Root,

B) Horlick Dam to Quarry Park (0.2 - 0.6 mile)

Horlick Dam

Horlick Dam
Photo of various boaters by Mike Croak @ 714 cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: northwest edge of city of Racine.
Shuttle Length: 0.2-0.6 miles. (See details in "Directions" Tab.)
Character: High (relatively) tree-lined banks provide almost a 'wilderness' feel in a county park, where sloping bedrock creates fine playable features.

Put-in is approximately 620' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 600' elevation.
Thus total elevation change is approximately 20'.

Flooding the week of June 8-14, 2008, as the river peaked near 8,000 cfs (almost doubling it's former 45-year record peak flow), has caused significant change to this reach (as well as the rest of the river). Rubble and even substantial rocks have been washed away and redeposited into new shoals well downstream of their former locations. Shoreline, rubble-dam structures, and deadfall (which formerly created eddies and redirected some of the flow) have been eroded and washed away. This has resulted in changes to the features on this run. Expect many of the features to be significantly different (at any given flow) than they have been in the past. As we have the opportunity to boat this reach at different levels in this 'post flood' period, updates will be made to this description to reflect changes to these features.

Most notable at this point is that a large rubble shoals has been deposited downstream of the first bridge in the golf course (downstream of the last feature and recommended take-out for this reach). This shoals is substantial enough that it has caused water to pool all the way up to the ledge which forms the waves at "All Evil". This pool is typically a few inches higher (deeper) than the shorter pool used to be, and seems to make eddies and washout immediately behind "All Evil" much more turbulent. The "Lesser Evil" wave now seems fairly fine at levels from 500-1000 cfs, but at higher levels, seems to be missing the 'surfers left' (river-right) shoulder, making it almost impossible to surf 'half a wave'. The freestyle/rodeo boater crowd is now proclaiming that (at levels above 1200 cfs) "All Evil" seems back to almost as good as pre-flood, and (above 1800 cfs) even better than pre-flood!

At "Lower Pipeline", "Tundra" still exists (though changed from before). The river-left eddy is virtually non-existent at many flows, making repeat play on this wave much less convenient. It may be played by first surfing "Lower Pipeline", coming off to surfer's right to drop onto "Tundra". When flushed off "Tundra", replay may be possible (with effort) by regaining "Lower Pipeline" by paddling up center-river (instead of going for the shoreline eddy).

Shallow bedrock ledges in a fairly uniform width, unobstructed channel create a sweet series of green (ok, more like brown) waves for surfs and (at high water) major freestyle action. Many who have done this reach (at levels above 1400-1800 cfs) have proclaimed it contains among of the best play waves in the state! Not bad, considering it's in the southeast corner of the state where one would not expect to find good whitewater!

Access and parking are convenient both at the upper put-in by the Horlick Dam and at the take-out in Quarry Lake Park. (Most boaters just park at the take-out and carry up to their chosen put-in.

In winter or early spring when the water is up, don't let a windy, raw day discourage you from boating this reach. High banks flank the river, sheltering you from almost all wind conditions while on the water. (It will only be a factor as you 'carry up' in the park.) I've boated it with the temperature in the low 30's, and wind-chills of single-digits or teens, and have been fine while on the river. Additionally, the existance of the dam and its millpond (at the head of this reach) holds back ice in winter. The stretch that we boat downstream of the dam will often flush free of ice after a day or two of winter warming, allowing for reasonably safe boating.

Be aware this is a VERY popular fishing stream. During spring (March/April) and fall (October +/- 2weeks) when the Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, etc., are running, be prepared to share the river with scores of anglers. Fortunately water levels most conducive to boating are unfavorable for fishing, so there is seldom a problem. Most fishermen will be found up by the dam (down to the first bend), and down in the pool below the final playspot (and along the golf course river frontage downstream).

(Note: On weekends during summer, when staff is on duty (roughly 8am-6:30pm) a $1 per person park fee may be charged for admittance to Quarry Park.)

Additional References
Midwest River Inventory has additional details and photos of this reach.