See all 4 routes on Chippewa River
Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
Chippewa River
County D Bridge to Imalone / County A Bridge
Check current paddling conditions for this Chippewa River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at the County D bridge landing and finish at Imalone / County A. Expect a lively upper-Chippewa run with repeated riffles, several named rapids, wooded islands, and a direct Bruce gauge floor that matters.
Put-in
County D Bridge landingOpen mapRusk County publishes the County D Bridge and Imalone Boat Access coordinates for this exact route.
Take-out
Imalone / County A Bridge accessOpen mapWisconsin Trail Guide describes the County D launch as a rutted dirt-track trailer ramp off the east end of the bridge and the County A finish as a hand-carry access just upstream of the bridge.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Rusk County publishes the County D Bridge and Imalone Boat Access coordinates for this exact route.
- Wisconsin Trail Guide describes the County D launch as a rutted dirt-track trailer ramp off the east end of the bridge and the County A finish as a hand-carry access just upstream of the bridge.
- Confirm local landing condition, shoulder space, and any recent storm debris before committing to the shuttle.
Watch for
- Rock Ledge, Otter Slide Rapids, Soo Line Rapids, and many smaller class-I riffles.
- Fast island channels, overhanging trees, strainers, and fresh deadfall.
- Exposed rocks and hidden boulders at lower levels, plus stronger wave trains after rain or Arpin Dam releases.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Chippewa River Near Bruce, 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 400 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin Trail Guide Chippewa River C2 minimum flow |
| 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 guide10.7 miles; Class I
Wisconsin Trail Guide documents Chippewa River C2 from County D Bridge to County A Bridge as a 10.7-mile easy run with about four hours of paddle time and repeated class-I rapids.
- Minimum flow400 cfs / 1.5 ft
The Wisconsin Trail Guide C2 guide ties this route to the Bruce gauge and lists 400 cfs / 1.5 feet as the minimum suggested flow.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05356500
USGS identifies site 05356500 as Chippewa River Near Bruce, WI, the same route gauge used by Wisconsin Trail Guide for the upper-Chippewa segments.
- Public access coordinates45.671121, -91.181080 to 45.552358, -91.228388
Rusk County publishes GPS coordinates for the Highway D Bridge put-in and Imalone Boat Access take-out.
- Named hazardsRock Ledge; Otter Slide; Soo Line
Rusk County flags Rock Ledge, Otter Slide Rapids, Soo Line Rapids, rocks, sudden rapids, and hidden boulders on this exact segment.
- Access detailsTrailer put-in; hand-carry take-out
Wisconsin Trail Guide describes the County D bridge landing as a dirt-track trailer ramp and the County A / Imalone end as a hand-carry roadside access.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Chippewa River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Chippewa River?
Paddle Today watches Chippewa River Near Bruce, WI and uses 400 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Chippewa River route start and end?
This route starts at County D Bridge landing and ends at Imalone / County A Bridge access, about 10.7 mi on the water.
Is this Chippewa River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.