See all 5 routes on Bois Brule River
Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
Bois Brule River
Pine Tree Landing to Highway 13 Canoe Landing
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
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
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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 Pine Tree Landing for the Bois Brule BB3 whitewater segment and finish at Highway 13 Canoe Landing. Expect near-continuous riffles and rapids, with Lenroot Ledges and Mays Ledges as the key scout-or-portage features.
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
Pine Tree LandingPine Tree Landing is a hand-carry state-forest landing with parking, trailer turn-around, and pit toilets at the end of Dead End Road. Confirm road and seasonal access before committing to the shuttle.
Take-out
Highway 13 Canoe LandingHighway 13 Canoe Landing is a hand-carry landing on river right near the end of Highway 13 Rapids, with parking, trailer turn-around, pit toilets, and potable water.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Pine Tree Landing is a hand-carry state-forest landing with parking, trailer turn-around, and pit toilets at the end of Dead End Road. Confirm road and seasonal access before committing to the shuttle.
- Highway 13 Canoe Landing is a hand-carry landing on river right near the end of Highway 13 Rapids, with parking, trailer turn-around, pit toilets, and potable water.
- 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
- Lenroot Ledges, a long Class II ledge sequence that can get shallow and bumpy at low water and faster at higher flows.
- Mays Ledges, the most challenging whitewater on this segment; scout or portage from river right if there is any doubt.
- Fallen trees, strainers along banks, bony rapids below about 200 cfs, fast constrictions above about 600 cfs, and cold spring-fed water.
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 BB3 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 with bony rapids, 200 to 350 cfs is medium runnable and fun for novice whitewater paddlers, 350 to 600 cfs is high runnable, 600 to 1000 cfs should be avoided by novice paddlers, and above 1000 cfs is experienced-paddler-only.
- Gauge fitSame river, route-specific guidance
Wisconsin Trail Guide says the referenced gauge is 10.5 miles upstream from this BB3 segment and should provide an accurate indication of current conditions in the reach.
- Official trip timingPine Tree to Highway 13: five hours
Wisconsin DNR lists Pine Tree to Highway 13 among the Brule River State Forest time-between-landings options and describes this northern stretch as a preferred rapid-filled run for more daring canoeists and kayakers.
- Endpoint coordinates46.61545, -91.58264 to 46.67776, -91.59553
Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes WGS84 coordinates for Pine Tree Landing and Highway 13 Landing; the Highway 13 coordinate is also corroborated by the Wisconsin DNR boat-access detail used by the downstream route.
- Key rapidsLenroot Ledges, Mays Ledges, Highway 13 Rapids
Wisconsin Trail Guide describes Lenroot Ledges as long Class II ledges, Mays Ledges as Class II-III and the most challenging whitewater on the Bois Brule, and Highway 13 Rapids as low-hazard Class I riffles near the take-out.
- Whitewater corroborationAmerican Whitewater reach 2280
American Whitewater lists the Copper Range-to-Highway 13 reach at about 8.7 miles with the Bois Brule at Brule gauge, including Lenroot Ledges, May Ledges, and Highway 13 Rapids in the route feature list.
- Cold-water characterSteady cool spring water
Wisconsin DNR describes the Bois Brule as a trout stream sustained by a steady flow of cool spring water.
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
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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 Pine Tree Landing and ends at Highway 13 Canoe Landing, about 8.4 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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