"The face of the river, in time, became a wonderful book ... which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it had uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day." - Mark Twain
RIVER ADVENTURES
Kayaking/Canoeing
Our Lodge is located on the beautiful, history-rich Chippewa River, which you can spend hours staring at from the comfort of bedrooms, the dining room, the large deck, or from the banks themselves. But to really get to know the 'Chip,' you have to get on it or in it. For this, grab one of our seven kayaks or the canoe. There are essentially three different trips you can take down the river:
- From the Lodge to the Park - Duration: 30-40 minutes.
Hop in at the Lodge and drift downstream to the Ojibwa Park at the corner of G and Highway 70. Make sure to leave a truck at the park ahead of time so you can get back!
- From the Wannigan to the Lodge - Duration: about 1.5 - 2 hours.
Haul the boats up to the Wannigan and set in there, drifting casually or paddling fiercely back to the Lodge. Pack a lunch at stop at any number of islands along the way. Don't forget your sunscreen!
- From the Dam to the Lodge - Duration: 2.5 - 3.5 hours. Note: portaging is necessary, so travel light!
Throw the boats in the truck and make your way to the Dam. Hang a left by the Wannigan and keep going 5 - 10 minutes. You'll know the boat launch when you see it. Set in, paddle around the Dam, make your way up the hill (careful, waves can slam the boats into the rocks pretty hard as you're getting out), and set back in at the bottom. It's a bit of work, but totally worth it for the length and beauty of the ride!
Keep in mind that the Wannigan rents flat boats and canoes in case you need more, and you can also usually find someone at the bar to help with transport if necessary.
If motorless boating isn't your bag, grab a fishing pole and maybe find your self tangled with a musky, walleye, northern or any number of fish that lurk in the fresh, clean water. The area just below the Winter Dam is notorious for musky fishing. Ask Greg at the Wannigan about the best way to get there, since you're not allowed to drive down the Dam's official road.
Maybe you're looking for something a little more intense. In that case, there's always...
LAKE ADVENTURES
The Lake Chippewa Flowage
Boating, tubing, water skiing, wake boarding, pontooning, fishing, jet skiing, and anything else you can imagine is right at your fingertips! Hang a left by the Wannigan (coming from the lodge) and follow the road to the top-notch, state-maintained boat launch. The Flowage is huge and connects with many other area lakes, spanning 15,000 acres with 233 miles of shoreline. Make sure to bring a GPS device -- those without experience on the Flowage (and some with) can easily get lost.
Fishing licenses are available at many locations, including the Grab-n-Go just 5 miles up the road in Winter.
Looking for companies to rent jet skis, boats or other water toys? Check out our Attractions and Services page for a guide to this and other local resources.