Root River, Wisconsin Racine county, Horlick Dam to Quarry Park section road map. The northern portion of the river (above Horlick Dam) runs through a mix of private lands and public lands (part of the Root River Parkway ) and is the most popular area for paddlers. To find Root River enter the 42.733631 latitude, and -87.778404 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. Nine sub-watersheds contribute flow: the Upper Root, Whitnall Park Creek, East Branch, Lower Root, Middle Root, Root River Canal, West Branch Root River Canal, East Branch Root River Canal, and Hoods Creek. Root River is a stream located just .6 miles from Racine, in Racine County, in the state of Wisconsin, United States. Map multiple locations, get transit/walking/driving directions, view live traffic conditions, plan trips, view satellite, aerial and street side imagery. Root River Park is the perfect spot to have a family picnic. This stretch of the river has some faster sections with small rapids similar to the section between 4 Mile Road and Highway 31 but not quite as fast at high water. Root River Parkway is situated west of Greenfield. The reality is, if there were any serious obstacles in any of the fast moving sections, you probably would not have gotten past them going upriver anyway. Though I only occasionally paddle here, I have assembled some notes on water levels. The Root River State Trail in southeast Minnesota is a paved, 42-mile bike route through one of the state's most beautiful and unique landscapes: the Driftless Region. Downed trees or other obstacles are generally not much of a hazard at normal water levels because of the much slower current. Root River is a very enjoyable, relaxing, memorable ride and worth checking out. The Root River Trail is built on an old rail bed, so it is very flat and smooth with very gentle slopes (the engines couldn't pull up steep slopes), which makes for a very pleasant ride. I've paddled about 5 miles upriver from the county park at 5 Mile Road (this brought me to a little less than a mile past Nicholson Road). The 4-mile section above Horlick Dam and the last mile or so before emptying into Lake Michigan are the only sections that you can assume can be paddled almost anytime (they are not dramatically impacted by changes in water levels). Normal levels for the river are generally around 2.0 feet (at the Franklin Gauging Station). I'm going to describe this section as though you are paddling both ways. I'm assuming that at lower water levels you will have short sections of rapids/riffles in these spots. If paddling upstream at these water levels it can be difficult to paddle through the shallow rocky sections, but as a last resort you can just get out and walk these short sections. Root River Parkway is a park in Wisconsin and has an elevation of 699 feet. Joined above the town of Whalen by the South Branch, a tributary which flows from Mystery Cave, the river continues its way past bluffs and outcrops until Rushford. It can get flooded at times, but it's not very often, but watch out for mud if you decide to go after some rain. Root River Post Office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on W Oklahoma Ave. Operating hours, phone number, services information, and other locations near you. Root River Trailer Park in Sault Ste. The gentle to moderate flowing river drops an average of 3.4 ft/mile from Chatfield, Minnesota, to its pour point in the Mississippi River into Navigation Pool 7 just south of La Crosse, Wisconsin. At normal water levels, you will have many shallower sections with some sections of short shallow very easy rapids/riffles intermixed with quiet sections with almost no noticeable current. The Root River runs approximately 18 Miles (as drawn on my map) through Racine County and then into Lake Michigan. The stretch marked "RAPIDS" is the only section of real whitewater (and only at higher water levels). It can get flooded at times, but it's not very often, but watch out for mud if you decide to go after some rain. These significant changes in water levels also provide for some significant changes in characteristics of the river. I believe there is an alternate put-in about a mile upriver at the River Bend Nature Center, but I haven't tried it. There is still plenty more quiet-water paddling further downriver, although it's pretty much all urban paddling. There is another developed put-in in a small city park (I believe the sign by the park says Clayton Park, but it's listed as Cedar Bend Park on one of the Racine Maps) a little less than 2 miles downriver from the Steelhead Facility. At normal to low levels there are some shallow rocky sections, while at high levels there are a several pedestrian bridges (not shown on my map) and other obstacles that can be potentially hazardous. I don't think they are very consistent at exactly what constitutes