Turtle Creek,

B) Hwy.140 to Shopiere (PnP, 1.3, or 4.7 miles)

Ledge/wave at Railroad

Ledge/wave at Railroad
Photo by Rob Smage

Gauge Information

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: Hwy.140 to Shopiere (Approximately 6 miles NW from Beloit, WI).
Character: Rural scenery (fields, trees), an impressive scenic railroad trestle, mudflat and gravel shoals.
Shuttle Length: 1.3 miles or 4.9 miles. For whitewater enthusiasts, mostly recommended as (possible) park-and-play at railroad ledge near Smith Road.

General Overview

Removal of the Shopiere Dam (summer, 2000) had revealed a short bedrock ledge. Well, bedrock is probably the wrong term -- the bottom here is mud and clay. Unfortunately, the ledge' has now completely eroded away. However, additional scouting has found other potential playspots in this watershed. (See 'Rapids' and 'Maps' tabs.)

A very enjoyable, moderately scenic 4.7 mile float trip (flatwater paddle) starts from parking at a wayside at Hwy.140, 2.6 miles north of the town of Clinton, WI, and ends in a pretty little park (Sweet-Allyn County Park at Belding/Butterfly Road just north of Shopiere) where gravel shoals create a few minor riffs and rips leading downstream to the mown grassy area of the park for your take-out. I have not floated this reach, but I have heard that there may be at least one area where a rocky ledge and/or rock rubble forms a bit of pourover/wave (at some flows) which may allow for minor surfs. This is right at the very scenic (multiple high-arching stonework) railroad bridge which is about a mile upstream of Sweet-Allyn County Park, and may be accessed from nearby Smith Road for a park-and-play, or a run of just 1.3 miles with the best of the gradient (such as it is . . . just riffles and rips).