Midwest Adventurers

This event is open to everyone. This popular park in northwest Wisconsin features spectacular views of Willow Falls and the Willow River Gorge. Prairie remnants, miles of scenic hiking trails, family and group campgrounds, lakeside picnic areas and a nature center are all found within 2,800 acres of rolling countryside. The centerpiece of the park is Willow Falls, a powerful cascade in a 200-foot deep gorge.

The park offers fun activities include biking with trails rated for beginner/intermediate and experienced riders. There is a swimming beach on Little Falls Lake, the Willow River is also accessible in many places. Boating, canoeing and kayaking are popular activities on Little Falls Lake. A boat launch is on the lake and rentals are available in season. Kayaking opportunities are available on the river. Other area lakes and the St. Croix River offer motorized boating opportunities. Fishing species such as panfish, bass and northern can be found below the dam. The Willow River is stocked with trout and fishing is available both above and below the lake bed. Trout fishing is best upstream of the waterfall. The park has 13 miles of hiking trails that vary in difficulty. The most popular hiking trail destination is Willow Falls and the scenic overlooks of the river valley. Trails vary in difficulty and not all trails are surfaced. Hunting and trapping are allowed in the open areas of the park during the Wisconsin state parks hunting and trapping time frame. The nature center is about 2 miles west of the park entrance next to the main picnic area. Explore the many hands-on displays and see live animals. Park naturalists host many interpretive programs throughout the year. In the wintertime the park has 2 miles of hard packed trails on the north side of the river available for pet owners and for activities like snowshoeing, dog sledding and hiking. The park’s 9 miles of cross-country ski trails on the south side of the river are groomed for skate and traditional stride style skiing. The Nature Center classroom is opened for use as a warming house on the weekends. Other winter activities include sledding, ice fishing and camping.

Weather
This is a summer trip, please check the weather forecast and come prepared for various temperatures, let’s hope for lots of sunshine!

Campsite
We will be camping at group site D on Friday and Saturday night. There will be picnic tables, fire pits and a vault toilet nearby. Buildings with showers and flush bathrooms can be walked to a little further away. Friendly dogs are always welcome. You will need to walk about 200 feet to access the campsite, there will be carts there unless you want to bring your own little wagon.

Friday
Arrive at the campground any time after 3pm. Get your tent set up, have dinner and then maybe we can do a night hike or get some lights on the kayaks and take them out. Or go out for a Friday Fish Fry in town.

Saturday
This is your time to have some fun, go on a hike, take your bike out, go fish, go swimming, go out on your kayak. We can get together as a group and plan some fun activities together. We will for sure take a walk to the waterfall.

Sunday
Have breakfast, do some more exploring the activities of the park. We don’t have to leave the campsite until 1pm, you can still hang around the park afterwards for another whole other day of fun!

Fees
Your $15.00 meetup fee covers $10 in 2 nights of camping costs, $2 in Meetup fees and $3 in firewood. The fee DOES NOT cover personal equipment, food or any extra activities you want to do when you arrive at the campground. You will need a WI state pass to enter the state park. Please send your fee through Venmo @Sherri-Lockwood or you can send it through Zelle at 414-759-6317. Payment is due within 48 hours of signing up.

This event is open to everyone. Let’s spend a sunny day out on Lake Delton and then paddle over for a nice lunch at one of the restaurants on the lake. Lake Delton is a 264 acre, 12 foot deep man-made freshwater lake in Sauk County in central Wisconsin. The lake features several beaches where you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing and picnicking with the Lake Delton Public Beach being one. This public beach is open seasonally typically from mid May to mid September and offers amenities like parking, restrooms and grills, but does not have a lifeguard on duty and pets are generally not allowed. Many resorts are alongside the lake so guest can enjoy the views and the water access. Jet skiers and those with pontoon boats enjoy the lake as well. The lake has a fishing pier “Priegel Pier” that is very popular and this lake is great in the wintertime for ice fishing. Fishing in Lake Delton offers a wide variety of opportunities for anglers of all skill levels whether you’re after a largemouth bass or northern pike, you’ll find plenty of popular fish species to reel in.

Meeting Spot-
We will meet at Priegel Pier you can park at the pier if there are open parking spots or you can park at Kaminski Park and walk your kayak/paddle board over to the pier. When you drive in you will see a big sign that says “Lake Delton Waterfront Villas” then the pier is to the right of that on the lake. Kaminski Park is to the left of the sign.

We will go in the lake at the pier, there is a rock section we will cross to get into the water that is about 5 feet long. Some rocks in the water can be slippery. Please wear appropriate shoes. We will spend the day paddling around, enjoying the water and the weather. We will also paddle off the main lake to the back area for some really pretty scenery and a waterfall. For those who would like to paddle to the beach and relax you can do that also. Later in the afternoon we will paddle over and have lunch at Ravina Bay Bar and Grill. We can park our kayak/paddle boards there.

There is no fee for this event, but if you decide to join in on the lunch, you will cover the cost of yourself.

What to bring-
Life Jacket, water, snacks, electrolytes, sunscreen, lunch if you don’t want to eat at the restaurant 

The end time is just an approximate you can spend all day out on the lake if you would like .

Let’s spend the day enjoying Devil’s Lake.

We will meet at the Steinke Basin Parking Lot and start out the day with a 6.7 mile hike. We will do the East Bluff/Upland Trail/Steinke Basin Loop. This trail has some fabulous views and will take us by Devil‘s Doorway, Balance Rock, and Elephant Rock. This hike is on AllTrails if you would like to download it before hand. 

After the hike we will head over to the south shore beach area at Devil’s Lake and spend some time cooling off in the water swimming, kayaking or taking your paddle board in. You also have the option to rent at the consessions building. You can also bring your hammock to relax in under the trees or a blanket or chair for the beach.

Rental Prices:

• Single Kayak- $17.00 per hour
• Double Kayak- $25.00 per hour
• Paddle Boards- $22.00 per hour

You must have your ID and there is a $100 deposit to rent, PFDs provided

We can get lunch at the North Shore Chateau, there is a small store and a small ice cream stand there also. Snacks are also availalbe at the south shore concessions. Or you can eat the lunch you brought.

After we are done for the day you can head home OR if you plan on joining in the tubing event on Sunday morning you can camp over at my place and leave with the group in the morning to meet the others for tubing. We can go into the Dells for dinner somewhere Saturday night or you can bring your own food. Be sure and bring something for breakfast.

Directions
Steinke Basin North Parking Lot Coordinates
43.43043, -89.71012

What to bring
Water, food, snacks, electrolytes, chair, blanket, umbrella, kayak/paddle board anything else you would like to bring.

Weather
This is a summer outing, please bring appropriate attire and check the weather forcast before hand.

Cost
There is no cost for this event. If you’d like to purchase food, souvenirs or rent a kayak/paddle board you will need to pay for that yourself. You will also need a Wisconsin state park sticker for entrance into the park.