October 10–12, 2025 – Ontario, WI
MadCityPaddlers Annual Fall Colors Trip
Kickapoo River glowing with peak fall colors during the 2025 MCP Fall Paddle.
There’s something special about rolling straight from work into a weekend on the river. I packed my car the night before, knowing I’d be heading out immediately after work — one of those small choices that makes the whole escape feel intentional.
When the shift ended, I hit the road for the couple-hour drive up to Wildcat Mountain State Park, racing the fading daylight. I reached camp just in time to hang my OneTigris KOMPOUND hammock, clip in the OneTigris Night Protector Ultralight Hammock Underquilt, stretch the Oak Creek rain fly, and fluff my Teton Celsius 0° sleeping bag before darkness settled in.
My hammock setup at Wildcat Mountain — warm, simple, and ready for the cold night.
A few MadCityPaddlers were already there, and we settled around the fire, swapping stories as October temperatures dropped fast. Eventually, the fire burned low, and we drifted off to our tents and hammocks under the quiet forest canopy.
Saturday Morning – Cold, Clear & Ready for the River
The morning hit cold — one of those crisp October chills that makes your breath show up before you do. Steam drifted through the valley, and everything felt quiet and still.
I fired up my ultralight BRS-3000T stove with my TOAKS titanium pot and cooked a quick breakfast before packing up my day gear.
After breakfast, we joined the convoy to the landing, completed the car shuttle, held our safety briefing, and finally slid our kayaks into the water.
The Paddle – 14 Miles of Classic Kickapoo
Once everyone was afloat, we pushed off into the signature Kickapoo meanders and sandstone canyon walls.
📸 Classic Kickapoo sandstone bends — never gets old.
⭐ The Mini-Rapids We Always Look Forward To
About 1.2 miles below Bridge 1, we reached one of the highlights we look forward to every year — a fun mini-rapids section created by a small sandstone drop.
It’s not big or technical, but it’s the perfect splash of excitement to kick off the trip. We usually run it one by one so everyone gets a clean line (and so we can get good pictures). The backdrop of hills and early fall color makes it one of the best photo and video spots of the day.
📸 The mini-rapids below Bridge 1 — a fun, familiar Kickapoo highlight.
⭐ Early Fall Colors, Not Quite Peak Yet
This year, the fall colors weren’t as far along as we hoped. Instead of peak reds and oranges, the river was painted with soft yellows and scattered orange patches, giving the day a quiet early-autumn feel. Not the explosive colors we’ve seen some years, but still beautiful in that subtle October way — cliffs glowing warm, leaves drifting across the water, and the river carrying all of it gently downstream.
📸 Early fall shades starting to show along the canyon walls.
Midway through the paddle we stopped for lunch, meeting up with the group who launched farther downstream. Some local Amish families were picnicking nearby, and we chatted briefly before pushing on.
Garmin Track – Full 14-Mile Route
I tracked the entire route with my Garmin Fēnix kayak app:
- Distance: 14.01 miles
- Moving Time: 4h 15m
- Elevation Gain: 338 ft
📸 Tracking the full 14-mile run on my Garmin Fēnix 5.
It was smooth, steady, and one of my favorite Kickapoo paddles yet.
Post-Paddle Tradition — Rockton Bar
After pulling out at Landing 12, we upheld tradition: straight to Rockton Bar. Nothing beats a Wisconsin bar meal after a long fall paddle — burgers, cold drinks, tired arms, and a lot of laughing as we replayed the highlights of the day.
📸 Our traditional post-paddle stop — the perfect way to end the day.
Bellies full, we headed back to camp for one final night.
Saturday Night – Cold but Perfect
The temperature dropped fast, but my sleep system handled it flawlessly:
- OneTigris underquilt
- Oak Creek rain fly
- Teton 0° sleeping bag
- KingCamp wearable puffy blanket around camp
We spent the night around the fire, swapping more stories as the stars came out. The cold air, warm flames, and relaxed conversation made it the perfect end to the main event.
Ending the night the right way — warm fire, cold air, good friends.
Why This Trip Matters to Me
This trip marks the end of my kayaking season almost every year — the final time the whole MCP group gathers before winter locks things down. It’s the last weekend of the season where you feel the transition in the air: cold nights, warm fires, and leaves starting their slow fade into color.
Even though this was only my second annual Kickapoo trip, it has already become one of my favorite traditions. It wraps up a season of paddling with great people and reminds me why I love river life — the community, the calm, the challenge, and the quiet moments you only get outdoors.
It’s not just another paddle.
It’s the closing chapter of the season.
Sunday – Pack-Up & Goodbye
Sunday warmed into the low 70s — unusually mild for October. We said our goodbyes, packed up slowly, and headed home with smoke-scented clothes, tired arms, and that deep, satisfying feeling only a weekend outside can give.
Another MadCityPaddlers Fall Colors Paddle in the books.
Already looking forward to the next one.