BOIS BRULE RIVER (Douglas Co., WI, 30 mi. east of Superior)

LENGTH 2.5 mi., CLASS I-II, GRADIENT: 25' per mile

SEASON: More water in the spring but can be boated during the summer.

PUT-IN: For the best whitewater put-in at Copper Range Campground 4 miles north of Brule on Co. Hwy. H on the east side of the river. Other put-ins are available in several places upstream.

TAKEOUT: The end of Koski Rd. 0.5 miles north of the Co. Hwy. FF bridge on the east side of the river. Other takeouts are available several places downstream. Taking out at the Co. Hwy. H Bridge adds some more class II water.

GAGE: USGS gage at Brule. Wetlands upstream tend to moderate flow making this a legitimate summer run. 140 cfs is near minimal for the river. Above 250 cfs is good and some of the rapids begin to approach class III.

FUN FACT: Good river for open canoe or beginning kayakers. Rental kayaks and canoes are available at Brule River Canoe Rental, Inc. (Hwy. 2, P. O. Box 145, Brule, WI 54820, 715-372-4983 or 392-3132). Offers boating possibilities in the summer.

SHUTTLE: From the put-in drive north on Co. Hwy. H for 1 mile where you will cross Co. Hwy. FF. Continue north on Co. Hwy. H for 0.5 miles and then turn west onto Koski Rd. Drive about 1 mile west on this road to the river.

With nearly a dozen launch points and roads paralleling both sides of the river, access is not a problem. You will not find a lot of action on this run but there is a nice set of rapids just downstream from the Co. Hwy. FF Bridges called May Ledges.