Canoeing the Trempealeau
River, Wisconsin
The Trempealeau flows gentlely through
the rolling hills of the Coulee Country
of western Wisconsin. It empties into
the Mississippi 10 miles upstream
from the mouth of the Black River.
Upstream from Whitehall is too small
and brushy for good canoeing, but
the rest of the river is quite paddleable.
Especially popular is the 19 miles
from Whitehall to Arcadia. It can
be done in one long day, but its much
more enjoyable to paddle it in shorter
stretches, using the excellent intermediate
landings at Independence or Joe Pietrek
Park. Unlike the wider and less heavily
wooded section after Independence,
the first section bends sharply back
and forth in a narrow stream bed that
is often overhung with trees. Paddlers
experience an intimate, wild, woodland
environment.
