07/22/2025
THE LONG LIST!
NOTE: This is a recreational open paddle event! All activities are AT YOUR OWN RISK. Be prepared, be safe, be happy!!!
Please read before asking questions as most will be answered here!!!
For those who have done it before the short answer is on the water at NOON 7/26 by the Eagles Club/Everest Park!
$20 T-Shirts/Ladies Tanks Pre-Sale(sizes are limited so buy early, we only had a few shirts left by the day of event last year) will be sold at The Garage Wausau starting around 5PM 7/22-7/25
Proceeds will help pay for expenses, primarily the LIVE BAND ON THE WATER, as well WATERMELON ISLAND, any remainder goes as a donation to support the Wausau Youth Rugby Club. To-date we've raised almost $7,000 to support Youth Rugby.
Bring your Kayaks, Canoes, SUP boards, anything paddle powered, we will be stopping at several riverside bars and sandbars, along with celebratory cheers under several bridges.
One note. Depending on your put-in point this can be a 3-7+ mile trip and does go through a flowage so floaty islands/tubes aren't going to make it. You will want something a little more seaworthy(kayak/canoe/SUP).
Recommended route is Everest Park/Eagles Club, two sandbars, ending at Trails End with more live music and several food trucks!
To clear up some confusion: this is NOT an official event sanctioned by any one group. It is a loose collection of individuals choosing to have fun together at the same point in time and space. As such plan on being self-reliant, bring plenty of drinking water, maybe some extra for your neighbors. All the gear you would normally bring for a 5-7hr paddling trip(lots of social, actual paddle time is about 1-2 hrs depending on speed).
Recommended put-in points by distance to meeting point:
x Oak Island(Medium) - Google Maps: 44.953124, -89.629319
x Riverside Park(Medium) - Google Maps: 44.953268, -89.636175
x Memorial Park(Short) - 44.940392, -89.631172
x Eagles Club(Very Short) - Google Maps: 44.937795, -89.638661
x Gullivers Landing(Medium) Google Maps: 44.937520, -89.657006
x Bluegill Park(Long and upstream) Google Maps: 44.926373, -89.639682
x The loop(no shuttle needed!) START at Trails End around 9ish(Breakfast at Trails?) and paddle TO Everest Park for the kick-off. The river has a few winds so make sure you don't get lost(ie use google maps on your phone :)) This makes for a long day, know your limits and be SAFE!
We have UBER now so one option could be to drop your car off at Trails and uber back but will want to plan ahead and drop off early. It's also only about a 15 min bike ride so that is also an option...
Saturday Noon: Meeting Point/Start at the Eagles Club/Everest Park.
Can't miss it, will be playing on the pontoon boat!
Saturday Noonish-5ish: Paddle up the Rib River, stopping at several sand bars and socializing all the way! Make sure to pick up any litter you see(both yours and others), this is a open recreation event, NO ONE will be cleaning up after you! Every time a cigarette butt hits the ground, Mother Nature dies a little bit inside.
Final Take out point:
Trails End Bar
3901 Sherman Rd, Wausau, WI 54401
Live Music 2:30(for you go-getters you sexy beasts)-8ish
- Live music with bands and Concessions at Trails End in the afternoon through the evening.
Safety/Paddling Tips
- Safety first! Use the buddy system, make sure you are never paddling alone. If you don't know anyone hang with me:)
- It is the law to have a life jacket for every person in the boat.
- Buy a case of bottled water and freeze it, about the same price as
a bag of ice and you get drinking water as it melts
- Speaking of water, stay hydrated!!! You'll be out in the sun for over 5 hours.
- Speaking of sun, bring sunscreen, same reason. Let's not have any Rock Lobster's out there!
- Never trust ziplock bags! Buy a dry box. You can find them in the camping section or boat section at most dept stores, 5-10 bucks is cheaper than a new phone!!!
- A small soft cooler with a side pocket works as a great drink holder, otherwise you'll lose half your beverage in the bottom of a boat(shoe/sandle heel works too in a pinch)
- No glass if you can avoid it, my tender lilies can't take much broken glass. Cans/boxed wine/pre-mix your cocktails into plastic bottles.
- If you see garbage/cans on the river, pick them up! Always try to leave the river cleaner than when you started!!!
- We will be spending a lot of time at the sand bar and the park by Eagles Club so plan appropriately, bring frisbees and other fun crap.
- We will be taking out at Trails End so figure out your pickup situation, be smart! Cabs are cheap, DUIs not so much. We have had some boat thefts(cough cough mine cough as****es cough cough) so don't recommend leaving overnight, if you must probably still cheaper than a DUI though.
Boat Launch usage fees:
The rule is if you don't use the ramp in ANY way you don't have to pay the daily usage fee($4). So up to you if you want to pay $4 and use the ramp or put in next to it (a little bit rocky but do-able). Same goes for Everest Park(Eagles club). You can take out next to the launches or pay the fee(the fee covers both launches).
