Manawa Mill Pond, Waupaca County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open water, Willow and Alder Swamp, Bottomland Hardwoods, Mudflats.
Best Birds: Common and Hooded Merganser, American Wigeon, Black Duck, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Northern Harrier, Cedar Waxwing, and Swamp Sparrow.
Directions: 36 miles E of Stevens Point. Begin this trip northeast of Manawa at Fahser's Bridge (44.49424, -88.89966). From Hwy 22 turn east onto Fuhs Road and then north on Bridge Road. Watch to the right side for a nicely maintained parking lot and an easy embarkation slide. The best passerines can be found by paddling upstream from the Bridge Road landing for a quarter-mile before turning to float with the flow. Three miles downstream as the river opens onto the Millpond, look for the take-out on the south side at the Manawa Millpond Park (44.46796, -88.90587). This park is about one mile east of Manawa on County N, which skirts the south side of the Millpond. There is a very nice parking lot and picnic area with excellent rest rooms which may be a relief at the end of the paddle. This spot gives a superb view of the flowage in spring. Because of the dam at Manawa, this is a slow moving 3-mile water trip for beginning paddlers.
Address & Additional Information:
N7009 Bridge Road, Manawa WI
6368 County Hwy N (Clark Street), Manawa WI
Michael O’Connell
