See all 5 routes on Bois Brule River
Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
Bois Brule River
Highway 13 Canoe Landing to Mouth Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Bois Brule 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
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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
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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 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.
Prepare this trip
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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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Highway 13 Canoe Landing is a DNR-managed carry-in with parking, a gravel access road, vault restroom, and potable water, but no boarding dock.
- The 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.
- 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.
Watch for
- The sea lamprey barrier about 2 miles below Highway 13; warning buoys and signs mark the approach, and paddlers must portage on river right.
- Class I riffles including Shale Falls, shallow bony ledges below about 200 cfs, and deadfall around islands and bends.
- Cold water, rapid lower-river rises after rain or snowmelt, and wind or waves near the Lake Superior mouth.
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 | Bois Brule River at Brule, 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 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 |
| 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 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.
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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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Bois Brule River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Bois Brule River?
Paddle Today watches Bois Brule River at Brule, WI and treats 200 cfs to 350 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Bois Brule River route start and end?
This route starts at Highway 13 Canoe Landing and ends at Bois Brule River -- Mouth Access, about 8.2 mi on the water.
Is this Bois Brule 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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