The Kickapoo River is in central/southwestern Wisconsin and is advertised as “the World’s Crookedest River.” This river is the perfect place to tube or paddle! All the twists and turns keep it interesting, and there are plenty of places to stop and stretch your legs or go for a swim. Several local businesses offer shuttles and rentals with various trip lengths, making it easy to customize to your needs. This trip is perfect for families with kids of all ages, as well as with dogs. It would also be fun to go on a tube with friends and bring a cooler of drinks. Ontario is a cute little town with a few gems, and Wildcat Mountain State Park is nearby, with plenty of hiking and camping options. This place is totally worth a day or weekend trip!
Paddling the Kickapoo-The Experience
The Kickapoo River is 125 miles long, but the most popular section, due to accessibility and beauty, is between Ontario and La Forge. The river is mostly shallow, with a current that keeps things moving but isn’t scary. This makes it a good place for beginners. Plus, it meanders along, passing many sandstone cliffs, entertaining more advanced paddlers.
I loved how many sandy beaches we paddled by. There were so many options for places to stop and take a break. You can also grab a snack, take a dip, or just enjoy the beauty of the Kickapoo.
Many numbered bridges cross the Kickapoo, so there are plenty of options for trips of various lengths. Our group included two younger kids, ages 4 and 5, so we only did the first section of the river. We could have easily spent more time on the river. The kids and dogs wanted to make as many stops as possible!
You can choose between tubing or paddling the river. Tubing takes longer and is more passive. Kayaking will cover more ground but does require paddling. We also saw some mixed groups where kayakers were pulling or leading tubes.
Our youngest, at four years, wanted his own boat, but I wasn’t sure he could paddle the whole thing. The outfitter provided a rope so I could pull him when he got tired. Pulling a kayak might be challenging for a beginner kayak, though, so if you aren’t an experienced paddler, consider a double kayak. Our older kid is five and has over a year of occasional lake paddling under his belt. He did great and paddled the whole thing! I feel like most of his peers would still be happier at this age in a kayak with a parent or in a tube. I find it fairly easy to put a small kid (up to late elementary school) in a single boat with me, but a double is also an option).
Local Outfitters on the Kickapoo
There are plenty of options for public launch sites, including Wildcat State Park. As this is river kayaking, if you choose to bring your own boat, you must figure out how to return to your car. Though we own kayaks, we decided to rent for the Kickapoo. This meant less hassle of loading them up and not worrying about ferrying them back to the car. Some companies will shuttle personal boats for a fee if you prefer to use your own.
In my research in 2024, many of the outfitters had similar pricing. I think you should choose based on your unique circumstances. We chose Drifty’s because they offered youth-sized kayaks, and dogs are welcome. Some outfitters offer onsite camping, double kayaks, canoes, or shuttles for those with their own boats. You can expect them all to provide shuttles for their boats, lifevests, and paddles. Each outfitter will talk you through the options regarding how long you will be on the river and which bridge they can meet you at. This often depends on the time of day, the current in the river, and how fast people plan to paddle.
Examples of Prices and Services
The prices below are from summer 2024 and are not exhaustive. Consider reservations ahead of time on busy summer weekends or niche needs.
- Kickapoo Wild Adventures– They offer limited outdoor camping with porta potties and a fire ring. Dogs are welcome. Canoes ($50) with two people and maybe also a small kid. Single kayaks for one person only. Double ($60) is perfect for a parent and child combo. Their website is easy to navigate and well put together. They are not within walking distance of Ontario.
- Drifty’s Canoe Rental-We chose Drifty’s because they are dog friendly and have youth kayaks. You can put a smaller kid into a single adult boat. For a single adult or youth, it is $35. For a double kayak, it is $60. Canoes are $45. A rope is included with youth kayaks, so they can be towed if needed. Drifty’s does not have camping.
- Mr. Ducks Canoe Rental-They offer a $20 shuttle service for non-rental customers plus $10 per item to launch at their location. Alternatively, you can walk across the street to Bridge One Launch. Kayaks are $30, Tandem kayaks are $60, and canoes are $35. Camping is available with electricity.
