I've been in the process of planning a regular trip to Wisconsin river for some canoeing and camping on sand bars. It's been our regular getaway for years when we can't make it up to the BWCA. I'm looking to put together a backup plan as it looks like the Wisconsin River might be too high and cover the sand bars.

What rivers do you guys suggest as alternatives. From Chicago area. I saw on Iowa's DNR website that you can essentially camp on any river that's considered a meandering river, which includes at least a little part of the following: Upper Iowa river, Little Maquoketa River, Maquoketa River, Turkey river, Wapsipinicon river, Cedar, Iowa, Skunk and Des Moines. Which do you recommend?

Priorities:
1. Seclusion / not big crowds / areas to camp away from houses others
2. Banks or sand bars of river provide nice part to camp
3. Scenery / Bluffs etc.. OR beautiful clear water..

Also open to other suggestions.

Thanks for help!

Iowa, A great place to row is a slogan from one of our past floods. Our rivers are generally muddy except early spring and our lakes are often algae infested by mid summer. None-the-less, Iowa offers some great paddling. The DNR website has useful and current information, one of the best resources on paddling Iowa. River levels in central Iowa are dropping, but still bank full or running too fast for comfort.
Lake Red Rock has a paddle in campsite and miles of shoreline, some of it is interesting red rock. The camping options along the "meandering" rivers is a good piece of knowledge. The Des Moines River has some nice bluffs and in SE Iowa some historic towns to visit. Come visit Iowa, it is a great place to paddle.

Yeah, that's tough. I live on the Wapsipinicon in East Central Iowa and have done overnighters on several rivers in NE Iowa. Wapsi, Maquoketa, Turkey, Upper Iowa are all at good paddling levels. Forget the meandered stream rules for Upper Iowa, Maquoketa and L. Maquoketa - those rivers only have a few miles designated. So for this part of the state you are looking at Turkey, Wapsi or Cedar to be legal camping on sandbars. They all have plenty of them - just double check where the meandered designation ends going upstream, upper reaches of these rivers are not meandered. People have been known to break the rules and claim ignorance. Or you could consider looking for small county parks or even town parks - I can't guaranty it, but mid-week, non-holidays there probably won't be a crowd and that would open up more options. When I say 'town' that might be 100 people and sometimes the park is somewhat remote. All of those I've mentioned have sections with bluffs, with the Upper Iowa being exceptional in that regard.

The Turkey River is great. Turkey River Water Trail
Gouldsburg Park, Gilbertson Park, Big Springs Hatchery, Freiden Park, and Motor Mill all have nice little campgrounds. Camping below Clermont is allowed below the high water mark.

Check out milespaddled.com for river trips in WI and beyond.