There are three optional paddling segments:
Option 1: For a 1.5 hour paddle, put in at Garrison’s Glen on Pioneer Rd and take-out at Moonlight Landing, ¼ mile south of Highland Rd on East Shoreland Dr. to Island Drive. Garrison’s Glen has parking 20 yd. from river. No toilet. For the first mile, some mild class 1 rapids at water levels below 6.0* but passable at higher levels. If the river is above level 7* stay to center to avoid fallen trees.
After the first mile, the river is slow and flat with many riverfront homes and some motorboat traffic on weekends.
Option 2: For a 1 hr. flatwater paddle, start at Moonlight Landing and take out at Villa Grove. On this stretch, you will encounter motorboat traffic on weekends. When you see a park on your right, look for a limestone stepped canoe landing as you approach the Park from the north (right) side of an island. If you see the park but don’t see the canoe landing, continue 200 yd. downstream along the Park to the motorboat dock. Both have parking 20 yards. from river. Toilet facilities next to the dock.
Option 3: Continue or start at Villa Grove for a 30 min calm paddle to Thiensville Park. This is slow, flat water so you could make it a “round trip” starting from Villa Grove or Thiensville Park. There is a small boat dock, and next to the playground is a toilet in Thiensville Park. The dam is well-marked by red buoys and signs. On this stretch, winds from N or E favorable. West or south winds under 10 mph may be ok but it is a hard paddle with West wind over 10 mph.
Shuttle back to your launch site via Port Washington Rd (Hwy W) - see map below then west on Pioneer Rd to Garrison’s Glen… or turn west on Highland Rd, then south on East Shoreland Dr. and Island Drive to Moonlight Landing.
Photo Gallery
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M121
ROUTE M-12 MILW RIVER – MEQUON TO THIENSVILLE
ROUTE M-12 MILW RIVER – MEQUON TO THIENSVILLE
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IMG 5708 M 12 Garrison canoe landing
Garrison's Glen landing on Pioneer Road (look for red mailbox)
Garrison's Glen landing on Pioneer Road (look for red mailbox)
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M11 Garrsion landing
Garrison's Glen Landing
Garrison's Glen Landing
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Hydrologic station on west side of Pioneer RdIM 12 Hydrolic station at Pioneer RoadHydrologic station on west side of Pioneer Rd
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Hydrologic chart: 6.5 good, 8.4 very fast, 7.5 fastIMG 3759 Pioneer Hydrologic at 6.5 8.4 and 7.5Hydrologic chart: 6.5 good, 8.4 very fast, 7.5 fast
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Pioneer Rd downstream at 6.2M 12 Typical south of Pioneer Rd at 6.2Pioneer Rd downstream at 6.2
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River approach to Moonlight Landing - look for dead tree on left and a bay ahead with a house where bay opens to riverM 12 river approach to Moonlight LandingRiver approach to Moonlight Landing - look for dead tree on left and a bay ahead with a house where bay opens to river
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Moonlight Landing site - blue signM 12 Moonlight Landing site blue signMoonlight Landing site - blue sign
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Moonlight LandingM 12 Moonlight Landing closeupMoonlight Landing
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Moonlight Bay and LandingIMG 3760 Moonlight LandingMoonlight Bay and Landing
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Moonlight landing parking on E Shoreland DrM 12 Moonlight landing parking10Moonlight landing parking on E Shoreland Dr
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Scout ParkM 12 Scout park above Villa Grove ParkScout Park
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Heron at Villa Grove BayM 12 Heron in wetland near Villa Grove ParkHeron at Villa Grove Bay
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Water lillyM 12 Water LillyWater lilly
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Villa Grove Park - no-wake zoneP3311457 M12 Villa Grove ParkVilla Grove Park - no-wake zone
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Villa Grove Canoe-kayak LandingIMG 1853 Villa Grove Canoe Landing 2017Villa Grove Canoe-kayak Landing
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Villa Grove motorboat landing. You've gone past the canoe-kayak take-out. Either turn around 100 yd to east end of park for the new canoe-kayak landingP3311461 M12 Villa Grove ParkVilla Grove motorboat landing. You've gone past the canoe-kayak take-out. Either turn around 100 yd to east end of park for the new canoe-kayak landing
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Thiensville Park LandingIMG 6444 Thiensville Pier Horizontal 2015Thiensville Park Landing