Tag Archives: Fox Wisconsin Heritage Parkway

Nature Current BIG Canoe Participating on Fox – Wisconsin Heritage Parkway Paddles

The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway and the North East Wisconsin Paddlers are proud to bring you the 2013 Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Paddles. This annual paddling series is designed to celebrate and explore the Parkway region.

This year our Nature Current Voyageur canoe will be joining the paddlers starting on June 22nd in Princeton and all the rest of the paddles in the series through the Sept. 28th Appleton Locks Paddle.  If you would like a ride with us on one of the these Heritage Paddles please get in touch with Mark at Nature Current. 

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Upper Fox River

June 22-23: Upper Fox Paddles
22 – Princeton to Berlin
Camp at Berlin’s Riverside Park
23 – Winneconne to Terrell Island to Rainbow Park in Oshkosh
Meet & shuttle: 9:30-10:30 AM; Launch 11 AM

Lower Fox River

July 20: Park-to-Park Paddle
Shattuck Park (Neenah) to Lutz Park (Appleton)
Meet & shuttle: 7:30-9 AM; Launch 9:30 AM

August 17: Tall Ships Paddle
De Pere to Green Bay
Paddle among replicas of historic sailing ships
Meet & shuttle: 8-9 AM; Launch 9:30 AM

September 28: Appleton Locks Paddle
Lutz Park (Appleton) to Sunset Point Park (Kimberly)
Paddle through Appleton’s four hand-operated locks
Meet & shuttle: 8-9 AM; Launch 9:30 AM

Heritage Paddle Activities

Paddlers are encouraged to seek additional heritage opportunities at each paddle event.

June 22-23: Upper Fox Paddles
Two voyageur canoes and two DNR canoes will be available. On June 23, Pierre Le Blanc will interpret fur trader times as a passenger from one of the canoes during the paddle.

July 20: Park-to-Park Paddle
Two voyageur canoes and two DNR canoes will be available. Please join us after the paddle at the Appleton Yacht Club for a special guest speaker. Paul Robbins, director of the UW Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies, will be speanking Wisconsin water bodies and the implications of climate Change.

August 17: Tall Ships Paddle
One voyageur canoe will be available, as well as historic voyageur, Pierre Le Blanc. The Tall Ships Festival will take place downtown Green Bay, August 16-18.

September 28: Appleton Locks Paddle
Two voyageur canoes and two DNR canoes will be available, as well as historic voyageur, Pierre Le Blanc.

Heritage Paddle Helpful Links

Reserve your spot in our Voyageur Canoe

Contact Mark at Nature Current to reserve your spot.  Email:  info@naturecurrent.com

 

Paddle 2013 Brings Thoughts of Thaw – Fox Wisconsin Heritage Paddle 2013

The return of the tall ships to Green Bay will highlight one of eight canoe and kayak trips in the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Paddle series.

photo by Dave Horst – Tall Ships Paddle, Green Bay 2010

Are you having thoughts of thaw? The snow will soon turn into flowing water and the opportunity to join us on the rivers for the Fox Wisconsin Heritage Paddle season. Dave Horst lays it all out for us in this article from the Post Crescent.
David Horst’s Outdoors: Paddle 2013 brings thoughts of thaw | Appleton Post-Crescent | postcrescent.com.

Fox River Appleton Locks Paddle Video Part 3

Kayaking between lock #2 and #3

Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers organized a group paddle on the Fox River through the Appleton Locks on September 24th. We had a great turn out with 119 paddle craft participating.

This video covers the segment from the 2nd lock to the 3rd lock in Appleton. Check out the previous 2 Appleton locks videos and watch for additional segments on our way to Kimberly.

Check out the video from the first segment and the second segment video of the Appleton Locks Paddle and stay tuned for the next segment in lock #4.

Appleton Locks Paddle in Photos

morning mist at the Lutz Park boat landing

The Fox River at Lutz Park in Appleton was covered in mist as we prepared to launch 119 canoes and kayaks into the river on September 24th for the 2nd Annual Appleton Locks Paddle.

The weather cooperated for our 6 miles on the river to Sunset Park in Kimberly. Highlights of the trip were traveling through the 4 Appleton Locks, a bit of history from the lock tenders family reunion that was also a part of the paddle and the eagles we saw on the river right in the heart of the city.

Enjoy the slideshow from the trip.

Video from the paddles will be available soon.

