Willow
C) Little Falls Dam to Trout Brook Road (1.85 miles) ** State Park Fee **
| Difficulty | I(II) |
| Length | 1.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 15 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 2, 2022 |
River Description
Little Falls Dam in Willow River State Park was found to be failing back in 2015. By February 2017, funds were allocated for removal and reconstruction of the dam. As of by Spring, 2021, the new dam is complete, refilling 'Little Falls Lake'.
Formerly, there had appeared to be a very brief bit of rapids about where the dam is. From photos online, it appears that my no longer exist (I.E., it's under the dam or the lake).
The miles below the dam appear to have mostly relatively mild swiftwater and rips. After Trout Brook Road the remaining distance until encountering the backwaters of Lake Mallalieu (and the subsequent confluence with the St.Croix) appear to have similar shoals, swiftwater, and tame rapids. However, proceding beyond Trout Brook Road is likely to entail much flatwater paddling on the lake/flowage to the next available public landing. While canoeists and recreational kayakers may not mind the distance (at least, if winds are not strong), folks looking for whitewater or at least swiftwater paddling will do well to exit at our listed take-out.
SO ... anyone ever paddle the Willow River downstream of the dam? We'd love to have a comment or report! (And photos or links to videos, if you've got them!)
River Features
Put In
Minor ledge/rapids
Aerial/satellite views (during Little Falls dam drawdawn) appear to show a minor ledge/wave/rapids at this point.
Little Falls (dam site)
Aerial/satellite views (during Little Falls dam drawdawn) appear to show a potentially interesting ledge/wave/rapids at this point.
Depending upon when construction is happening at this site, it may be possible to do a PnP (Park and Play) at this location.
USGS gauge (292 sq.mi.)
Gauge has been decommissioned/unfunded as of 2024-01-07
Footbridge
Frequent/random shoals are sprinkled all the way down this stretch below the dam site. At some flows these may create fun minor rapids (riffles and rips).
Head of Island
The next mile of river is divided by a large island. (In fact, there is a small split a bit earlier, and later on it braids into even more channels.) It appears the left channel may be a bit more 'open' and may carry a bit more of the flow.
Take Out
End of Island
In the left channel (downstream of the aformentioned bridge) it appears there may be a small ledge/wave. Not long thereafter, the flow from the other channel rejoins. To reiterate, that channel appears to have much more wood likely blocking passage in the river at random locations.
End gradient / begin backwaters
At this point, the river is backwatered from dams in Hudson forming Lake Mallalieu. Substantial braiding, sandbars, and treed islands will occur, obscuring the main channel.
If you zoom in on (at least some) aerial/satellite views at this location (at least in the present views, spring 2017), you may see a few kayaks which appear to be beached on a sandbar or mud bank.
We leave it to the intrepid explorer to find their best choice of landing if proceding this far downriver.
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