Northwest

The Northwest access point, also known as Chapany Park Boat Ramp, provides a paved launch facility into Tainter Lake on the Red Cedar River near Colfax. This concrete boat ramp is approximately 50 feet wide and can accommodate two boats simultaneously, with a dedicated concrete parking lot. The ramp is well-suited for kayakers, canoeists, and motorboats looking to access the lower Red Cedar River and Tainter Lake.

This location is positioned about 1.4 miles downstream from Russian Slough, near where the Red Cedar River flows through a large river delta before emptying into Tainter Lake. Paddlers using this access can explore both the scenic final stretch of river and the broader waters of Tainter Lake. For those interested in paddling upstream, alternative access points like 22-Mile Ford Park are available further up the Red Cedar River before it enters the lake impoundment created by the dam north of Menomonie.