Eau Claire River – Marathon County

Click here to see an overview of the Eau Claire River.

East Branch:

• Upstream from Wayside Park:  The river this far upstream might be small and brushy, but should be mostly navigable.
• Hwy 45/Wayside Park to Cty I:  5.1 miles. 
  • Wayside Park to Cty B:  1.3 miles.  Upstream from Cty C the river flows through an attractive residential area with a few nice boulder gardens.  There is one logjam to portage.  Downstream from Cty C the river is more brushy and less attractive. This is the weakest part of the East Branch IMO.
  • Cty B to Bluebell Road:  1.7 miles.  This is a nice wooded stretch with some alders, but also some pines and spruce.
  • Bluebell Road to Cty I:  2.1 miles.  This leg starts narrow and deep, flowing past mostly submerged boulders, then widens out and becomes more shallow.  This is a solid stretch that is popular with trout fishermen.
• Cty I to Hwy 64:  6.1 miles. 
  • Cty I to River Road:  1.1 miles.  This is brushy and IMO not that interesting with one major logjam.
  • River Road to Cty H:  1.1 miles.  A bit more open than the preceding stretch, but still brushy and not super interesting.
  • Cty H to Spring Road:  2.0 miles.  The first half is a bit overgrown, but the second half is really nice with some boulder gardens, attractive woods, and fun rapids.
  • Spring Road to Hwy 64:  1.5 miles.  More open and not as rocky as the previous sections, but nice with attractive meadows.

Main Branch:

• Hwy 64 to Cty Y:  2.7 miles.  West Branch joins up, significantly enlarging the river.  Thick woods and canopies crowd the river.  There might be some logjams on this stretch.
• Cty Y to Hanson Road:  1.7 miles.  A very dense and wooded section.  Maybe a few light rapids but nothing major.
• Hanson Road to Hwy G:  4.3 miles.  More dense woods and some light rapids.  Possibly a logjam....otherwise should be a nice stretch.
• Cty G to Bear Lake Road:  3.0 miles.  A good prospect, but I don't believe there are rapids.
• Bear Lake Road to Hwy 52:  3.6 miles.  A great five star section with many boulder gardens and rapids (a few Class 2s and one Class 3).
• Hwy 52 to Dells of the Eau Claire Park:  4.1 miles.  Really neat section with rapids and fantastic rock walls.  Rapids are less serious than the upstream leg, but do include a Class 2 I believe.
• Dells of the Eau Claire Park to Cty Y:  0.2 miles.  This section is called "The Ledges" and is typically Class 2, but is Class 3 in higher water.  The dam should be portaged river right (there are downed trees in the water to contend with below the dam).
• Cty Y to Cty N: 6.6 miles.
  • Cty Y to Cty Z:  2.0 miles.  This starts with the famous Dells that should be portaged.  There is a portage path (right/north) but it is steep.  I recommend instead launching from either the south or north trails.  After the Dells is a great section which includes very scenic rock walls and Class 2 rapids.
  • Cty Z to Cty N:  4.6 miles.  More flatwater, but still many rapids, including a Class 3 by Lower Dells Island.  Badger Road is a steep but alternate access point. 
• Cty N to Clubhouse Road (aka Edwin's Park):  3.5 miles.  Pleasant, but I suspect this lacks any serious rapids.  Popular with locals and the liveries.
• Edwin's Park to Ross Ave:  7.8 miles.
  • Edwin's Park to Cty J:  4.1 miles.  A nice section with a few rapids and boulder gardens.  The Mountain-Bay State Trail pull-off is an alternate access option.
  • Hwy J to Ross Ave:  3.7 miles.  A great section with more rapids and boulder gardens.  
• Ross Ave to Yellowbanks Park:  2.7 miles.  I don't know much about this section...there are some rapids.
• Yellowbanks Park to Eau Claire River Conservancy:  2.7 miles.  A narrow wooded section.  Not sure if the Conservancy is accessible during low water.
• Eau Claire River Conservancy to the Brooks & Ross Dam (aka Drott Street):  1.5 miles.  Probably boring flowage paddling.  After the dam you are on the Wisconsin River (and another flowage).