See all 4 routes on Big Rib River
Wisconsin | Wausau Area
Big Rib River
County Highway A to Rib Falls County Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Big Rib River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at County Highway A and take out at Rib Falls County Park above Big Rib Falls. This is a scenic riffle-and-outcrop connector, not a falls-running recommendation.
Put-in
County Highway A Big Rib bridge accessOpen mapMiles Paddled gives GPS points for both endpoints and describes the Highway A launch as a small trail from the road.
Take-out
Rib Falls County Park take-out above Big Rib FallsOpen mapThe take-out above the falls may be steep or awkward; identify the gradual option and do not drift toward the brink tired or distracted.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Miles Paddled gives GPS points for both endpoints and describes the Highway A launch as a small trail from the road.
- The take-out above the falls may be steep or awkward; identify the gradual option and do not drift toward the brink tired or distracted.
- Rib Falls County Park is a Marathon County park with trails, picnic amenities, and vault restrooms, but fishing is prohibited and posted rules should be checked.
Watch for
- Mandatory take-out above Class IV Big Rib Falls.
- Island braids, shallow riffles, boulders, and occasional downed trees.
- Fast rises after rain, cold water, limited public exits, and private banks.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Big Rib River at Rib Falls, 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 298 cfs to 300 cfs |
| Low threshold | 298 cfs |
| High threshold | 501 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Big Rib River II level note plus WRT Rib Falls guide |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route shapeCounty Road A to Rib Falls, 7.25 mi
Miles Paddled documents the exact put-in and take-out GPS points, total mileage, paddle time, and route character.
- Route corroborationCounty A to Big Rib Falls County Park, 7.7 mi
WRT calls this one of the best Big Rib legs, with attractive hemlocks, light rapids, boulders, granite outcrops, and Big Rib Falls at the end.
- Threshold support298 cfs minimum; 201-300 cfs WRT target
Miles Paddled says 298 cfs was very good but near the practical minimum; WRT gives 201-300 cfs as a good target and 501+ cfs as very high.
- Mandatory take-outTake out above Big Rib Falls
WRT considers Big Rib Falls Class IV and only for skilled whitewater paddlers; this card ends above the falls at the county park.
- Current gauge check47.9 cfs / 2.03 ft at 2026-07-17 07:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned same-day Big Rib at Rib Falls values below the selected low-water floor during this run.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Big Rib River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Big Rib River?
Paddle Today watches Big Rib River at Rib Falls, WI and treats 298 cfs to 300 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Big Rib River route start and end?
This route starts at County Highway A Big Rib bridge access and ends at Rib Falls County Park take-out above Big Rib Falls, about 7.25 mi on the water.
Is this Big Rib River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.