Canoeing & Boating |
![]() |
![]() |
Paddlers have a choice of four waterways to canoe: the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers and the Wildcat and Deer Creeks. Wildcat Creek is one of only three Natural and Scenic Waterways in the State, and the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers are on the list of Indiana’s Outstanding Rivers and Streams. Many historical sites—some listed on the National Register of Historic Places—are on or near these waterways. Deer CreekA small creek, little known to those outside the county, is Deer Creek. Its 23-mile floatable portion in Carroll County begins just south of the town of Deer Creek in northeast Carroll County at the SR 29 bridge. There is no Indiana DNR Public Access Site at this or any other location along Deer Creek, so access is from private property—usually fields at some distance from residences—along state or county roads near bridges. The one exception is Sycamore Row, an abandoned, quarter-mile state highway department-owned segment of old SR 29, just south of the intersection with SR 218. The Creek is accessible via a steep slope down from the northern terminus of the Row. There is parking along the berm of the single lane, but turning around at the terminus is difficult. The most popular launch site for Deer Creek is at the SR 75 bridge south of Camden, 11.1 miles downstream from Sycamore Row. Downstream 6.9 miles from there, paddlers will pass under the 1897 Wilson Bridge. The Pratt through-truss iron structure was restored in 2008 and is on the National Register. At 1.4 miles further downstream is the 1891 wooden railroad trestle local residents call “High Bridge.” At 852 feet long and 65 feet above the creek, High Bridge is the second highest and third longest railroad trestle in Indiana. This grand structure is eligible for listing in the National Register. Deer Creek winds through Delphi’s Riley Park, 2.1 miles downstream from High Bridge. The Park is about a quarter-mile south of the City’s Historic Courthouse Square, on U.S. 421/SR 39 S. Access to the Creek is via the road and footpaths through the Park. Paddlers can obtain food and other necessities at the many retailers around Courthouse Square. SR 75 to Riley Park is a total of 10.5 stream miles. The confluence of the Creek and the Wabash River is 1.3 miles downstream, near the site where the first Carroll County settlers constructed their log cabins in 1826. Tippecanoe River![]() The Jefferson Township Conservation Club, Inc. maintains a picnic/camping area at the base of Oakdale Dam on the west side of the river, about 100 yards upstream of the Oakdale PAS. Users of the facilities must be members or accompanied by a member. The Club's website has photos of muskies, walleye, bass, and other fish--some very large--caught in the river. The Conservation Club is presently closed because of construction at the Oakdale Dam. Another very popular launch site is on private property, 9.9 miles downstream from the Oakdale PAS. This site, known locally as Springboro Bridge, carries SR 18 from Delphi over the Tippecanoe River to Brookston. The traveler would follow the U.S. 421/SR 39/SR 18 highway north from Delphi’s Courthouse Square for 3.4 miles where SR 18 continues to Brookston. The Springboro Bridge is 2 miles from this junction. Access to the river is from the west and north side of the bridge. Though it’s private property, it has accommodated canoe and boat launches for many years, without problems of trespass being reported. The terrain at the top of the area and leading to the river is unimproved. Parking for 15-20 vehicles is available, but, long-term parking on private property should be avoided. Hodges Canoe Trips is located below Springboro at 2761 N 1275 W, a half mile off SR 18. They are a full-service canoe and kayak livery. Their website provides service details. The confluence of the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers is about 9 miles downstream from the Springboro Bridge, in Americus, a small town on SR 25 midway between Lafayette and Delphi. A private, fee-based livery is located there as well as restaurants, campgrounds, and other serivces. Lake FreemanCool off on a warm summer's day in Lake Freeman located along the northwestern county line. Fill your days with fishing, boating, swimming, and skiing. Lake Freeman is a popular spot just below Monticello that offers recreational activities for local residents as well as many visitors. Boating and boating services, including a ramp, are provided above Oakdale Dam in Lake Freeman by Tall Timbers Marina. The Madam Carroll is a 135-foot boat that cruises Lake Freeman, offering dinners, drinks, entertainment, and a dance floor. It is also available for private charters. Wabash River![]() ![]() The road that leads North away from the Bridge is Towpath Road, the “towpath” for the Wabash & Erie Canal which was constructed through this area in the 1840s. Towpath Road can be followed to the town of Lockport and crossing the bridge over the Wabash there on CR 300 W and turning west (right) will bring the traveler immediately to French Post Park, on the right. The Park, via this route, is 6.7 miles from Carrollton Bridge. Located in this scenic county park is a handicapped-accessible DNR boat ramp as well as a shelter house, water, and tent camping facilities. About 6 miles downstream of the Carrollton Bridge is a small, County-owned right-of-way parcel on the downstream side of the west abutment of the concrete bridge on Bicycle Bridge Road, which intersects with U.S. 421/SR 39/SR 18 N at Delphi’s Pizza Hut restaurant. The site is unimproved, and canoes will have to be hauled up and over a large levee, but a short lane leading from the west to near the base of the levee provides parking for 3 vehicles. This location is intended as a temporary site until a better public access can be constructed. Those using this site are expected to restrict their activity to the County-owned parcel and not infringe on the owners of the adjoining properties.
Wildcat Creek![]() ![]() Xenia Bridge, 7 miles downstream from Adams Mill, has a small, undeveloped access area on the northwest side of Prince William Road and CR 350, owned by the County. Only temporary parking for a single vehicle is available at that site. The County’s only other remaining covered bridge, the 1870 Lancaster Bridge, is 2.7 miles downstream from Xenia Bridge. The property on both sides of the bridge is privately owned so no Creek access is available. ![]() Knop Lake can also be accessed from SR 26. Just east of the Tippecanoe/Clinton County line, turn North on CR 900W (which becomes CR 800W at 1 mile) at the DNR boat ramp signs and proceed 2.4 miles to CR 650S, marked with a brown arrow directional sign. Turn East on 650S and proceed 0.6 miles to the Knop Lake entrance, well marked with a large DNR Public Fishing Area sign. The sign, which faces west, is not readily observed when traveling from the east. A useful website for information about distances between sites and the segments of Wildcat Creek is: Wildcatcreek.net. Another that provides maps of the areas described is hosted by the Wildcat Guardians. Canoe OutfittersThere are two canoe outfitters located in or near Carroll County: Hodges Canoe Trips (on the Tippecanoe River) 2761 N 1275 W Delphi, IN 46923 765-564-6806 Wildcat Canoe and Kayak Too (on Wildcat Creek) CR 725 E, south of the bridge, in Tippecanoe County 765-589-8081 A popular guide for canoe trips throughout north-central Indiana, and especially on Wildcat Creek, is Garry Hill. Garry, known as “Muskrat” by his canoeing friends, organizes trips throughout the year, including winter months, and has an extensive email list announcing and describing these trips. Paddlers interested in these trips should contact Garry at GarryHill@aol.com. Appreciation is also extended to Garry for his review of the above descriptions and for providing the mileage of stream segments. |