Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
Big Eau Pleine RiverCherokee Park to March Rapids Park
Rocky central-Wisconsin day from Cherokee County Park to March Rapids Park, linking two strong Big Eau Pleine legs with clear water, granite boulder gardens, frequent Class I-II rapids, and county-park access at both ends.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch directly below the Cherokee Park dam for an intermediate Class I-II run through repeated boulder gardens. Scout March Rapids during the shuttle and choose the documented take-out above the rapids or the path below before launching.
Access map
Put-in
Cherokee ParkCherokee Park is a Marathon County park with river access, vault restrooms, picnic facilities, and trails; use the east-end river access below the dam, do not launch above the impoundment, and do not attempt to run the dam.
Take-out
March Rapids ParkMarch Rapids Park has paths above and below the rapids, so scout during the shuttle and decide whether to take out above the rapids or finish by running them.
Road shuttle
Use a two-car shuttle between Cherokee Park on County Road N and March Rapids Park on County Road P. The road shuttle is manageable, but this is a level-sensitive river, so check the Stratford gauge before leaving the take-out vehicle.
Additional access notes
- Hazelnut Road is a possible bailout but is only a gravel-road bridge access with poison ivy and limited comfort; the cleaner planned take-out is March Rapids Park.
More route and safety guidance
- This is an intermediate Class I-II route with repeated boulder gardens. Scout the Class II+ boulder garden about two miles above March Rapids and choose a current line rather than relying on the left-side line reported at one historical level.
- Scout March Rapids during the shuttle and decide before launching whether to take out above the rapids or run them and use the path below.
- The Stratford gauge is downstream and the watershed drains quickly. Check the reading, trend, recent rain, and local water at launch; 301 cfs and above is outside the broad recreational recommendation.
- Low branches, strainers, and a route-report logjam can become more consequential in fast current. Leave room to stop and reassess rather than committing blindly around wooded bends.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Big Eau Pleine River at Stratford, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Big Eau Pleine River at Stratford, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 151 cfs to 250 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 301 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Big Eau Pleine River gauge guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Public put-inCherokee Park
Marathon County lists Cherokee Park at 108042 County Road N in Colby as a 69-acre county park with fishing access, vault restrooms, trails, and the Big Eau Pleine River running through the park.
- Public take-outMarch Rapids Park
Wisconsin River Trips describes March Rapids Park as a public park take-out with pull-off space, outhouses, and fishing paths above and below March Rapids.
- Endpoint coordinatesCherokee 44.9046882, -90.2226348; March Rapids 44.8507988, -90.1498549
AnyplaceAmerica publishes USGS/topographic-place coordinates for Cherokee Park and March Rapids County Park; Marathon County corroborates Cherokee Park as the public access park.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05399500
USGS operates the Big Eau Pleine River at Stratford gauge downstream on the same river, and Wisconsin River Trips uses this gauge for the Cherokee, Hazelnut, and March Rapids route family.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-275.35 cfs and 2.18 ft at 2026-07-27 20:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Gauge ladder151-250 cfs best normal window
Wisconsin River Trips gives route-family guidance: under 100 cfs likely too shallow, 101-150 cfs runnable with bumps, 151-200 cfs good, 201-250 cfs also good, 251-300 cfs high but manageable for experienced paddlers, and 301+ cfs whitewater/high-water territory.
- Route characterAbout 9.2 miles with many rapids
Wisconsin River Trips rates Cherokee-to-Hazelnut as a fantastic 3.1-mile leg with clear water and boulder gardens, then Hazelnut-to-March Rapids as a 6.1-mile wooded leg with multiple boulder gardens and significant Class II rapids.
- High-water caution301+ cfs changes the audience
Wisconsin River Trips says 301-400 cfs is high for recreational paddlers but good for whitewater paddlers, 401-500 cfs is likely only for whitewater paddlers, and 501+ cfs is very high and only for very experienced whitewater paddlers.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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