See all 5 routes on Bois Brule River
Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
Bois Brule RiverPine Tree Landing to Highway 13 Canoe Landing
Classic Bois Brule whitewater segment from Pine Tree Landing to Highway 13, with near-continuous riffles, Lenroot Ledges, Mays Ledges, and the Highway 13 Rapids inside Brule River State Forest.
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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 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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Use a two-car shuttle between Pine Tree Landing at the end of Dead End Road off County Highway H and Highway 13 Canoe Landing east of the Highway 13 bridge. Both are designated Brule River State Forest canoe landings.
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
- Recheck USGS 04025500 and recent rain or snowmelt before launch. Below 125 cfs paddling is not recommended; above 600 cfs novice paddlers should avoid the reach; above 1,000 cfs is experienced-paddler-only and strainers may be unavoidable.
- Use only the designated Pine Tree and Highway 13 canoe landings, respect private property, and wear the DNR-required PFD. The Brule carries cool spring water, increasing immersion consequences.
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Conditions
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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
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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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 BB3 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 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.
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Other routes nearby
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All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
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