Black River
Clark / Jackson Co. · 190 mi · Class I–III
1,020CFS/ 5.17 ft
Optimal
Stable· -40 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 300–3000 CFS · USGS #05381000
Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
190 mi
Length
Class I–III
Difficulty
300–3000 cfs
Optimal
1,800 cfs
Avg Flow
1,620 cfs
Hist. Median
#05381000
USGS Gauge
Black River State Forest · Castle Mound Pine Forest SNA

Wisconsin's Black River flows 190 miles from the pine forests of Clark County through the cranberry marshes of Jackson County to the Mississippi River at La Crosse. The upper river delivers fun Class II–III whitewater through sandstone gorges near Black River Falls; the lower river meanders through one of the world's largest cranberry-growing regions. A diverse paddling experience from whitewater to prairie marsh.

Trip sections
Hatfield to Black River Falls — 30 mi, Class II–III, best whitewater
Black River Falls to Melrose — 40 mi, Class I–II, cranberry country
Melrose to La Crosse — 50 mi, Class I, Mississippi River bluffs
Outfitters
Black River State Forest
Campgrounds, river access, and trail information
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.