high water so it can be a little hit or miss as to whether or not the launch will be closed. If you're having problems putting in here, there is a small wooded area at the north end of the park with a short path that leads to a small bay that may be an easier put-in but a longer carry. The "R's" on my map are in spots where I experienced short faster slightly choppy sections at high water. Root River Access Sites L eg nd t ae Highw y R ot ive rlc ads L oc al r ds Rot ive rpa ks The data shown on this map have been obtained from various sources, … Heading down river through this section at normal water levels is very easy though you may bump a few boulders or occasionally get hung up on shallow rocky sections. American Whitewater Root River Horlick Dam to Quarry Park. Unfortunately, the river has changed and not for the better. Thank you to all Volunteers participating in the Root River bank clean ups on October 3rd and 17th! Do more with Bing Maps. Depending upon water levels and sections paddled you can get everything from quiet lake paddling to fast rapids in an environment that ranges from scenic rural woodlands to urban parks and industrial areas. If paddling below Horlick Dam, you can check water levels at the Racine Gauging station: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/uv/?site_no=04087240&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060. There are a total of 117 miles of rivers and streams in the Root River watershed. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including walleye, carp and smallmouth bass here. The 3.1-mile section between Highway 31 and 4 Mile Road becomes faster because of sections of narrower channel and shallower rocky bottom sections. Deflected Jets is a public artwork by American artist Guido Peter Brink located on the Fire Engine Company #29 grounds, which is at 3529 South 84th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. The 1.1-mile section between 4-Mile Road and 5-Mile Road is easier with less current and fewer obstacles. There is also a kind of undeveloped mudhole of a dirt road that comes off of Nicholson Road southwest of the bridge that would make for a good put-in spot but there is a "no motorized vehicles" sign there. The S-curve in the river just of County Line Road seems to accumulate downed trees and other debris. Racine and Racine County are named for the river, as racine is the French word for root. Further upriver the current is not quite as fast though you will still find some swift sections at high water. It's actually kind of fun because the current gradually increases as you head west from the Highway 31 bridge so you can challenge yourself by seeing how far you can get upriver against the ever increasing current. The main channel passes along the east side of this island. There is no developed launch area here but there is plenty of river access in the park. The Steelhead Facility Dam (see photo on right) just below this put-in requires a portage, so if you plan on paddling downriver you're actually better off just putting in a little further downriver. The Root River runs approximately 18 Miles (as drawn on my map) through Racine County and then into Lake Michigan. You can scout out this section of the river from some trails in Quarry Lake Park. Title Root River State Water Trail map Author Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Trails Subject Root River State Water Trail map Keywords Root River State Water Trail map Created Date 11/29/2016 (Map powered by Google). This is a limestone, spring creek that for the most part, flows through pastures. However, if you are just paddling downriver at high water levels, an unexpected downed tree, low hanging branch, or log jamb in a fast section can become a real hazard here. The gentle to moderate flowing river drops an average of 3.4 ft/mile from Chatfield, Minnesota , to its pour point in the Mississippi River into Navigation Pool 7 just south of La Crosse, Wisconsin . It is an excellent river for canoeing . The headwaters begin in west cen… Root River Fishing Report for November 2, 2020 The Root River experienced a slight decrease in angling activity over the past week. Because of the wider channel, you don't really need to worry about low or downed trees blocking the channel from this point on. South Branch of the Root River, Minnesota The South Branch of the Root River is one of Minnesota's better trout streams. The map also shows the parks along the river. South Branch Root River is situated west of Whalan. Most of the time (normal water levels), the section immediately below the dam is too shallow to paddle. The southern section runs through a series of city parks and urban areas. The riverbank along the park is the outside of a curve in a prairie section of the river and subsequently is characterized by a short steep drop-off at the river bank (erosion