Brief History of Canoeing from The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway

This information from  The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway blog

In recent years, paddling has experienced resurgence on the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. From Green Bay to Prairie du Chien, individuals are taking to this silent pursuit in numbers not experienced since the mid-twentieth century. When paddlers ‘put in’ on the Fox and Wisconsin today, they are continuing a tradition dating back thousands of years.

Developed by native peoples, the canoe is one of the oldest forms of watercraft in North America. Early models, believed to be over 8,000 years old, were carved from large tree trunks. In fact, the word ‘canoe’ is thought to have originated from the word ‘kenu,’ meaning dugout.

A more modern design, the birch bark canoe had a tremendous impact on the settling of North America. This design was popular throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as voyageurs, missionaries, and fur traders explored the interior of North America via its many lakes and rivers.

Known for its large towing capacity and ability to handle a variety of water conditions, it was this type of canoe that Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet selected for their 1673 journey down the Parkway in their search for the Northwest Passage. In 1847, journalist, George William Featherstonhaugh traveled the Fox River by wooden canoe as documented in his published journals, A Canoe Voyage Up the Minnay Sotor.

Read the full article at the Heritage Parkway blog.

Friday Night Fox River Heritage Paddle

Kayakers and canoeists are invited to participate in the next Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Paddle event on the Fox River from De Pere to Green Bay on Friday night.

Participants should meet at 4:30 p.m. at the Bomier Park boat landing on the east bank of the river just south of downtown De Pere to unload, register and shuttle vehicles to the takeout. A presentation will be made by a Heritage Hill State Historical Park staff member before the 6 p.m. launch.

The 8-mile journey will pass through the De Pere lock and downtown Green Bay to the takeout at the Green Bay Metro Boat Landing.

A fee of $10 per participant helps cover expenses of the paddles in the paddle series, which supports the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway’s effort to create a designated water trail and gain National Heritage Area status for the historic waterway.

For more information visit the Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers at www.wisconsinpaddlers.org

Portage Canal Days Paddle

June 5th was a beautiful day for the first Fox Wisconsin Heritage Paddle of 2011.   A group of over 30 paddlers met at the wayside across Hwy 33 from the Fort Winnebago Surgeon’s Quarters in Portage.  We had a variety of kayaks, canoes, 2 stand up paddlers and even a voyager canoe joined up on this first leg of the paddle on the Fox River.

The journey from Hwy 33 to the Portage Canal was about a mile on the winding and fairly narrow Fox River.  When our group reached the Portage Canal we encountered our first of 3 portages. We were also lucky enough to enjoy a historic re-enactors battle performance at the canal.

After a short break to enjoy the re-enactors camp we began the paddle in the weedy canal.  The Portage Canal is only partially restored.  It was very weedy for the beginning of June and became very narrow as we approached the 2nd portage.  After the 2nd portage canal paddle became much easier in the restored sections.  We had a long tunnel paddle under a road and traveled through an old non working lock to the final portage to the Wisconsin River.   This 2nd portage had the longest carry but we had a paved trail and sidewalk right down to the sandy shores of the Wisconsin River.

The 6 mile paddle from Riverside Park in Portage to Dekorra was beautiful.  We were floated and paddled with the current.  Development along the river is mostly buffered by trees, creating a natural experience right on the edge of the city of Portage.  We had an eagle fly right by us about 2/3 of the way on the river.  The Wisconsin River is full of sand bars that shift and change with the flows of current.  Wide and mostly shallow, the Wisconsin River around Portage is an easy and enjoyable paddle trip for all abilities.

Here’s an overview of the Portage paddle.

Portage celebrated its annual Canal Days Celebration June 4 and 5 this year and we’ll be kicking off our Fox Wisconsin Heritage Paddle 2011 by passing through their canal. Our trip will pick up from last year’s Fox River Heritage Paddle with a short trip down the Fox River from the Fort Winnebago Surgeon’s Quarters to the Historic Indian Agency House and then proceed through the Portage Canal with a few short portages in the City of Portage to the Wisconsin River just above Riverside Park. We’ll continue down the Lower Wisconsin River to end the trip at Dekorra. This trip totals about ten miles, but includes several minor interruptions for portages and plans for lunch at Riverside Park. Those who would rather hike the two-mile Wisconsin River Levee Trail from the Surgeon’s Quarters to the park can join us after lunch to paddle down the Wisconsin River to the end of the trip.

Why was this route chosen?

As we made plans to continue our rediscovery of the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway, it became apparent that completing the link through Portage is critical. Not only the symbolic high-point of the fur trader route through Wisconsin, it is also the true “high point” of the route! Passing from the Fox River, through Portage, and into the Lower Wisconsin River establishes the link that connects the entire Parkway!

