Here’s What You’ll See If You Paddle the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee

While the Milwaukee River may be the perfect choice for an urban paddleboarding experience, the Kinnickinnic has its own personality and sights to see along the way.

And while it may be Milwaukee’s underdog river, it’s a window into the heart of the city – a place where the past, present and future come together.

A paddle on the Kinnickinnic River offers views of the city skyline, historic buildings, a weighbridge, and restaurants, bars, and businesses. There is even a natural oasis nestled in one of the bends of the river, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Just upstream from the Hoan Bridge to the south is the Inner Harbor, where you’ll have views across the water to Jones Island – which isn’t an island at all today, but was once the site of a bustling commercial fishing village settled by the Kashubians. , an ethnic group originating from Poland.

Today, it’s home to one of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sanitation District’s water reclamation facilities, along with the unmistakable pungent smell of Milorganite and gigantic piles of salt used to melt streets, highways and the state’s icy highways.

Grain elevators and docks are found at the south end of Jones Island. Many companies have owned and operated grain silos during its century-old history, among them Nidera, a Dutch grain trader. It was recently sold to a concrete supplier in 2023 and will no longer be used for grain handling.

On the opposite bank are bike, boat and kayak rental businesses as well as the popular Boone and Crockett cocktail bar.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences is further upstream, just before the Kinnickinnic Basin opens into the Inner Harbor. This is where you can get an up-close look at the Neeskay, the school’s Great Lakes research vessel.

A railway swing bridge marks the end of the Kinnickinnic River

The inner harbor gradually gives way to the Kinnickinnic River Railway Bridge, a swing bridge built in the late 1800s.

Barnacle Bud’s is one of Milwaukee’s many hidden gems. The restaurant, located behind the marina and Skipper Bud’s warehouse, is one of the few access points along the river. Tucked behind Barnacle Bud’s is one of the last remnants of the city’s historic wetlands. An effort known as the Grand Trunk Wetland Habitat Restoration Project – or Bay View Wetlands Project – will remediate the contaminated sediment and restore it in the years to come.

Milwaukee is home to many movable bridges along its three rivers. One is a Bascule Bridge, a drawbridge where two platforms open to allow boats to pass through, which you can find along the river at South First Street.

The banks of the Kinnickinnic River have become an increasingly popular area for development and revitalization in recent years. Along with its industrial roots, the river corridor has seen growth in residential and commercial space, blending old and new Milwaukee.

From the water, you’ll see Harbor District businesses like Michels Corp. and Restaurant Depot as well as restaurants like Bridgewater Modern Grill. And although it’s a few blocks away, you can see the Basilica of Saint Josaphat on the opposite bank.

The revitalized section offers a portrait of the future of the river

From there, the Kinnickinnic River transitions from industrial to urban status, winding its way through Milwaukee’s south side to its modest headwaters near West Cleveland Avenue and South 60th Street.

In fact, it is the most urbanized and developed river in Wisconsin.

For now, the last stretch that can be traveled is an area that has been renaturalized, from South Sixth Street to South First Street, just south of East Lincoln Avenue. It’s part of a larger effort to restore the river corridor, making it less of a flood risk and safety issue, and more of a community amenity.

In the 1960s, the river was channeled and covered with concrete to prevent flooding, thereby channeling stormwater from neighborhoods to the lake as quickly as possible. But adding concrete only exacerbated the problem.

The Sewer District, Sixteenth Street Community Health Center and other partners are leading projects that will restore the river’s natural flow, remove concrete lining, and add and upgrade parks and green spaces along the way and engage the community.

Although concrete canals still line parts of the Kinnickinnic River further upstream, this section has become a true urban oasis. These revitalized areas have transformed the river from a lifeless industrial corridor into a vibrant sanctuary for wildlife and a peaceful refuge for people.

It will take between 15 and 20 years for the Kinnickinnic River to return to its natural state. For now, this section is only a taste of what awaits.

Caitlin Looby is a Report for America staffer who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on @caitlooby.

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