See all 2 routes on Pike River
Wisconsin | Northeast Wisconsin
Pike RiverAmberg Highway 141 Landing to Yellow Bridge Landing
Wild-river whitewater day south of Amberg with clear water, granite dells, Bull Falls, Scrounge Canyon, Horseshoe Falls, and a guarded finish above Yellow Bridge Falls. It is scenic enough for novice whitewater paddlers at moderate levels, but the class II-III drops and private-bank constraints make scouting and boat control mandatory.
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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 the Amberg Highway 141 Landing and paddle the Pike River to Yellow Bridge Landing. This is a scenic Wild River whitewater route with class I-II rapids, granite ledges, clear northwoods current, and a take-out just above the stronger Yellow Bridge Falls.
Access map
Put-in
Amberg Highway 141 LandingThe Highway 141 put-in is a hand-carry landing south of the bridge on the west side of the highway, reached by a gravel trail from the parking area.
Take-out
Yellow Bridge LandingYellow Bridge Landing is on river left above the second drop and before Barker Road. Start looking early because missing the landing commits you toward Yellow Bridge Falls.
Road shuttle
Plan a rural Marinette County shuttle between the Highway 141 landing south of Amberg and Yellow Bridge Landing on Pike River Road near Barker Road. Roads are straightforward, but cell coverage and quick exits are limited once you are on the river.
Additional access notes
- Several banks around Yellow Bridge Falls are private. Scout and portage from the riverbank corridor described by the guide rather than wandering inland.
More route and safety guidance
- Scout the named rapids and portage when needed. Bull Falls is a Class II drop that the guide recommends less-experienced paddlers portage, and Scrounge Canyon and Horseshoe Falls should also be scouted.
- Recheck the Amberg gauge and recent rain before launch. The Pike is rainfall- and snowmelt-dependent; above 4.1 ft the route becomes challenging, above 4.6 ft novice paddlers should avoid it, and above 5.0 ft paddling is not recommended.
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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
Pike River at Amberg, 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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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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 | Pike River at Amberg, WI |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 2.90 ft to 4.10 ft |
| Low threshold | 2.90 ft |
| High threshold | 5.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin Trail Guide Pike River PK1 suggested river levels |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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-specific guide9.4 miles; 4 hours
Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes Pike River PK1 from Amberg Highway 141 Landing to Yellow Bridge Landing, with 9.4 miles, 90 feet of drop, and Class II with Class III at Yellow Bridge Falls as the most difficult rapid.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 04066500 at County V
Wisconsin Trail Guide says the referenced gauge is one mile upstream from the Highway 141 landing and should accurately indicate conditions for this reach; USGS identifies the site as Pike River at Amberg, WI.
- Full-route window2.9 to 4.1 ft
The guide treats 2.9-3.5 ft as low runnable for Highway 141 to Yellow Bridge Landing and 3.5-4.1 ft as medium runnable. The app combines those as the normal full-route window.
- High-water ceiling5.0+ ft not recommended
Wisconsin Trail Guide warns that 4.6-5.0 ft is high enough that novice paddlers should avoid the river and that above 5.0 ft is rare, unusually high flow where paddling is not recommended.
- Endpoint coordinates45.49576, -87.98712 to 45.47494, -87.87593
Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes NAD83 / WGS84 coordinates for Amberg Highway 141 Landing and Yellow Bridge Landing in the PK1 guide.
- Access detailsHand-carry landings with parking
The guide describes the Highway 141 put-in as a hand-carry access with parking and trailer turnaround, and the Yellow Bridge Landing as a hand-carry access reached by footpath from a small parking area.
- HazardsBull Falls, Scrounge Canyon, Horseshoe Falls, Yellow Bridge Falls
Scout or portage the named drops as needed, and take out at Yellow Bridge Landing before the stronger Class III Yellow Bridge Falls below Barker Road.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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