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 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
Checking the next several hours.
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 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.
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
County D Bridge landingRusk County publishes the County D Bridge and Imalone Boat Access coordinates for this exact route.
Take-out
Imalone / County A Bridge accessWisconsin 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.
Plan this segment
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.
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 | 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 |
| Evidence strength 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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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.