Paddling near Madison, WI

Built on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, Madison sits in Dane County with 17.24 of its 94.03 square miles under water — one of the most paddle-friendly urban settings in the country. The Yahara River threads the Four Lakes chain (Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa), and the county holds roughly 69 named lakes and 52 rivers and creeks within easy reach.