bank). From Mapcarta, the free map. Also, this section of the river is restricted to electric motors only, so you won't be dodging motorboats and personal watercraft here. The DNR lacks interest in removing dangerous debris. There is also a park (Charles A. Armstrong Park) on the west bank a little over a mile upriver from the main landing that would make for a nice put-in, however this is a private park for the employees of SC Johnson so it's off limits to the rest of us. The last mile is lined with boat slips and has no noticeable current. There the river straightens as the valley broadens considerably. Root River is a river in Rushford Village, MN in Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. You may be able to paddle this section in a quiet-water canoe or kayak at the right water levels, but catching the right water levels is a challenge in itself. At normal water levels, the section between Highway 31 and 4 Mile Road will have several small sets of rapids/riffles separated by slow moving pools. At higher levels (4 to 7 feet) the rocky areas that made up the short easy rapids/riffles are often completely submerged and become faster moving sections with slightly choppy water. When the two channels merge back together, the river widens significantly but is still rather shallow. The section between the lake and Highway 31 will start to develop stronger currents as the water levels rise. The section immediately below Horlick Dam is generally too shallow to paddle at normal water levels, but becomes fast whitewater at high water levels (not suitable for quiet-water canoes and kayaks). At levels below 2 feet, some of these sections may require a little walking. There is a map of the Root River Pathway available at the City of Racine Website. This is used as a takeout for whitewater paddlers or can be used as a put-in if you want to try paddling upriver here. Marie street map (ON, Canada). Click to follow to the pictures of the events. Marie, Ontario Below this text you can see the position of the Root River Trailer Park on the Sault Ste. The river lies within Minnesota's Driftless Area, a region which missed being glaciated during the last ice age, i.e., the Wisconsinian glaciation. The Root River tends to fill up and empty rather quickly so you can often see the levels go up several feet within a few hours of a heavy rain and then drop back to normal (low) levels within a day or two. The river runs right along County Line Road briefly and there is a small section of wider shoulder just west of the curve in the road where you should be able to park and access the river. Formed of two branches in the west, the North and the Middle, the Root River Map and Addresses | Root River Antique Historical Power ... ... Navigation The bank can be up to 3 or 4 feet above the water at normal water levels (less at high water). South Branch Root River is a stream in Minnesota and has an elevation of 801 feet. The first mile upriver from the dam is essentially a long lake; there are quite a few houses on this section, but most are set back in the woods on high banks and are not as obtrusive as you might expect. Waterfowl Area Quarry Lake Park If you're interested in paddling the sections from Colonial Park through Island Park I suggest you take a walk or bike ride along the Root River Pathway first to check out the conditions. The channel on the west side of the island is much narrower and has more obstacles. There is a potential put-in spot at County Line Road just east of Nicholson Road. Back to Root River main page MAP LEGEND: Blue Dot = Put In, Red Dot = Take Out (Above map … If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit Tackle, Guides, Charters At high water levels, paddling upriver through this section becomes increasingly more difficult. Not exactly a paddlers dream. It is an excellent river for canoeing. Welcome! The South Branch rises in Mower County as agricultural drainage ditches, which disappear underground, re-emerging as a much cooler stream at Mystery Cave near Preston, Minnesota. I think at levels of 6 feet or below, you can generally expect it to be open, and at levels above 8 or 9 feet it will likely be closed, but at those levels between 6 and 8 feet ??? Most of the activity was seen at the Horlick Dam as anglers were targeting the salmon and trout that are staying in the deeper pools now that water levels have dropped significantly since last week’s rain. I didn't go much further than this upriver, but the trend seemed to be more frequent downed trees and jambs. At normal water levels, the 3.3-mile stretch between Highway 31 and Horlick Dam has virtually no noticeable current making for some easy paddling upriver. Once again, it can be tricky finding the right water levels for paddling this section upriver. The Root River & Harmony-Preston Valley state bike trail system combine to create over 60 miles of paved, DNR-maintained trail. The R 's on the map represent short very easy sections of rapids/riffles (technically they are all riffles, but in this part of the country we set the bar rather low for rapids). This is especially true in the fall when the salmon are running. I believe this is public land, so maybe they will eventually put in a developed launch there. You could optionally put-in or take out just a little further upriver in Colonial Park off of West High Street. Note: The developed launch above Horlick Dam is occasionally closed due to high water conditions. The section of river between this put-in and the steelhead facility is also tricky to catch the right water levels. 