Mississippi River
 

Looking to go boating on the Mississippi River on the Weekend of July 19 and and launch in LaCrosse WI. Is this a good place to start? I can only go Sat and Sunday. Any Ideas? Should I head north or south and any hotel recommendations with docks? Your help is appreciated.

Matt

Matt

LaCrosse is a good starting place. I think hp500 puts in there also when he come to the river.

If you head north, Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing would be a good destination. It would be a full day of boating with a distance of around 100 miles and 6 locks to go through. There are a few other places, but no hotels with a dock. There are plenty of marinas that will shuttle you to a nearby one. In Lacrosse, there is a hotel on the Black River.

Our marina (Great River Harbor in Alma) has a couple of A-Frames that you can rent out. We could hook up on your way up from Lacrosse and show you the local watering holes on the river.

If you head south, there is Lansing, Marquette and Prarie du Chien, and even Dubuque.

Bruce

There are a bunch of us(a bunch of Bajas, a Fomula and a Pantera) that boat out of Alma, WI(pool 5). We also venture down into pool 5A a bunch. We'll have to hook up.

There is a motel in La Crosse on the black river with nice dock and access to the main channell of the Miss. I'm not sure what the name of it is. PM OSO members Wildchild212 or Thirsty Turtle. They should know the name.

We are putting on a big poker run August 16th. Leave me your email and I'll send you all the info.

If you have any more questions let me know.

Brain

I was hoping you knew! Have stayed there a few times, but damned if I can remember the name!:D

I boat around Guttenburg and up to Marquette....that would be south of LaCrosse....absolutly beautiful area.

It's called the Best Western Midway hotel in LaCrosse.....

I agree on the Redwing to Treasure Island casino tho, that's a fun trip, and a really nice place. Just make sure you take it easy through Redwing, the whole thing is a no wake zone, and they are really picky about boat noise.......

Lake Pepin is Awesome before you get to lock #3, and is HUGE! Feels like the Ozarks almost. If there's a lil bit of wind tho, better hope you have a decent sized boat.......;)

Hey Liquid Lounge........

whaddya have? I keep my boat slipped in Guttenberg... prob have seen ya before.

I've got a Baja 232, red and black checkered flags on the gas dock......

A Hawkeye boat??? Hawkeye will be bringing some big heat up for the poker run. They said there gonna bring there 40 outlaw if its not sold by then.

That's our stomping grounds. You'll have to make a trip up and run with us.

Sorry, it came from Grand Sport Center in Chicago.....

Hawkeye is an awesome dealership tho. My wife used to live in Dubuque, and I would go over there and drool all the time.

We are thinking about upgrading to a 302 next year or maybe the year after if our finances allow :rolleyes: .... I've looked at a few that they have and I swear they bout hand me a broom I stand around in their building so long.......

We are thinking about doing a trip to Pepin in the fall.....maybe we'll hook up withya.! Haven't decided for sure if we are goin yet tho.

mrp, we mostly boat the Missi and usually put in at La Crosse as they have some very nice launching spots.

The nicest launch is on the Black River on the french island side. You turn right at the old train at riverside park and once you cross the bridge, the launch is on your left. You cannot miss it. I always launch and retrieve daily when I hotel it because I prefer the boat out of the water.

The only hotel in town that has docking is as mentioned the Best Western which is a real nice place, nice docks except for the fact that the Black River is open to wakes at that point. The hotel is only about a mile up river from the Launch site.

Be advised that the launch area on the Black River up until you cross under the train bridge (about 2 miles) is all slow no wake. Once past the train bridge until you are about 2 miles up the Mississippi river it is 30 mph, after that it is all yours. :) The launch site has a great map explaining what I just said, just wanted you to be aware because sometimes the water cops are out.

We usually head North up river as the beauty of the river starts in La Crosse and heads up stream. Going South gets boring real quick but not a bad ride down to Dubuque.

I would advise on having a Mississippi River map on hand so that you can determine wing dams, channel markers etc. Once you get the hang of the river, it offers great rewards. Being so close to Lake Michigan, I would travel the extra distance to enjoy the riover rather than the lake. Just my opinion but we have been river rats all our life.

We were just out there this past weekend and we launched in La Crosse and were on the water by 10:30am and ran into two barges the whole day that stalled our travels but we cruised all the way up to Wabasha for a late lunch and then returned back to La Crosse and pulled out about 9:00pm. Had we not ran into those barges, we would have been back about 6ish.

