See all 5 routes on Pine River
Wisconsin | Northeast Wisconsin
Pine River
Chipmunk Rapids to Bull Falls
Check current paddling conditions for this Pine 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 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.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The Chipmunk landing is reached by a short path from the USFS parking/campground area past the artesian spring.
- AW describes Goodman Grade as an easier intermediate take-out but warns the landing is tucked in and can be overshot in swift current.
- 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.
Watch for
- Upper Snaketail Rapids, where AW recommends scouting and notes a public-use portage on private land.
- Myers Falls, a fast three-drop Class III feature with signed high-water and low-water take-outs.
- Bull Falls, where a swim can be hard to recover from and immediate downstream current remains fast.
- Wood blockages, private-bank limits, cold water, remote rescue exposure, and low-water boulder dodging below 2 ft.
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 | Pine River Below Pine River Powerplant near Florence, 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 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 |
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.
- 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.
- Live gauge checkUSGS 04064500 at 1.88 ft / 177 cfs
USGS Water Services returned current data for Pine River below Pine River Powerplant near Florence at 2026-07-22 17:00 CDT.
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.
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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
Pine River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Pine River?
Paddle Today watches Pine River Below Pine River Powerplant near Florence, WI and treats 2.00 ft to 10.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Pine River route start and end?
This route starts at Chipmunk Rapids Recreation Area landing and ends at Bull Falls access / portage trail, about About 10.4 to 10.5 mi on the water.
Is this Pine River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.