See all 6 routes on Pine River
Wisconsin | Northeast Wisconsin
Pine RiverChipmunk Rapids to Bull Falls
Committing Pine Wild River whitewater run from the USFS Chipmunk Rapids access through Snaketail Rapids, Myers Falls, and Bull Falls, with signed portages and a live AW/USGS gauge relationship.
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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 Chipmunk Rapids and run the Pine C whitewater sequence to Bull Falls. This route is for skilled whitewater paddlers who are prepared to scout or portage Upper Snaketail Rapids, Myers Falls, and Bull Falls.
Access map
Put-in
Chipmunk Rapids Recreation Area landingThe Chipmunk landing is reached by a short path from the USFS parking/campground area past the artesian spring.
Take-out
Bull Falls access / portage trailAW describes Goodman Grade as an easier intermediate take-out but warns the landing is tucked in and can be overshot in swift current.
Road shuttle
Stage vehicles at the Bull Falls access, then drive forest roads back to Chipmunk Rapids Recreation Area. Early spring gravel-road conditions can be rough or closed by frost and mud, so confirm road access before launching.
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Access planner
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Chipmunk Rapids Recreation Area landing to Bull Falls access / portage trail is about 10.4 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Bull Falls has south and north access options with steep or awkward carries. Identify the chosen landing and parking before launching.
- Missing Bull Falls or choosing to continue downstream changes the trip into a longer fast-swift route toward Rochon Landing or Highway 101.
More route and safety guidance
- AW says the Snaketail portage is a private-land public-use accommodation; use it respectfully and do not improvise through camps or private banks.
- A swim at Bull Falls can be hard to recover from, and missing the Bull Falls exit commits the group to additional fast swifts and a longer remote take-out plan.
Plan this paddle
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No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly forecast
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Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
Pine River Below Pine River Powerplant near Florence, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
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 | Pine River Below Pine River Powerplant near Florence, WI |
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| 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 |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 2.00 ft to 10.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 2.00 ft |
| High threshold | 10.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Pine C gauge correlation |
| 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.
- AW route10.4 mi, Class II-III
American Whitewater lists Pine C from Chipmunk Rapids to Bull Falls as a 10.4-mile Class II-III run with Snaketail Rapids, Myers Falls, and Bull Falls.
- AW gauge correlation2 to 10 ft
The current AW page serializes the USGS 04064500 correlation as a 2 ft low-runnable floor and 10 ft high-runnable ceiling for Pine C.
- Hazards and portagesSnaketail, Myers, Bull Falls
AW documents signed or established portage/scouting trails at Upper Snaketail, Myers Falls, and Bull Falls, with Class II-III consequences and wood/blockage cautions.
- Endpoint supportChipmunk access to Bull Falls access
AW publishes coordinate-backed access records for the Chipmunk Rapids put-in and Bull Falls access, while USFS confirms Chipmunk Rapids carry-in canoe access and camping facilities.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22USGS 04064500 at 1.88 ft / 177 cfs
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
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
More on Pine River
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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