We ran into the above guys as we were headed South, they North but because of our time crunch and not wanting to travel after dark, we waved and motored on ;).

Treasure Island is a great destination for overnighting just make sure you call ahead and make hotel and marina reservations or you are SOL.

Where about in Pewaukee do you live? You ever put in on Pewaukee Lake? We are heading out there with a few couples in the next month or so for a quick fish fry and night cruise.

I will let you know the next time we head out there and see if you want to hang with. We can meet up with the Northern guys and talk boats :)

Jeff

hey hp500 and mrp,

you guys should let us know the next time you head that way....ive never boated on the river and would love to go with some experienced river rats to show us around. it sounds like fun

We'd love to show you guys around! Check the Poker Run section for our Liquid Jungle Poker Run on 16 August 03. We'll be touring a pretty good section of river that day.

:D

Bruce

We've been boating out of Savanna, IL, north to Galena and Dubuque since the early 80's- not sure I agree with you on the beauty thing- some awfully nice scenery south of LaCrosse to Savanna, but the river doesn't do much for us heading south of there towards Clinton.
I'll still take the North Channel of Lake Huron over any fresh-water boating destination out there. (that's where I'm typing this now)
Jim

Best western is indeed the name. I think the bars name is Moxxies (sp) hard to remember that kind of stuff when you party on the dock like they are going to quit making beer the next day.
(I like that saying so much I had to steal it.)

Activethundertodd. A few years ago you where going to come up our way, what happened to ya man? The river is Awesome up here and Lake Pepin is a Blast!!! Great poker run location. wouldnt you say boys? Hope to see some of you this summer,

hp500 we had a dial on ya when you went by. Boat still looks good.

Thanks for the info guys! I look forward to hooking up when I finalize the plans. Tried to get a reservation at the Best western midway and they are booked.:( So I may be looking for a different weekend or just find a different place to stay. I agree with hp500efi that it's better to put the boat on the trailer at night.
HP500efi lets hook up on Pewaukee. Send me a PM when you're going.

thanks

Matt

Matt, another nice hotel in town and real close to the launch is the Super 8. They have truck parking and 24 hour pool and hot tub :). They are just down the road from the Best Western but not right on the water. We like that place as well.

Matt, also be aware of some of the slow no wake zones on the river (watch for signs on land as well as small white bouys in the water). There is one in front of Winona, Wabasha, and one just before Red Wing and then again in front of Red Wing as well as one in front of Prescott. They mean SLOW NO WAKE especially on the weekends.

I'll let you know when we head out to Pewaukee :). Hopefully the weeds don't swamp the East end of the lake like last year. I think I was out there once or twice and that was it. We like it so the kids can swim and such. We usually go out after work for a few hours and maybe stop at Ike's pub for a beer and pizza. :)


Wildchild, caincando1, Thirsty Turtle, what do you guys do over the 4th of July?. We are probably headed out to the river over that weekend and have always stayed around La Crosse for the fireworks and Riverfest. If you guys are around, I might head North to boat with you and find some of those secret places to have a cold one :).

Otherwise I will let everyone know the next time we hit the river, you others do the same and if I am not doing anything, I might just trailer out and join ya.

ATT, would love to see that AT cruising the river :D.

Jeff

Some of those deep backwater channels lead to some interesting places;)

Bruce, you lead and I shall follow ;), you just let me know ahead of time if I should leave the kids at home ;) ;)

Jeff-are you going to (again) try to (again) put together another Mississippi trip (again)?

Good Suggestions
 

Another good place to stop is Huck Finns in La Crosse. It is a new resturant that the Marina I work for just built on the black river. Can't miss it. Located in the slow no wake zone just south of the boat launch on the black river. Live entertainment, no wake, and good docks. :D

Here's an early navigators take on where the rivers real beauty begins and ends:



Past Cultures of the Upper Mississippi River
"That portion of the Mississippi which extends from Prairie du Chien to Lake Pepin is the most mountainous and truly beautiful on the whole river, and may with strict propriety be called the Alpine Region. The river here varies from a quarter to a full mile in width, and on either side throughout the whole distance is a range of mountains which sometimes actually bend over the river, and sometimes recede into the interior for several miles. The Mississippi here is rather sluggish, but perfectly translucent and completely filled with islands which are covered with a variety of forest trees found between Kentucky and the Great Lakes" (Charles Lanman, 1846)

Tim, I think it is easier to just "wing it" on a certain weekend and see who shows up. I for one will leave early in the morning and motor up to meet the others and later in the day motor back to the launch and if necesssary do it again the next day.

