Spirit
Spirit Falls (0.2 mile)
| Difficulty | II |
| Length | 0.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Spirit River at Spirit Falls, Wi |
| Flow Rate as of 36 minutes | 34 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 16, 2020 |
River Description
More for the sake of 'completeness', to inform and dissuade anyone thinking they may have discovered an unknown (to AW) stretch of whitewater . . .
In the burg of Spirit Falls, the Spirit River encounters a minor bit of gradient. A USGS gauge immediately upstream accurately reflects flows. If you are in the area, it may be a curiosity-seeker's side-trip.
Check out this YouTube video of the main ledge (shot on a day the river was dropping from ~900 cfs down to 600 cfs): https://youtu.be/AujQDz7zII8
River Features
Put In
Spirit Falls
The main ledge has much potential to be a uniform, sticky drop at many flows. Look closely to analyze the boil-line before thinking about running this reach. At many flows, this should not be run without someone on shore with a safety rope (and knowledge how to use it!).
Center-river has shallow (or exposed) rock preceding the main ledge. A possible line to far-right looks 'best', but heads straight into a huge boulder on shore. The other 'best' route would be charging hard immediately off the left shore, virtually glancing the rocks to boof into the pool to the left below, attempting to avoid the worst of the river-wide boil. At very low flows, this may be more reasonable and could offer minor play. It is possible that at some very high flow, the ledge may be somewhat more engulfed to become less 'keepy', and could turn into a fine playable hole or breaking wave.
Anyone been here at flows different from pictured? