Which Wisconsin River trip should you pick? Wisconsin Canoe Company shuttles you upriver to one of three put-in landings, and you paddle back to your car at Peck’s Landing in Spring Green: Arena (10 river miles), Mazomanie (18 miles) or Prairie Du Sac (25 miles). Arena is our regular day trip, and all three work as overnights.
Last updated November 2026.
How long is each Wisconsin River trip?
The three trips are 10, 18 and 25 river miles from Peck’s Landing, or roughly 3 to 4 hours of nonstop paddling from Arena up to 7 to 8 hours from Prairie Du Sac. Nonstop means no wind, no coasting, no breaks and no sandbar stops, so leave extra time for wind, floating with the current and sandbar time.
| Put-in landing | River miles to Peck’s Landing | Nonstop paddling time | Typical trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arena | 10 | 3 to 4 hours | Day trip, or a short overnight |
| Mazomanie | 18 | About 6 hours | One night (2 days, 1 night) |
| Prairie Du Sac | 25 | About 7 to 8 hours | 3 days, 2 nights (typically Friday to Sunday), or an ambitious 2-day trip |
These times assume a steady pace of 3 to 4 mph in normal conditions, the average for paddlers and for our own staff.
How many hours a day should we plan to paddle?
Plan on about 3.5 to 4 hours of paddling a day. Even the most ambitious groups usually don’t want to paddle more than 5 hours in a day.
- Groups of 4 or more boats tend to move much slower than a group of 1 or 2 boats.
- West winds usually pick up in the afternoon, so morning paddling is the best paddling.
- If you’re not sure how far your group will want to go, plan for slightly less distance than you think the group can handle.
- There is no set finish time, but you must be off the water by 6pm on the last day of your rental.
Which trip is best for a day trip?
Arena to Spring Green. At 10 river miles it is our regular day trip for both canoes and kayaks, and it has the highest concentration of sandbars on the riverway.
Plan on 4 to 6 hours on the water, and don’t plan on less than 4 hours. Finish by 6pm. Booking details are on the Day Trip page.
Which trip is best for an overnight?
It depends on how much you want to paddle. Mazomanie (18 miles) is just right for a single overnight, Arena (10 miles) gives you the most sandbar time, and Prairie Du Sac (25 miles) suits a leisurely 3-day trip. About 85% of our customers camp overnight on a sandbar.
- Arena to Spring Green, 10 miles: short distance, maximum sandbar time, popular for social groups. Pack up your car and leave as soon as you arrive.
- Mazomanie to Spring Green, 18 miles: about 6 hours of nonstop paddling, and it keeps access to the short Ferry Bluff hike.
- Prairie Du Sac to Spring Green, 25 miles: passes through Sauk City, Ferry Bluff and Arena. The 3-day, 2-night version is typically done Friday to Sunday.
No site numbers, no permits. See the Canoe Camping Guide, the Kayak Camping Guide, the sandbar camping rules and the Overnight Trips page.
Where does each trip start and finish?
Every trip finishes at Peck’s Landing, where Highway 23 crosses the Wisconsin River 3 miles south of Spring Green. You park your car there, ride our shuttle upriver to your put-in, and paddle back to your car.
| Landing | River miles to Peck’s Landing | Where to drop your gear | Portable bathrooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arena | 10 | Open green space; stay right for the canoe launch side | 2 |
| Mazomanie | 18 | North of Mazomanie on County Y; stay on the grass and out of the way of vehicles | 1, in the parking lot across the street |
| Prairie Du Sac | 25 | VFW Park and Campground; the canoe launch side of the ramp is immediately in front of you | 1 |
| Peck’s Landing, Spring Green | Finish | Park here and catch the shuttle; Hwy 23 at the Wisconsin River | 2 |
Cell service can be spotty, so save the directions ahead of time. Larger groups are advised to drop off all passengers and gear at the start landing while only the drivers continue to Spring Green for the shuttle. Landing details and maps are on the Driving Directions page.
When do the shuttles leave?
Shuttles leave at 10am and 12pm every day. Fridays add a 3pm shuttle, and Saturdays in peak season add 9am and 11am shuttles. Shuttles leave exactly on time.
Plan for your drivers to arrive at Peck’s Landing at least 15 minutes before departure. Reservations are required at least 36 hours in advance (we recommend reserving at least a week ahead). Check live availability and book on the Reservations page.
Can I paddle past Spring Green?
We don’t offer service downriver of Spring Green. If you’re a large group (10 or more boats) in a slower part of the year, we’ll try to make exceptions. State DNR river trail maps for the Lower Wisconsin River, from Prairie Du Sac to Wyalusing, are on our Maps page.
Related pages
Reservations
Day Trip on the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River Camping Trips
Best Time of Year to Canoe and Camp on the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River Maps
Frequently Asked Questions