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Peshtigo River, Wisconsin — 1871 Peshtigo Fire Deadliest Wildfire, 1968 Wild/Scenic, 2010s Peshtigo Harbor 48-mi Marinette. Class IV-V continuous drops through the Roaring Rapids section make the Peshtigo one of Wisconsin's most technical whitewater runs. This eight-mile expert stretch demands precise lines and solid combat rolls, while the 12-mile Caldron Falls to Johnson Falls section offers sustained Class III-IV water for strong intermediates. Above the whitewater, the Upper Peshtigo meanders through farm country as flatwater Class I. At 1,400 CFS average with an optimal range of 800–3,000, the river runs through Marinette County Forest land and holds Wisconsin Outstanding Resource Water designation. USGS gauge 04069500 tracks flows that can swing dramatically with snowmelt and rainfall — the Roaring Rapids become genuinely dangerous above 3,000 CFS, while anything below 800 leaves boaters scraping through technical drops that need water to run clean.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.