Flambeau River — North Fork (Lower): River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 25, 3:00 PM UTC
Good to paddle
Levels are within the typical runnable range for this section.
Estimated range
420 cfs
4.7 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05360500
Runnable 400 – ? cfs
What this means today
At 420 cfs the Flambeau River is 20 cfs above the 400 cfs minimum for this reach. There is no published upper bound for this section, so the reading tells you it is floatable, not how pushy it is.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 420 cfs to 420 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 434 cfs and 588 cfs, 23% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling North Fork (Lower)
Flambeau River at North Fork (Lower) is a Class II run in Wisconsin — bouncy wave trains and the occasional small rapid. Most paddlers put in at Nine Mile / Holts Landing area and take out at Flambeau Lodge / Agenda Landing area.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at above 400 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Flambeau River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 05360500 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable April–October. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class II
- Length
- —
- Float time
- —
- Best months
- April–October
- Put-in
- Nine Mile / Holts Landing area
- Take-out
- Flambeau Lodge / Agenda Landing area
Reading USGS gauge 05360500 — FLAMBEAU RIVER NEAR BRUCE, WI ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Flambeau River — North Fork (Lower)?
- This section is generally runnable at above 400 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Flambeau River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05360500 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Flambeau River — North Fork (Lower) good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class II. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Flambeau River here?
- Typically April–October, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.