Blackjack Creek 

This is a relatively short out and back (i.e. no shuttle) canoe trip on Blackjack Creek/Springs near Eagle River, Wisconsin. The route is only 2.75 miles each way, so 5.5 miles in total. There is no put-in on Blackjack Creek (to my knowledge), so the trip starts and ends on the Deerskin River at the end of Forest Road 2199B.
Here is trip description from Rick Kark's "Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to 309 Wisconsin Streams":
Location
Southwestern Vila County.
Natural Features
Blackjack Creek
Blackjack Creek originates from Blackjack Springs which is part of a designated “Wilderness Area” in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Barely more than two miles away, as the crow flies, it flows into the Deerskin River. That stream eventually joins the Eagle River Chain of Lakes and then the Wisconsin River. In its brief life, Blackjack Creek flows through a pristine bog ringed by tamarack trees. Beyond the bog edges arise forested moraines dominated by pine, hemlocks, aspens and birches. Visible rocks are rare along Blackjack Creek.
Human History and Influence
My friend Ron Rosner and other Sierra Club activists were instrumental in getting this unique and pristine spot designated as a state “Wilderness Area” back in the late 1960s.
Navigability and Difficulty
Beaver dams impede travel near the springs. Expect one or two fallen trees. Shallow at times but should always be able to get through. Very slow current allows easy up and downstream travel.
Trip Ideas: My experiences
Twice I have ascended Blackjack Creek from its mouth at the Deerskin River. The first time Ron Rosner and I were in solo canoes. The second time he and I used my tandem canoe. In 1999 we found a good shortcut by starting on the Deerskin just downstream of the confluence. Here is how to find that access spot:
Two miles east of the Little Deerskin River Bridge on Forest Rd., 2199, FR 2199B deviates to the south. This road, which may require a 4-wheel drive, leads to a small parking lot where a small boardwalk leads to the Deerskin River. From there we paddled a few hundred yards up to the confluence and turned right up slow-moving Blackjack Creek. Within a half hour we stopped to climb a hill on river right where we enjoyed a marvelous view of the stream as it wound through a treeless bog. Then we hiked back down and continued to paddle up the narrowing creek.
After lunging over and dragging our canoes over several beaver dams, we stopped to explore the headwater springs area on foot. Eventually, we turned back downstream to the Deerskin and nearly missed the boardwalk where we had put in. We should have tied a bright cloth to an alder to mark this location. The total outing had lasted 4 and half hours.
In 2006, Ron and I returned to Blackjack Creek by paddling my tandem canoe down Deerskin Creek to the confluence. Both of us had previously paddled this stretch of the Deerskin. On those occasions it had been rather easy to descend despite its narrow width. So, expecting
another easy trip, we put in on the Deerskin at the Forest Rd. 2178 bridge about three miles north of Anvil Lake. This time the stream course was extremely clogged by falling alder branches. I think they had just aged to the point where they were dying and collapsing under their own weight. After pulling the canoe under too many limbs to count, we finally reached Blackjack Creek which fortunately was wider and lacked the falling alders. It was easy to paddle upstream through the bog. We again stopped to climb that hill with the wonderful view. Then we resumed our trip upstream as far as we could go before we turned around. Back on Deerskin Creek we located the same take-out we had used before and ended our journey. We had left a vehicle in the nearby parking lot.
Experiences of Others
Numerous Sierra Club paddlers have seen Blackjack Creek during River Touring Section outings. I believe Ron told me they used the lookout hill as a campsite.
Further Ideas
Here is a longer day trip idea: Find the boardwalk I mentioned above which is located just downstream of the Blackjack-Deerskin confluence. Put in there on the Deerskin and paddle up and then back down Blackjack Creek. Once back on Deerskin Creek, continue downstream to the Range Line Rd. Bridge. See my separate account of Deerskin Creek.
Conclusion
If you can get to it, Blackjack Creek is a pristine wilderness waterway which is fun to explore.
Thanks to Rick Kark and the River Alliance of Wisconsin for publishing this information:
wisconsinrivers.org/kark-padd...