Canoeing the Flambeau River,
Wisconsin
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Expert paddler Mike Svob
has been canoeing and kayaking the rivers of the Midwest for 30 years.
He paddled more than a thousand miles to complete these books. Below
are brief descriptions of the canoe trips that Mike goes into detail
with in his books with maps. The maps are very useful, showing rapids,
take in and take out points and other things of interest. |
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North Fork, Turtle Dam to
Park Falls - 18 miles, 8
hours
A good mix of challenging whitewater
and wild scenery.
Launch below the Turtle Flambeau
Dam for an 18-mile voyage that immediately
begins with some excitement. The first
mile of the trip is through fast rapids,
leading to the very challenging, narrow
and potentially dangerous Notch Rock
Rapids. It is important to stay to
the middle in this stretch to avoid
contact with the steep rock walls.
About 400 yards below Notch Rock Rapids
is Island Rapids. Stay to the left
of the island - the right side is
quite dangerous.
After this, you will paddle through
Flat Rapids, and 3 miles later pass
Bear Skull Rock. For the next three
miles, the river will pick up speed
and you will find several rapids,
including Quinn’s Rapids. The
next 2 miles hold many smaller rapids
that are easy to navigate. As you
pass First Rapids, the river will
begin to take on a slower character.
This continues for the next 5 miles
to the town of Park Falls. There is
a portage of about 400 yards through
Park Falls where the river runs through
the mill’s dams. You can take
out your canoe at the Agenda Landing
north of Park Falls or at Hines Park
and Campground on the left bank in
Park Falls.
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Flambeau
River 2-North Fork-Sawyer
and Price County-11.7 miles-Nine Mile
Creek to Oxbo. This is a good beginners
section. Almost the whole trip is through
Flambeau River State Forest which maintains
designated campsites. The beginning
is about 200 feet wide here with a fast
current. About two miles from put in
is a very easy Barnaby Rapids. Rapids
continue downstream but you should have
no trouble dodging rocks. Call Flambeau
State Forest for water level info 715-332-5271.
Put in at Nine Mile Landing on river
left next to Hwy. 70. Take out at Dix-Dox
landing upstream from the old bridge.
An access road leads to the landing
from Hwy. 70.
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Flambeau
River 3-North Fork-Sawyer
County-18.3 miles-Oxbo to Camp 41 landing.
Another good stretch for beginners with
plenty of campsites and mild whitewater.
There are at least a half dozen campsites
along the way. Put in at Dix-Dox landing
which you can access from Hwy. 70. About
a mile dowstream is a campsite located
on the left shortly after Log Creek
enters on the right. In the mile and
a half before take out there is a long
curving series of riffles and Class
I rapids known as Porcupine Rapids.
Take out at Camp 41 landing on the right
just downstream from the campsite. Camp
41 landing is accessed from West lane
Rd. Call Flambeau State Forest for water
level info. 715-332-5271
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Flambeau
River 4-North Fork-
Sawyer and Rusk County-11.4 miles-Camp
41 landing to Beaver Dam landing. This
is the best whitewater stretch on the
Flambeau and is for experienced canoeists.
Camping is available at several designated
sites. The river is fast, wide and quiet
for a mile. The river turns left into
Wannigan Rapids which is not difficult
for most experienced canoeists, Flambeau
Falls is about a half mile further,
which is a little more challenging than
Wannigan. At about the 7 mile point
Cedar Rapids starts. This is a Class
II rapids which should be scouted first.
The next couple of miles have widely
scattered Class I-II rapids. Beaver
Dam Rapids, the biggest drop on the
north fork is at 10.8 miles. This solid
Class II rapids has a sheer drop of
4 feet and its roar can be heard far
upstream.. Inexperienced canoeists should
portage, boaters have drowned in the
area.Water levels are always adequate
for good paddling. Put in at Camp 41
landing. Take out and Beaver Dam landing
shortly after the rapids.
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Flambeau
River 5-North Fork-Rusk
County-8.1 miles-Thornapple Dam to the
Chippewa River. This last section is
developed compared to the upriver sections.
Water levels are dangerous when high.
From the beginning paddlers see the
same grassy heavily wooded banks they
have become accustomed to on the Flambeau.
A number of deep holes are apparent
as the trip continues. Fishing for musky,
northern, walleye and catfish is popular
here.Not long after the Cty. P bridge
County E runs close to the river. It
will remain that way for most of the
trip. Put in at Thornapple Dam on river
left. A gravelaccess road leads from
Hwy. P to the landing. Take out at Flater's
Resort where the Chippewa and Flambeau
merge.
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Flambeau
River 1-South Fork-Price
County-12 miles-Fifield to Cty. F. Less
paddled than its better known counterpart
to the north, the South Fork is a smaller
stream with numerous riffles, Class
I and II rapids and even a Class III
drop. Unlike the north fork there are
no designated campsites along the river.
Water levels are best in the spring
and after sustained rainfall. Put in
on river right at Movrich Memorial County
Park in Fifield. The river begins quite
wide and continues that way for awhile.
Farther downstream a big island is followed
by the mouth of Rock Creek on the left
about 7 miles into your trip. The biggest
rapids of the trip begins at an island:
Rock Carry 11 miles. Scout and portage
if necessary but remember you are on
private property so ask permission of
the owner.. Take out at the Cty. F bridge
near Lugerville.
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Flambeau
River 2-South Fork-Price
County-9 miles- Cty. F to Cty. W. This
section is comparable to the previous
one. The countryside is beatiful and
varied, the fishing good, and the riffles
and rapids enjoyable. Put in near Lugerville
at the Cty. F bridge downstream left.
After the bridge the river is fairly
wide straight and deep, but a Class
I rapids follows the first right bend..
Stonewall Rapids is a short Class I-II
rapids immediately followed by a low
rocky wall on the left. Just downstream
a sign on the left indicates the location
of a Boy Scout campground. Camping is
permitted. About two miles past the
campground is the Class I-II Rock Ledge
Rapids and about a half mile later is
the Class I-II Davis Rapids. There are
several large rocks to avoid in this
50 yard rapids. The remaining 4.5 miles
are nice and slow. Take out at the public
landing at the Cty. W bridge.
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Flambeau
River 3-South Fork-Price,
Sawyer and Rusk County-10.2 miles- Cty.
W to Otter Slide Landing. This is probably
the most popular canoeing stretch on
the south fork. This has some of the
best whitewater on the river for experienced
paddlers. Picturesque rock formations
appear frequently on this section. There
are no designated campsites , but canoeists
often camp at an undeveloped site at
Cornsheller Rapids 4 miles from the
put in. Water levels are best in spring.
Put in at Cty. W downstream left. The
Carpenter Rapids Class I begin about
1.5 miles downstream. Class II Cornsheller
Rapids requires care to avoid the big
boulders halfway through this 300 yard
long rapids. Just past the mouth of
Price Creek is a big island and then
Class II Bull Rapids. At the 8 mile
point comes Little Falls, which isn't
little! Here the river drops about 7
feet on both sides of a small rocky
island. Both sides are tough Class III.
The best portage is along the trail
on the left. Not far downstream from
Little Falls is Scratch Rapids. This
Class II rapids often has big waves..
The rest of the trip is flatwater. Take
out on the left just before Otter Slide
Rapids.
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