See all 9 routes on Black River
Wisconsin | West Central Wisconsin
Black River
Bruce Cormican Landing to David Hansen Memorial Landing / Irving
Check current paddling conditions for this Black River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Bruce Cormican Landing and finish at the David Hansen Memorial Landing in Irving. This is a long lower-Black connector with quietwater, shallow riffles, split channels, and remote shoreline.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Bruce Cormican LandingThe route starts below the Black River Falls dam corridor; do not improvise an upstream launch or dam passage.
Take-out
David Hansen Memorial Landing / IrvingHawk Island and shallow split channels can become bony at low water. Walk the landing and inspect the first channel before committing.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The route starts below the Black River Falls dam corridor; do not improvise an upstream launch or dam passage.
- Hawk Island and shallow split channels can become bony at low water. Walk the landing and inspect the first channel before committing.
- Use the signed Irving landing as the planned finish and do not substitute private campground access without permission.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping, exposed sandbars, split channels, and fresh wood after storms.
- Cold water, strainers, rising current, and fatigue on the 12-mile commitment.
- Remote shoreline and limited legal bailout options outside the named landings and campsite context.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Black River DS ST Hwy 54 at Black River 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 | 200 cfs to 3,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 3,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin Trail Guide Black River BK2 suggested levels |
| 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.
- Official route-style guideBK2, 12.1 mi, Bruce Cormican Landing to Irving
Wisconsin Trail Guide documents BK2 with route distance, easy skill level, Class I whitewater, paddle time, GPX waypoints, and map/guide downloads.
- Suggested gauge limits200-3,000 cfs
Wisconsin Trail Guide ties BK2 to the Black River Falls gauge and lists a 200 cfs suggested minimum and 3,000 cfs suggested maximum.
- Endpoint coordinatesCormican 44.287870, -90.851020; Irving 44.187610, -90.898920
Wisconsin Trail Guide BLACK2 GPX names Bruce Cormican Landing and David Hansen Memorial Landing at Irving as canoe/kayak landing waypoints.
- Current gauge check236 cfs / 35.69 ft at 2026-07-23 07:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned same-day current Black River Falls data 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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
More in Wisconsin
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All 9Nearby routes by distance
Quick answers
Black River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Black River?
Paddle Today watches Black River DS ST Hwy 54 at Black River Falls, WI and treats 200 cfs to 3,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Black River route start and end?
This route starts at Bruce Cormican Landing and ends at David Hansen Memorial Landing / Irving, about About 12.1 mi on the water.
Is this Black 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.