Wisconsin | Northwoods Wisconsin
South Fork Flambeau RiverCounty W Bridge Landing to County M Wayside Landing
A 7.4-mile South Fork Flambeau whitewater reach from the County W bridge landing to County M Wayside, with named Class II-III rapids and a direct USGS gauge near the upper landing.
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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 County W Bridge Landing and take out at County M Wayside after the 7.4-mile FS2 reach. The route includes Carpenters, Cornsheller, Big Bull, and Bergeron rapids; Little Falls is downstream beyond the take-out.
Access map
Put-in
County W Bridge LandingCounty W is a hand-carry landing immediately below the bridge; use the signed landing entrance and do not assume bridge-bank access elsewhere.
Take-out
County M Wayside LandingCounty M Wayside is the documented take-out for FS2; take out there before the downstream South Fork hazards unless separately qualified and equipped.
Road shuttle
Use the rural County W to County M road shuttle; verify the landing entrances and parking before leaving a vehicle.
Additional access notes
- The direct gauge is near the upper corridor, but actual rapids and debris can vary after rain; inspect conditions locally before launching.
More route and safety guidance
- Little Falls is a downstream Class V hazard and is not part of this County W-to-County M route. Take out at County M Wayside; do not continue downstream without a separate, expert-level plan.
- American Whitewater and Wisconsin Trail Guide identify the direct South Fork gauge and seasonal variability. Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, check weather and current conditions, and expect cold, remote water with limited exits.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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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
South Fork Flambeau River Near Phillips, 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 | South Fork Flambeau River Near Phillips, 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 227 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater recommended-flow screen for CTH W to Skinner Creek / South Fork Flambeau |
| 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.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 05359500 South Fork Flambeau River near Phillips
USGS reports continuous discharge and stage telemetry at the South Fork station near County Highway W.
- Named public endpointsCounty W Bridge Landing to County M Wayside Landing
Wisconsin DNR lists the established South Fork landing corridor; Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes WGS84 endpoint coordinates and the 7.4-mile FS2 map.
- Flow screen227 cfs minimum-only screen
American Whitewater displays the direct gauge and marks 227 cfs as below recommended on the adjacent CTH W-to-Skinner reach; Paddle Today uses this conservatively as a minimum-only screen.
- Hazards and campingClass II-III rapids; no South Fork canoe camp on this segment
DNR and Wisconsin Trail Guide identify named rapids, seasonal variability, and the downstream Little Falls hazard; DNR's camping page lists canoe camps below the forks rather than on this South Fork segment.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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