Watching the Boats Go By on a Canoe Trip for Two in the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage

The Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area offers remote camping on campsites accessible only by water. Located in Northern Wisconsin near Mercer, the flowage offers fishing, boating, and paddling. On a stormy Friday night in July, we headed north. Traffic pulled to the side of the road from time to time due to poor visibility. Wind churned the dark clouds. We wondered how the weather would be spending this night in our tent.





Our daughter off Girl Scout camping, my husband and I alone arrived at a state forest campground near the Turtle-Flambeau. We set camp after sunset just as the storm we had driven through dwindled. We felt glad to be out of the raging wind and heavy rains we experienced earlier in the evening. Although we got a little wet setting up camp, the weather overnight proved manageable.

Hoping to paddle into camp before the rain starts.

The view from the boat launch.

Our site in the Turtle Flambeau

In the morning, we packed up camp and headed to the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. We carried a big jug of our own water in, rather than drinking from the flowage. We've been spoiled by the clean waters on boundary waters trips. But Turtle-Flambeau is a beautiful place to paddle and camp.

When we arrived at Murray Landing Road, we found a few trees in the road from the storm. The parking lot was full, and motor boaters arrived as we were putting in the canoe. This was shaping up to be a busy Saturday on the water.

Trip Video

As we paddled out, the sky darkened and the air felt warm and damp. The flies were buzzing and diving, and as we sought a campsite we formulated two objectives. Try to escape the flies, and get camp set up before the rain. We paddled around in sprinkling rain, looking for a site.

After a time it began to seem as if none of the campsites were free, but finally we found #30 open and were glad to take it. Just as we landed, the sprinkles turned to light rain.  Once we got camp set up, my husband started splitting wood and I began rehydrating some dehydrated chili I served with Fritos. 

We slapped mosquitoes and relaxed, my husband in his hammock, and I in my camp chair watching canoes float and motor boats whiz by. The weather cleared up later in the day and the sun came out, providing a gorgeous, romantic sunset.

Signs we were not the first ones here...

Camp!

After sunset

Now looking back with deep snow outside, this was a day in paradise. In the morning I fried bacon and toasted bagels as we watched families of geese swim by. As the sun rose the day became warm, boaters began to once again fill the lake. We paddled out feeling warm sun on our faces, fully relaxed and ready to take on the week ahead.

Heading home

Done!

Overall we enjoyed a relaxing trip for two. I'm glad the Friday night storm didn't keep us grounded. A great opportunity to relax and connect with one another and the natural world. 

That's all for now, let's get outdoors and keep our wild places wild!