Trip Date: July 18, 2024
Run Time: 1 hr 15 min (faster than usual, did a lot of paddling, had tailwind, normally probably 1.5-1.75 hr)
Weather: Warm with 10-12 tailwind
Water level: 6.78 at USGS near Cedarburg

Overview:

Another great section of the Milwaukee River. The launch at Badger Meter Park in Brown Deer is nice, with paved parking, though no bathroom. It’s easy to step in at the launch and the water is calm. This is a bit more of an urban section, but only in the sense that you’ll see the backyards of some large River Hills homes and the Milwaukee Country Club. As usual on this river, I spotted some Great Blue Herons among the expected geese and ducks.

At the reported river level of 6.78 I had no problem with levels, but especially around the golf course the river got to be only about a foot deep in many places, so keeping an eye on the USGS gauge is recommended. As you round the bend getting closer to Kletzsch Park there is a small inlet you need to navigate to get to the official launch point that’s referenced on the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail. Unfortunately it is a pretty basic wood structure that doesn’t float, so how convenient it is will depend on river levels. In this case it was a good 2 feet above the water, but I was able to shimmy my way back on shore. This inlet also required working my way around a bunch of downed trees and algae. Not great, but I was able to get around everything. 

Rounding the curve I did see what looked like another spot to take out that was on the main channel, but would require a longer boat drag back to the parking lot and wasn’t much more than a dirt patch. Kletzsch Park is a bit of a lesser known gem, with some newly-expanded mountain biking trails, hiking trails, playground, and archery among regular sport fields. IMPORTANT: There is a dam with a waterfall just past this takeout! I don’t know how convenient it is to portage around it, but I know there is a new fish passage on the east side of the river, but I don’t think it’s paddleable. And the west side of the waterfall is pretty dicey, so this is one you definitely want to scout before going past the takeout mentioned above.