Red Mill LLC

Backyard Wisconsin, Episode 5 - The Crystal River Trip

Spiraling and winding through backyards, under country roads and into hidden, wooded abyss, the Crystal River is one of Waupaca County's emeralds. Locked completely within its home county, the river provides hours of paddling pleasure for entry level whitewater hopefuls, current-propelled adventurers and now SUP'ers.

The early settlers of the mid 1800's found it's current as a reliable source of power for their mills in Rural and Waupaca. Some of those remnants still exist if you take a trip to downtown Rural. But today the industry is gone, and pleasure is the draw as the current pushes paddlers through a bending ride of natural intimacy.

For the biggest adrenaline response, find the river's origin along the bulrushes of Long Lake. The next few miles en route to the Red Mill will twist and turn you through fallen trees, boulder fields, boiling rapids and one very short portage in Rural.

Equally as beautiful but with less endorphins, the 5-mile stretch from the Red Mill to Shadow Lake requires some technical paddling under foot bridges, beneath trees and around rocks. Adventure Outfitters of Waupaca offers guided and unguided trips through this section using kayaks and SUPs. Depending on water levels, the first section by and beyond the Red Mill can be ripping a bit through some rocky mine fields, however time slowly tapers the trip into a more meandering journey with an occasional hello from a deer, blue heron or snapping turtle.

The final few miles run from Churchill Street in Waupaca, through another twisting trail of scattering fish and timber to the Waupaca River where it empties completely. Call it a day, or follow the Waupaca River to the Wolf River and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean if you desire!

Aaron