See all 4 routes on Black River
Wisconsin | Southwest Wisconsin
Black RiverMelrose Landing to North Bend Landing
Popular lower-Black River sandbar day from the public Melrose Landing to the public North Bend Landing, with easy current, sandstone outcrops, broad sandy beaches, and a route-specific Black River Falls gauge ladder.
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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 at Melrose Public Landing and take out at North Bend Landing for the classic lower-Black sandbar day. The route has easy current, big sand beaches, sandstone outcrops, and a direct upstream Black River Falls gauge ladder.
Access map
Put-in
Melrose Public LandingWisconsin DNR says it owns and maintains Black River access at Melrose and North Bend, and Wisconsin River Trips describes both as public landings.
Take-out
North Bend LandingThe Melrose lot can fill on popular weekends, with overflow parking pushed toward the Highway 108 shoulder.
Road shuttle
Use a vehicle or local livery shuttle between Melrose Public Landing and North Bend Landing. The bike shuttle is hilly and indirect, so most groups should stage vehicles or use a Black River shuttle operator.
Additional access notes
- The North Bend landing sits near a livery and remains public, but the main lot is small and can spill over onto North Bend Drive.
More route and safety guidance
- Watch for strainers and changing banks after storms, and do not assume a prior clearance report remains current.
- Use the named Melrose and North Bend landings and treat broad river weather, wind, and cold water seriously.
Plan this paddle
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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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Plan ahead
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
Black River DS ST Hwy 54 at Black River Falls, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
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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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Black River DS ST Hwy 54 at Black River Falls, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 101 cfs to 300 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 801 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Black River - Melrose to North Bend depth guide |
| 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.
- Published route ladder101 to 300 cfs target window
Wisconsin River Trips says 0 to 100 cfs is extraordinarily low with some walking, 101 to 200 cfs is a great target with very good sandbars, 201 to 300 cfs keeps decent sandbars and better padding, 601 to 800 cfs is high, and 801+ cfs is probably too high.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 053813595
USGS operates the Black River downstream of State Highway 54 at Black River Falls gauge, the same Black River Falls gauge family used by the route-specific paddling guidance.
- Public accessDNR-maintained Melrose and North Bend access
Wisconsin DNR says it owns and maintains Black River access to the river at Melrose and North Bend.
- Commercial shuttle corroborationMelrose Public Landing to North Bend exit
North Bend Canoe Rental lists its signature day trip as a 10-mile paddle from Melrose Public Landing to the North Bend exit, with all trips ending at North Bend.
- Endpoint coordinatesPut-in 44.10863794, -90.99645709; take-out 44.08951, -91.11544
Wisconsin DNR's boat-access layer places Melrose Boat Landing at 44.10863794, -90.99645709 on the Black River southwest of the Highway 108 bridge. The take-out coordinate matches the DNR-listed North Bend Access.
- HazardsLength, wind, strainers, and crowds
Wisconsin River Trips reports no major rapids, but cautions that a 10+ mph headwind can be brutal, shoreline strainers should be avoided, late starts can lead to night paddling, and popular weekends can be crowded.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Black River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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