Flambeau, N.Fk.

A) Turtle Dam to Agenda Landing (14 miles)

Reach banner
DifficultyI-II
Length13.7 mi
Avg Gradient5 fpm
Reach Info Last UpdatedJune 22, 2017

River Description

Numerous class I-II rapids on this reach.

FWIW, you'll notice that the numbered rapids are numbered in reverse order (that is, from downriver to upriver). We suspect that is because early trappers and traders, using the rivers for their commercial commute, paddling upstream, would count the rapids they had to portage or 'line' their canoes upriver (going ashore, but leaving canoe in the water, attaching ropes, then pulling the canoe up to the top of the rapids before getting in to resume paddling upriver). Thus, 'First Rapids' would have been the first portage (or 'line up') they encountered on their way upstream (at least, as counted from whichever downstream fort, camp, or outpost they routinely started their upriver trips). (Sounds good, anyway! If you have a better hypothesis, or even some definitive history on the origins of this numbering scheme, we'd be interested to be aware of it! Add a comment below!)

May 12 2011, Brendan Hammond provided (edited, re-arranged, and emphasis/bold added here):

Holt's landing to Agenda offers very good beginner whitewater all summer, every summer.

Doing this entire stretch is not recommended for anyone in whitewater play boats, as there are miles and miles of flatwater.

The best rapids on the entire stretch are Notch Rock (1st rapids below put-in with cliffs), the Quinns, Pine Tree, the Ledge, Fifth Rapids, and Third Rapids.

For more experienced boaters, Third Rapids (second to last, as first rapids is under dam backwater) offers a good play spot.

The stretch rarely gets above bankfull as its regulated by a very large reservoir (14,000 acres). Most rapids are washed out, Notch Rock and the Quinns can have nice wavetrains at the right level but nothing above Class II.

Thanks, Brendan!


River Features

Alternate Put-in: Turtle Dam (622 Sq.Mi.)

Distance: -0.66 mi
Access Point

Some folks opt for the full listed run by putting in at Turtle Dam. This may provide playboaters a few spots each side of the island just downstream. Doing so may involve a bit of a carry. Others may skip this locale to use Robinson's Landing as their put-in.

Put In

Distance: 0 mi
Access Point

Drainage: ~659 sq.mi.

Distance: 0 mi
Other
Drainage: ~659 sq.mi.

Drainage area at our listed put-in is approximately 659 sq.mi. (as calculated via USGS StreamStats Beta software). By our listed take-out, drainage area has increased to 752 square miles (about a 14% increase).

Flat Rapids

Distance: 2 mi
Other
Flat Rapids

Pete's Landing

Distance: 5.54 mi
Access Point
Pete's Landing

Simmon's Rapids

Distance: 6.6 mi
Rapid

Simmons Rapids

Distance: 6.8 mi
Other
Simmons Rapids

Quinn's Rapids

Distance: 7.8 mi
Rapid

Quinns Rapids

Class: IIDistance: 8.05 mi
Other
Quinns Rapids

A 50-yard long boulder-garden rapids.

Stubbs Rapids

Distance: 8.3 mi
Rapid

Stubbs Rapids

Distance: 8.55 mi
Other
Stubbs Rapids

Holts Landing (Boat Landing Road)

Distance: 9.66 mi
Access Point
Holts Landing (Boat Landing Road)

A great alternate put-in for a shorter trip of about 4 miles.

Pine Tree Rapids

Distance: 10.3 mi
Rapid

The Ledge

Distance: 10.5 mi
Rapid

Pine Tree Rapids

Distance: 10.5 mi
Other
Pine Tree Rapids

The Ledge

Class: IIDistance: 10.78 mi
Other
The Ledge

A 200 yard, class I-II boulder garden rapids.

Sixth Rapids

Distance: 11.1 mi
Rapid

Fifth Rapids

Distance: 11.3 mi
Rapid

Fifth Rapids

Distance: 11.35 mi
Other

Fourth Rapids

Distance: 11.44 mi
Rapid

Sixth Rapids

Distance: 11.46 mi
Other
Sixth Rapids

Third Rapids

Distance: 11.6 mi
Other

Fifth Rapids

Distance: 11.67 mi
Other
Fifth Rapids

Fourth Rapids

Distance: 11.78 mi
Other
Fourth Rapids

Third Rapids

Distance: 11.93 mi
Other
Third Rapids

(Nothing obvious via Satellite view.)

Second Rapids

Distance: 12.1 mi
Other
Second Rapids

First Rapids

Distance: 12.42 mi
Other
First Rapids

Take Out

Distance: 14.1 mi
Access Point

BH
Brendan Hammond

May 12, 2011


Holt's landing to Agenda offers very good beginner whitewater all summer, every summer. For more experienced boaters, third rapids (second to last, as first rapids is under dam backwater) offers a good play spot. The best rapids on the entire stretch are Notch Rock (1st rapids below put-in with cliffs), the Quinns, Pine Tree, the Ledge, Fifth Rapids, and Third Rapids. The entire stretch is not recommended for anyone in whitewater boats, miles and miles of flatwater. The stretch rarely gets above bankfull as its regulated by a very large reservoir, 14,000 acres. Most rapids are washed out, Notch Rock and the Quinns can have nice wavetrains at the right level but nothing above Class II.

In Park Falls, the bypass channel at the paper mill offers a 1/3 mile of low Class II.