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Heidi Heiden of Holmen, Wis., paddles out to Lake Onalaska Saturday with the first heat of kayaks competing in the Brice Prairie Canoe/Kayak Race. PETER THOMSON photo |
At the confluence of three rivers, La Crosse is a boater’s paradise. But you don’t need a yacht or powerboat to enjoy the water.
“A lot of the rivers here are great to paddle,” said Bill Nelson, owner of Three Rivers Outdoors, a downtown outfitter that rents kayaks and canoes and offers instruction for a range of skill levels as well as weekly group paddles.
“It’s good exercise, and it’s cheap,” Nelson said.
Three rivers sells kayaks starting at about $330. Expect to spend another $200 for a good paddle and life preserver. Kayaks and canoes can be rented for about $20 a day from Three Rivers or the University of Wisconsin — La Crosse’s Outdoor Connection. Three Rivers provides pads and straps to secure the boat to the roof of your car.
For those who’ve never kayaked, don’t worry. “It’s easier than canoeing,” Nelson said. “It’s not as tippy, which a lot of people are afraid of.“
And there are plenty of opportunities to learn. The City of La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department has added 10 kayaks to its fleet and this summer will offer introductory lessons to anyone older than 8. The classes ($15 for residents, $20 for others) will cover the basics of paddling and safety.
At Three Rivers, a two-session fundamentals clinic that covers basic strokes as well as defensive boating and basic rescue skills costs $60.
For information on boat rental and lessons:
Three Rivers Outdoors, (608) 793-1470 or www.threeriversoutdoors.com
La Crosse Park and Recreation, (608) 789-7533
UW-L Outdoor Connection, (608) 785-6530
Hike
This one’s free. All you need is a sturdy pair of shoes to hit some of the city’s 20 miles of trails.
From level, paved paths through the marsh to gnarly bluffside switchbacks, there’s something for every ability.
“They’re great day hikes,” said Gabe Berendes, a member of the nonprofit group Human Powered Trails, which has built about 12 miles of biking and hiking trails in the bluffs.
Parks along the trail system offer restrooms for pit stops, and hikers can celebrate their summit with a beer and burger at the Alpine Inn.
Trail maps are available at the Hixon Forest Nature Center, 2702 Quarry Road (near Losey Boulevard and La Crosse Street)
Go vertical
Rock climbing is not a sport to try out on your own. Solo climbing is dangerous and only for the most experienced climbers. You need to learn basic rope and safety techniques, and you need a belay partner. But it can be done safely.
Grandad Bluff has some bolted routes, but climbing is illegal.
Crystal Neely, a climber and employee at Three Rivers, said the best area climbing is at Devil’s Lake near Baraboo, Wis., where there are routes of variable difficulty on the granite faces.
UW-L’s Adventure Program offers guided climbing trips for groups as small as four. Prices start at about $350 for a full day of climbing and all necessary gear.
Contact: (608) 785-6515
Tennis anyone?
If you’re looking for something more pedestrian, try tennis.
The Park and Rec department offers lessons starting June 10 for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced players. Racquets are provided, and coaches will adapt to a player’s ability, said coordinator Heidi Kluesner.
In addition to learning the rules and perfecting your strokes, lessons are a way to find partners. “It’s a really good way to network and meet people,” Kluesner said.
To register, call (608) 789-7533
Disc golf
The city also boasts an 18-hole disc golf course that’s free to play. If you understand the concept of golf and can throw a Frisbee, you should be able to figure this one out. Rules are posted on the course at Pettibone Park. If you don’t have your own discs, the city rents sets of four for $5 a day or $10 a weekend.