If you guys are interested, you should not have much problem with noise and cops if we just head to meet the North guys. There are only a few spots that you really need to avoid if you are real noisy.

I will certainly let you and everyone else know the next time we head out. It is a good time -- never boring.

Yes, I agree. The river is a interesting place to boat. Please keep us in the loop.

Will do.

Just PM me your email and I'll send you all the info on the poker run.

Brian

I'll send you all the info this afternoon.

Anyone else?

Jeff (HP500EFI) Long time no hear. But its boating season again.
As soon as I'm done with my driveway I'll be boating again. Hope to see you on Winnebego or the Mississippi.
We are heading to Alma on the 4th of July and heading north.
We are staying at Northport Marina the 4th then Wabasha on the 5th. Might try the Casino on the 6th otherwise Bill's Bay just south
of Red Wing is a good spot. Freindly people and a playground for the kid.

Bill

Preferredstock,
We'll have to hook up. There are about 10 of us hotboats in Alma(Great River Harbor). We're just a couple miles south of northport below the dam.

Brian

We have never stayed in Alma before. Is the area nice? Which is the better marina? I thought we would stay at Northport, it sounded like it was closer to town. I have a 6 year old who likes to play on toys. Does your Marina have anything for the kids. Which place has the bet boat launch for my Formula 357???

Bill

Your in for a treat. This area makes an incredibly beautiful back drop for boating.

Here is the deal

Northport is a nice big marina full of big cruisers(no go-fast boats) so the ramp will be more than adequate. I believe there is a playground and a small office/store. But other than that it's just a marina with a big parking lot all the way around it.

Great River Harbor is a camp grounds(200 permanent), marina and also home to Fun N' the Sun house boat rental. The ramp will be adequate for your boat. There is also a play grounds, game room and mini-golf(under refurbishing) and a bar for the adults. There are tons of kids for you 6 year old to play with. Some belonging to fellow board members. We're also there to lend a hand at the ramp and docks. There is always a friendly camp fire with plenty of boat talk for you and girl talk for the wives.

If you haven't made reservations, you may want to soon.

Brian

You wouldn't happen to know the phone number to Great River Harbor?


Bill

(608) 248-2454

Look forward to meeting you. Leave me your email and I'll send you all the info for the Poker Run in August.

Brian

Bill, ahhh, we might just be up that way over the 4th ;). Just not sure of the plans or location just yet. Almost certain we will be on the Mississippi river :). I will touch base with you.

Not sure I have your current e-mail address. Can you either send it or post it.

Brian, where are these Alma marina's? Upstream or Downstream of the lock? By the power plant?. Do you have any MM so that I can look it up on my map.

I don't remember seeing these marinas but they sound like a nice place. Is it possible to boat into the marina and maybe pitch a tent on land? The campfire and some cold brews sound inviting :)

Northport is only a mile above the lock right on the right(WI) side(MM754).

Thats the way we like it.:D Great River Harbor is in the back water about 4 miles south of the lock. There are small red and green bouys leading into the back water(MM 748). It's very secluded and many people have no idea that its back there. It's very peaceful being sheltered back there. Yep there is tent pitching room, cabins and trailers to rent.

Brian

Jeff & Caincando1 email is [email protected]
Boat name is Preferred Stock.
I'll have to check the charts on the location of the Great River Harbor. Are there cans marking the channel all the way back,
or am I going to be looking for new trs drives??

Hey Bill
Yes there are red and green markers leading the way back to the Great River Harbor. It is pretty easy to get back there. if you would feel more comfortable I am sure we could get a boat wet to come out to the channel and lead you in.
Mark

I called the Great River Harbor and they are sending me some information. From what I have heard, it sounds nice. :)

Boats not big enough for the whole family to stay overnight but I could use this place as my launching site and bring the tent etc with me.

Cold beer around a campfire, what more do you need :)

They're not too far away!:eek:

Cain, let me know if you plan on having a party over the 4th of July with some of the other OSO'ers. We would like to join you guys! By the way, is anyone from your area heading to Dubuque for the poker run this weekend?

Is that place still around in Fountain City? Not to many years ago we (about 20 of us) stayed at the Merrick State Park for a weekend of duck hunting and somehow we ended up in Fountain City to see some girlies:)

Then there is also Desoto :)