- Titanic Canoe Rental-Titanic also offers a shuttle for non-rental customers. A kayak is $40, a tandem kayak is $60, and a canoe is $50. They also have paddleboards to rent. They are dog friendly and have riverside camping.
What to Bring
Valuables– Keep in mind that anything you bring may get wet and/or lost. I left my keys at the outfitters and my wallet in the car. My phone is waterproof, and I love taking pictures, so I did bring it. After accidentally dropping my phone from a kayak earlier this year, I found the Nite Ize Hitch at REI which you can also get at Amazon. It goes under your phone case and includes a place to clip your phone to your person. This is perfect for paddling as well as other adventures.
Food and Drinks– I recommend bringing water or your beverage of choice. I like to wear a camelbak backpack with a bladder because it’s easy to carry and hard to lose, but bottles work, too. You can rent a tube for your cooler if you’d like. You could also fit a cooler into a canoe. Consider packing a picnic; there are plenty of places to stop. I have kids, so of course, I brought tons of snacks.
Sunscreen/bug spray-We loaded up on sunscreen and bug spray before getting in but you may need to bring it if you are on the water longer. We didn’t have an issue with bugs, but that always depends on the time of year.
Towels- If it’s cool, I’d bring a towel. Don’t put all your towels in one boat, just in case someone tips. On our trip, both kids stayed upright, but one adult did tip his boat around a tight corner. You can also keep the towels in a waterproof bag. If it is warm enough, you could just leave them in the car.
Layers-Bring a long sleeve if it’s cold. I like wearing a long sleeve even in the summer to save on worrying about sunburn.
Toys-With kids, I would consider goggles/toys. We didn’t use ours much, but sometimes a beach ball or sand bucket can go a long way.
Paddling with a Dog
I love taking our dogs on paddling trips. Most of the outfitters are pet-friendly. I find a single kayak is usually plenty big enough for most dogs. You could consider a double if they needed more space, but the bigger the kayak, the harder it is to maneuver. You could also consider a canoe, which would work great for two people and a dog. There are many places to stop so your dog can run/swim. We let Remy swim alongside the boats briefly, but she got tired quickly. The Riversend Patio is dog-friendly if you want food before or after the trip.
The Town of Ontario
This is a super tiny town with some adorable features. The Driftwood Inn is an extremely reasonably priced motel, and we loved that it was only a couple of blocks from the launch site. There is a self check-in, and we saw the kind owner in passing.
Be sure to check out Saddle Up Coffee and Ice Cream, a small food truck. For caffeine lovers, keep in mind that they are closed on Sundays.
The main restaurant in town is Riversend. This bar/restaurant has a minimal online presence, but our motel owner said it is the only local place that serves breakfast. They also have lunch and dinner and a large outdoor eating area. Wildcat Mountain Bar and Grill has an even smaller online presence but good reviews. They are both right downtown.
Also right downtown is a playground and flower garden. It included a canoe acting as a sandbox and a friendly cat when we stopped by.
Wildcat Mountain State Park
The Kickapoo River winds right through Wildcat Mountain State Park. There is a boat launch in the park, but outfitters are not allowed to use it. The park has steep, winding roads leading to beautiful views. There are over 20 miles of hiking, including equestrian trails. There is a campground and a separate equestrian-only campground. The playground is next to a picnic area with beautiful views of Kickapoo Valley. If you love Wisconsin State Parks, be sure to look at my other reviews and a list of favorites.
The Kickapoo Valley Reserve
While in the area, check out the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, which includes over 8,000 acres. There is a modest entrance fee, which you pay online. This is south of Ontario and Wildcat Mountain State Park and offers plenty of river access. The information center has all the answers to your questions. This is a great place for cheap and secluded campsites.
In Conclusion…
I have had my eye on kayaking the Kickapoo with kids for a while, and we had so much fun! I would give it a rave review, and I recommend kayaking the Kickapoo to everyone, including kids and dogs. The town of Ontario is very small, but we had a great night there, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go again. Hopefully, next time, we can be on the river even longer.