The Lower Wisconsin Riverway is accessible from a number of public docks and landings, although much of the shoreline is still privately owned. The public landings are easily identified, and no permits are required to paddle or camp on sandbars, which greatly improves the accessibility.
Because of public buy-in that resulted from the compromise legislation that created the riverway, most people take great pride in this landscape. The riverway is a very popular paddling, bird watching, fishing, and vacationing destination. Since the shores remain privately owned for the most part, camping is limited to the sandbars (and thus tends to occur later in the season when flow is lower). In general, the amount of the riverway used for different activities varies widely by the season. Some areas of greater topographic relief are even used for ice climbing in the winter!