2020-2021 Root River Council Photo Contest - Details here Interactive map of the Root River Pathway and the story of Jens Jensen. Map Explore Plan History Help Sign Up Log In Give the gift of adventure. I've only paddled above 5 Mile Road once and that was at high water (between 5 and 6 feet at the Franklin gauging station) so I'm guessing a little as to how it would be at normal levels. See the next section for info on the put-in at 5 Mile Road. In addition, I have included a separate map image (further down this page) that is an enlarged version of the popular section from 5 Mile Road to the developed canoe launch above Horlick Dam. I've never paddled this last section because I don't particularly like urban or harbor paddling. This page is authored and maintained by Dave Piasecki, Overview of All Routes and General Information, 5 Mile Road to developed landing above Horlick Dam - 7.50 Miles, High Resolution PDF version of Root River Overview Map, http://trailville.com/w/index.php?title=WI_Racine_Root_River&oldid=2770. There are quite a few bridges over each channel in this area. There was another similar section of downed trees and debris about a half mile west of Nicholson Road. River Bend Boat Launch 1 mile 1.5 miles 2 miles HWY 31 Bridge 2.14 miles 0.5 miles 1 mile Horlick Dam 1.3 miles The Root River 0.5 miles [Distances are calculated from launch at River Bend.] The Root River Watershed is located in portions of Waukesha, Milwaukee, and Racine counties and drains almost two-thirds of the entire Root-Pike River Basin (198 square miles). Root River is an English…. Another route would take you south on Hwy 38 (see the second map) to Spring Street. I don't believe there is an easy portage around Horlick Dam (see photo above), but even if there were I'm not sure it would get a lot of use. About a half mile below the steelhead facility, the channel splits creating a large island (Island Park). It's a bit unusual to start with a route in the middle of a river, but this is the most popular section of the river for paddlers. This map is also available for download as a High Resolution PDF version of Root River Overview Map. You can check current water levels at the Franklin station through the following link: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/uv/?site_no=04087220&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060. . Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. On this page you will find an overview map showing the entire Racine County portion of the Root River. Some of its better fishing is About 2 miles downriver from Horlick Dam there is a canoe launch located just above the Root River Steelhead Facility Dam in Lincoln Park. There is a string of city parks located along this section of the river and you can scout out a variety of places to put in. For some easy scenic quiet-water paddling, you can put in at the developed landing just upriver from Horlick Dam and paddle round trips (upriver and back) to Highway 31 or beyond if you 're more adventurous. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. City of Racine Website Map of Root River Pathway (bike trail) available for download. This is a somewhat low water level and you will find many shallow sections (less than a foot deep) at this level. When they close it, they close all access to that area (both parking areas and the launch). Since I don't normally paddle below the dam, I don't have any reference levels for this gauging station. The park has plenty of space to roam, along with a restroom, picnic tables, and fire pits located near … Office locator map Media inquiries Careers Mission statement Social media Volunteering More » Home Destinations Wildlife management areas (WMA) Page Menu Root River WMA: Main Unit Questions? At higher water levels, the section immediately below the dam is too rough (see 2nd photo above)for the touring canoes and kayaks that are generally used to paddle the quiet-water areas above the dam. The Root River is a 43.7-mile-long (70.3 km) river that flows to Lake Michigan at the city of Racine in southeastern Wisconsin in the United States. 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