flambeau river

The Flambeau River combined the canoe experience of the Boundary Waters with a white water raft trip. We started our trip on 4th of July and for a holiday weekend it was not that busy. Our trip started from Flambeau Adventures and dropped us just below the dam for the 29 mile trip. All 3 days required a lot of paddling therefore we did not have much time for fishing, but had good class 1-3 rapids each day. There was abundant wildlife through out the entire trip, eagles perched on branches right above our head, and dear coming to drink from the banks. Campsites were well equipped with picnic tables, toilets, & grates over the fire pit.On our 3rd and final day we hit the hardest rapids. The 1st set of rapids at Cedar Falls had a 3 foot drop and our canoe tipped. This would be no problem in a kayak or raft, but a loaded down canoe should only be taken down by an expert. Highly recommend portaging along the bank. The last rapid at Beaver Dam should also be portaged. It would probably be considered a class 4 and there is a portage trail to go around. Highly recommend printing and laminating a map before your trip from the DNR. It will be a great help along the way.

The Flambeau River starts below the damn of a flowage, and the water can be very low, especially in times of drought. Since we've been a drought for basically the last 6 years or more, the paddling experience can be frustrating if you put it too close to the headwaters, because the damn is not releasing water into the river. If you go down stream a couple of miles, the water level improves a bit because there are some additional feeder streams entering the Flambeau.

A favorite river of the aboriginal peoples, the river is clean and sweet-smelling. The chance of seeing ducks, bear, otter, deer, turtles and fish. Pack a lunch. Inquire about pickup and dropoff when you are directed to a place to rent a canoe. Day trip. Overnight on the river next year. Start a fire at the waters edge and fish with a worm and a bobber by the light of the flames on the water; Flamb-Eau.

you see this river on lot of different trails. You also see many people going down the river on kayaks that looks like fun too... we only get to go on holiday weekend. so we don't have time to do that otherwise i would....

A very nice river to canoe. North Fork is slow paced and the South Fork offers some nice rapids.

My wife and I traveled here last summer with our boat and I must say that we did not know the river that well and we did have concerns about hitting rocks, trees, and stumps, that we saw around the river. It was a nice ride and we would do it again. As with any we body of water that you travel one, take your time, bring a map, and use caution in places that you have not been. It also does not hurt to ask others that you see at the landings. We would go back again, this time with a map, I forgot one last time...