Enjoy of Photo Gallery from the Portage Canal Days Paddle

 

Video: Menasha Paddle Launch Ribbon Cutting

Fox Cities area paddlers are fortunate to have new launch facilities in Menasha’s Jefferson Park and the Menasha Marina. These new launches are courtesy of Friends of the Fox and their plans to develop the Fox Wisconsin Heritage Parkway. This water trail will cross the state from Green Bay to the Mississippi River.

Here’s a video from the recent ribbon cutting event. Thanks to Greg Steiner for the photo and video footage.

Have to enjoyed a paddle through Menasha on the Fox River?

Paddlers Get New Canoe & Kayak Launches in Menasha

Yesterday was the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Menasha paddle launches at Jefferson Park and the Menasha Marina.  The Jefferson Park launch can be found at the very far West end of the park.  The best place to access the new paddle launch in Jefferson Park is from Broad Street near the intersection of Green Bay road.

 

Paddlers waiting in the Fox River for the ribbon cutting ceremony.  The launch is a small floating platform on the seawall in the park.  This launch location is part of the greater Fox Wisconsin Heritage Parkway and part of a water trail that will follow the Fox River through the Fox Cities.

 

Here’s the ribbon cutting as seen from the water.

Brian Tungate, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Menasha opened the ribbon cutting ceremony and thanked the Friends of the Fox and Fox Cities Greenways for their contributions.  The Mayor of Menasha, Donald Merkes was also on hand and shared a few words of thanks.  Pete Hensler, President of Friends of the Fox, shared the plans for a water trail from Green Bay to the Mississippi River that will be the Fox – Wisconsin Heritage Parkway.

 

After the ribbon cutting ceremony a group of paddlers decided to put the launch to use right away.  The white platform floats and will make for easy launching and landing along the seawall as the water height shifts through out the paddling season.

 

Jeff Mazanec, President of North East Wisconsin Paddlers getting in his kayak at the new launch.  There is a bit of current at the Jefferson  Park paddle launch.  It’s a good idea to point your kayak upstream when launching here like Jeff is doing in this photo.  Jeff is demonstrating a safe way to enter your kayak by using your paddle behind you as a brace.  It’s always a good idea to have a friend help steady the boat too.

 

Our ribbon cutting attendees head out for a paddle.

From Jefferson Park paddlers have easy access to Lake Winnebago.   For quiet waters on windy days the channels directly South of Jefferson Park make for a nice short paddle.

Menasha also has an additional paddle launch on the West side of the Menasha Marina.  The marina is a short paddle East through the city. Stay far river right to avoid the stronger currents and dam. The marina launch gives paddlers an option taking a break in downtown Menasha for refreshments or dining.

We want to thank the City of Menasha, Friend of the Fox and Fox Cities Greenways for making the Menasha waterfront more paddler friendly.

Have you paddled in Menasha?  Will you be using these new paddling launches?

Historic paddle events retrace route of early explorers

Michael King interviewed me for the article he put together about this year’s Fox – Wisconsin Heritage Paddle events for the Appleton Post Crescent and Wisconsin Outdoor Fun.  The following is an excerpt from the article.

 

Article from Wisconsin Outdoor Fun by Michael King

Mark Gehrke, of Hortonville, is among a group of paddling enthusiasts who will soon embark on the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Paddle 2011, retracing the historic route taken by early explorers.

More than three centuries have passed since Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet traversed the Fox and Wisconsin rivers as a route from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and beyond for early settlers.

On June 5, the pair’s historic 1673 crossing between the rivers will be celebrated with the first of eight paddle events this year during the Canal Days festival in Portage, where the Wisconsin and Fox come close to each other.

Gehrke, 47, plans to participate in most of the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Paddle segments covering 120 miles of the two rivers this summer. He was one of more than 400 canoeists and kayakers who participated last year on one or more of the 12 segments covering 120 miles of the Fox River.

“I love going through the Fox Cities on the Fox River,” Gehrke said. “There is a lot of natural beauty along the river banks right in the heart of the Valley.”

The Fox River segments include the popular Park-to-Park Paddle from Neenah to Appleton on July 23, a new moonlight paddle Aug. 12 from De Pere to Green Bay and a paddle through the Appleton locks during Octoberfest on Sept. 24.

Read the entire article here

See the full schedule of Fox – Wisconsin Heritage Paddles on our Events Page.