Yellow River (North Central Wisconsin)

Click here to see an overview map of the Yellow River.

• Upstream from Yellow River Road:  The river splinters and may be less kayak-friendly, but I suspect there are viable sections for determined paddlers.
• Yellow River Road to FR 575:  7.1 miles.  Technically this is the North Fork.  Rick Kark describes this as having lovely surroundings, being shallow, having a number of rocks, and two sets of Class I rapids.
• FR 575 to Hwy M:  3.8 miles.  I don't know much about this leg.  It seems to start wooded and ends in a marsh.
• Hwy M to Diamond Drive Ramp:  1.4 miles.  The north end of Chequamegon Waters Flowage.
• Diamond Drive Ramp to Miller Dam:  2.7 miles.  The western end of Chequamegon Waters Flowage.
• Miller Dam to Beaver Creek Road:  1.1 miles.  Attractive wooded section with light rapids, and rocks.
• Beaver Creek Road to Gilman Scout Park:  7.4 miles.  Some light rapids and rocks, but not as many as the previous stretch.  Still very wooded.
• Gilman Scout Park to Gilman Public Park:  0.3 miles.  Short stretch between the Gilman Parks.  Highlights include several scenic bridges.
• Gilman Public Park to Polley Lane:  4.2 miles.  One of the best stretches on the river with some fun Class I-II rapids including "Oxbow Rapids".  There should be a few small cliffs on this leg as well.
• Polley Lane to River Road:  3.0 miles.  A pleasant leg with a few potential outcrops.
• River Road to Hwy S/H:  1.8 miles.  Good stretch with more woods, light riffles, and rocks.  But maybe not as good as the previous two legs.
• Hwy S/H to Hwy S:  1.5 miles.  Very shallow rocky stretch by Hwy S. (Streetview Image)
• Hwy S to 350th Street:  2.3 miles.  Rick Kark was disappointed with this leg and thought it was a bit monotonous and lacking in rapids.
• 350th Street to Hwy G:  3.0 miles.  Rick Kark was disappointed with this leg and thought it was a bit monotonous and lacking in rapids.
• Hwy G to 327th Street Access:  3.1 miles.  Probably an OK stretch...but be warned this leg could have several serious logjams.
• 327th Street Access to Patty's Park:  3.4 miles.  Likely a good leg with a few nice boulder gardens.
• Patty's Park to 130th Ave:  2.1 miles.  A good prospect with a number of shallow light rapids.  There appears to be a scenic boulder garden and maybe a Class II chute above 130th Ave.  (Streetview Image)
• 130th Ave to Hwy D:  2.3 miles.  A very good prospect with likely some cliffs, boulder gardens and rapids.  There may be a significant Class II ledge located downstream from 130th Ave.
• Hwy D to Hwy O:  5.5 miles.  A good prospect with some nice cliffs. (Streetview Image)
• Hwy O to Riverview Park:  4.8 miles.  A great trip with some nice boulder gardens, fun Class I+ rapids, pleasant wooded scenery, and small outcrops.  There is a bit of flowage paddling near the end of this trip.
• Cadott Dam to Hwy XX:  4.4 miles. I don't know much about this leg, but looking at satellite maps, it looks like a generic bottomland paddle with a few minor boulder fields and one nice sandbank. The boulder field and rapids below the Main Street bridge are likely the trip highlight.
• Hwy XX to Hwy K:  5.3 miles.  Very nice stretch with a mix of bottomlands, minor rapids, gravel bars, and several scenic sandbanks. The highlight is the final half-mile which features attractive granite boulders and exposed bedrock.
• Hwy K to Lake Wissota Landing - 196th Street:  0.8 miles.  A possible short add-on stretch through Lake Wissota's Moon Bay to reach a public ramp.  I think this would be a mediocre lake paddle.  Note parking at the 196th Street ramp may be difficult.
• Lake Wissota Landing - 196th Street to Lake Wissota - State Park Ramp:  0.8 miles.  Another possible short add-on stretch through Lake Wissota's Moon Bay to reach a public ramp.  I think this would also be a mediocre lake paddle.  The State Park Landing is very good, but it would necessitate an unpleasant shuttle because it's at the end of a long dead-end road.