See all 5 routes on Bois Brule River
Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
Bois Brule RiverHighway 13 Canoe Landing to Mouth Access
Lower Bois Brule run from the Highway 13 Canoe Landing to the Lake Superior mouth. This is the scenic finish of the state-forest river, with mostly Class I water, a required lamprey-barrier portage, and colder lower-river conditions than the friendlier upper Brule reaches.
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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 Highway 13 Canoe Landing and take out at the Bois Brule mouth landing on Lake Superior. This lower Brule route is scenic and mostly Class I, but it has a mandatory portage at the lamprey barrier and a cold-water finish where Lake Superior wind and waves can matter.
Access map
Put-in
Highway 13 Canoe LandingHighway 13 Canoe Landing is a DNR-managed carry-in with parking, a gravel access road, vault restroom, and potable water, but no boarding dock.
Take-out
Bois Brule River -- Mouth AccessThe Mouth Access is a designated DNR-listed landing; inspect it before the shuttle because the finish is near Lake Superior and conditions can feel different from inland river landings.
Road shuttle
Use a two-car shuttle between the state-managed Highway 13 Canoe Landing and the designated Mouth Access near Lake Superior. The lower landing is remote; confirm the road, parking, and lake/wind conditions before launching.
Additional access notes
- Wisconsin DNR requires paddlers on the Brule to use allowed designated landings only, so do not improvise alternate exits on private or angler-only access points.
More route and safety guidance
- Use only allowed designated landings and do not improvise exits at private or angler-only access points.
- Cold water, deadfall, shallow ledges, rapid rises, and Lake Superior wind or waves make this more than a casual float.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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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
Bois Brule River at Brule, 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 | Bois Brule River at Brule, WI |
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| Preferred range | 200 cfs to 350 cfs |
| Low threshold | 125 cfs |
| High threshold | 600 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin Trail Guide Bois Brule BB4 suggested river levels |
| Gauge source | Checking |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route level bands125 / 200-350 / 600 cfs
Wisconsin Trail Guide says below 125 cfs is not recommended, 125 to 200 cfs is low runnable, 200 to 350 cfs is medium runnable for novice paddlers, 350 to 600 cfs is high runnable, and novice paddlers should avoid 600 to 1,000 cfs.
- Gauge fitSame river, upstream gauge
Wisconsin Trail Guide says the referenced gauge is roughly 19 miles upstream from this segment, provides a good indication of general river height, and should be treated as an estimate of lower-reach conditions.
- Official trip timingHighway 13 to mouth: four hours
Wisconsin DNR lists Highway 13 to the mouth of the Brule among its approximate time-between-landings options for the Brule River State Forest.
- Public put-inHighway 13 Canoe Landing
Wisconsin DNR boat-access details identify Highway 13 Canoe Landing as a state-managed carry-in on the Bois Brule River with gravel launch surface, parking, vault restroom, potable water, and latitude/longitude coordinates.
- Public take-outBois Brule River -- Mouth Access
Wisconsin DNR lists Mouth Access and Highway 13 Canoe Landing as boat landings for the Bois Brule River / Spring Lake page, and the route finishes at the designated mouth landing near Lake Superior.
- Mandatory portageLamprey barrier at about mile 6.2
Wisconsin Trail Guide and Wisconsin DNR context identify the sea lamprey barrier as a river-wide dam; paddlers must portage it and should watch for warning signs and buoys.
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 Bois Brule River
All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
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