Turtle Creek Mileage Chart
This Turtle Creek Mileage Chart will help you plan your trip! Click to download PDF
Information from WI DNR on tree blockage removal
Posted by Therese Oldenburg, 9/26/2020
There have been questions recently about cutting and removing trees from the creek. I called the DNR to see if they could provide information and they sent me to this brochure “Paddling among Fish and Wildlife”. Below are the important take aways and the link to the brochure and […]
Our Facebook Community
Friends of Turtle Creek is a community group on Facebook where you can share tips, photos and safety concerns. This is where most of our community communication happens. We encourage you to join the group at this link.
Due to rapid growth of this group and user pressure on Turtle Creek, we have recently added “Group […]
Rock County Health Department tests Turtle Creek for public safety
Rock County Health Department regularly test Turtle Creek for public safety, especially after high water when waters may become contaminated from run off. Check out the website and most recent testing results.
http://www.co.rock.wi.us/publichealth-beach-sampling
History Along Turtle Creek
Whether you’re paddling or hiking along Turtle Creek you are moving along the same waters and trails that ancient peoples have also traversed for thousands of years. Below you can learn about these ancient peoples and the clues they left behind about their lives.
The Mound Builders – The area around Turtle Creek was home to humans during the Woodland period […]
Creek Walking – A whole new way to explore Turtle Creek
I experienced Turtle Creek a whole new way the other day.
It was an unusually hot September day, around 90 degrees, the water had warmed up and my son asked me to accompany him while he walked the creek and fished. When you’re college-aged son wants to hang out with you, you don’t turn him down! […]
Be A Safe Paddler!
Nature At The Confluence in South Beloit recently held a “Safe Paddling 101” program so paddlers can learn how to be better prepared and stay safe on the water. We’ve seen quite a few days of high water on Turtle Creek and Rock River this summer and more than a few people have had some tip […]
Earth Day Work Day planned for Tiffany Bridge property
A final spring volunteer work effort clearing County Road J sightlines to the Five Arch Bridge over Turtle Creek will take Place on Saturday April 22nd (Earth Day) from 9 AM – Noon.
We will be meeting at Turtle Creek Parkway located at 6598 South Smith Road Clinton, WI 53525. Dress for the weather and bring […]
Turtle Creek Wildlife Area Paddle Trip Report
On Labor Day a few friends tried a section of Turtle Creek that we hadn’t explored before – paddling through the Turtle Creek Wildlife Area. We put in at Cty Hwy C and took out at the bridge on Carvers Rock Road (see map). It’s a 6.60 mile paddle, which under normal conditions would take about 2 hours and […]
Howl at the Moon Group Paddle Trip Report
Friends of Turtle Creek gathered for the first annual “Howl At The Moon” paddle trip on August 18, launching at sunset (8pm) with a moonrise that night at 8:05pm. We had 14 people join us on the trip, 7 got out at Tiffany Bridge and 7 continued to Sweet Allyn Park. Weather was clear an hour before launch […]
Marking Bridges to Aid Paddlers
At the last meetings of Friends of Turtle Creek it was suggested by Dean Paynter that it would be easier to plan and enjoy your paddle trip if you knew which bridge you were going under. Also, the marking adds a layer of safety, as it helps paddlers identify better where they are, and if […]
Friends of Turtle Creek -Minutes from June 7 Meeting
Friends of Turtle Creek
Meeting Minutes
Turtle Township Town Hall 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
June 7, 2016
Attendees: Dean Paynter, Tom Presny, Richard Stenstrom, Tom Holmes, Hank Woodard, Marline Holmes, Carl Lange, Bob Blakely, Sandy Thorpe, Dave Hoffman, Terry Meyers, Carol Mankiewicz, Kathy Fernan, Steve Johnson, and Therese Oldenburg,
Staff: Dave Hoffman, Community Coordinator – […]
Large blockage removed from Turtle Creek
Through efforts of the Friends of Turtle Creek, a large blockage that was causing a safety and flooding issue on Turtle Creek was removed.
On June 24-26, 2013 Turtle Creek flooded due to a week of heavy rains. It crested on June 26 at 11.76 ft, the second highest level since April 21, 1973 when heavy rains caused Turtle […]
Work Day helps clear brush from Tiffany Bridge
On December 8, 2015, on 41 degree day, about 15 Friends of Turtle Creek volunteers participated in the clearing of vegetation at the Tiffany Bridge in partnership with Rock County Parks. This historic 5-arch limestone railroad bridge that spans Turtle Creek is one of Rock County’s most photographed icon. Over the years it has been overgrown […]
Turtle Creek was inspiration for “Turtle Wax” car polish’s name
This may be urban legend, or it may be true…But, the story goes that Turtle Creek was the inspiration for the founder of “Turtle Wax”. The story is that Benjamin Hirsch started mixing up batches of his special formula liquid car polish in his Chicago bathtub in 1945. He called his product Plastone, and as […]
Visit Beloit staff takes a paddle on Turtle Creek
Friends of Turtle Creek members Therese Oldenburg and Terry Meyers took the Visit Beloit (Beloit Convention and Visitor Bureau) staff on a paddle trip from Tiffany Bridge to Town of Turtle Launch on the last day of summer – September 22, 2015. It was a beautiful day on the creek, almost 80 degrees! A great […]
Turtle Creek Blockage needs to be removed
On June 24-26, 2013 Turtle Creek flooded due to a week of heavy rains.
Many property owners along the creek watched as the waters creeped up over the bank and up towards their home (or in a few cases into their home). It crested on June 26 at 11.76 ft, the second highest level since April 21, 1973 […]
Trip Report: Town of Turtle Launch on Creek Road to The Confluence, Dickop Street
Trip report – 9/16/15 – Town of Turtle Launch on Creek Road to The Confluence, Dickop Street, So. Beloit, IL. – water level 3.7ft.
TIP: At this water level this trip is not as pleasant, as you’ll get hung up in more places that you’d like. I recommend at least 4 ft. to enjoy this section. (click here […]
Concerns about weed growth in Turtle Creek
By Therese Oldenburg, Wisconsin Master Naturalist
This is my own personal, non-scientific observation about weed growth in Turtle Creek in the past three years 2013-2015. It appears as though weeds are starting to get a strong foothold in the creek and I have concerns about this. I have noticed more growth in the last two years than […]
Friends of Turtle Creek Meeting – Held July 30
For those who were unable to join us, we had a very enjoyable paddle on Turtle Creek prior to the July 30th meeting. See photos. Note photo of a mother and her son who were fishing at the hwy. 140 bridge. As we arrived the boy caught the photographed fish from Turtle Creek as was […]