, portage on the left or right.

After the bridge, the river passes a large malt factory on the right, signaling the beginning of Waterloo. One of the best rapids lies on the left side of the river, just after the factory. The river takes a sharp left and runs parallel to the train tracks before passing underneath WI 19 and another set of power lines. In a little more than 100 yards, another set of fun rapids appears, where an old dam had been removed.

Expect to encounter obstacles while paddling the Maunesha.

What might be the most exhilarating part of this trip is saved for last as the gradient steepens near downtown Waterloo. You’ll pass under WI 19 again, immediately followed by a pedestrian footbridge and then a second footbridge during a southward horseshoe bend. Another WI 19 bridge comes next, followed by another horseshoe bend, this one going north eventually. Positively delightful riffles, light Class I rapids, and even some humble standing waves await you in this downtown stretch.

On the way to yet one last bridge at WI 19, you’ll see a few houses on the right; then, immediately below the bridge, are some handsome late-1800s brick buildings with rough-hewn facades lining the river. A stretch of easy riffles passes along backyards, one last footbridge, and then some parks. After a couple of baseball diamonds on the left and the wastewater-treatment facility on the right, you’ll see a bridge shortly downstream. Look for the parking lot on the right-hand side and take out wherever is convenient and/or closest to your car or bike. (You don’t want to go as far down as the bridge for this take-out, as there’s no practical place on the banks of the river to do so, and the parking lot is on the upstream side of the bridge.)

• THE • FUDGE •

ADDITIONAL TRIPS If you’re interested in exploring the Maunesha but you don’t yet possess the experience for the rapids of the trip described above, consider instead the final leg of the Maunesha River, from Waterloo to the town of Portland, where it feeds the Crawfish River (Crawfish River B). It’s a pretty section, but deadfall is problematic. Protected public land is abundant, but it lacks the diversity and swift current of the trip as described above. Upstream, the river runs as straight as a channelized arrow through Deansville State Wildlife Area; to run it, you can put in at CR TT and paddle upstream and back down as far as conditions allow (there will be some maneuvering and portaging), as there is virtually no current. Additionally, Appendix B for a short but unique trip on the upper Maunesha . . . in the middle of US 151!

CAMPING Charles Langer Family Park (860 Canal Road, Marshall; 608-655-4017)

RENTALS Rutabaga Paddlesports (220 W. Broadway, Madison; 608-223-9300)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT For a great bite to eat in a cool restaurant, check out Soular Pizza Grill (1003 N. Monroe St., Waterloo; 920-478-4441).

SHOUT-OUT Little Amerricka amusement park (700 E. Main St., Marshall; 608-620-5224, littleamerricka.com) offers 26 rides and attractions and features “restored rides from classic amusement parks of a bygone era.”