See all 4 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 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 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.
Put-in
Bruce Cormican LandingOpen mapThe route starts below the Black River Falls dam corridor; do not improvise an upstream launch or dam passage.
Take-out
David Hansen Memorial Landing / IrvingOpen mapHawk Island and shallow split channels can become bony at low water. Walk the landing and inspect the first channel before committing.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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.
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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 | 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 |
| Data confidence 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
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
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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.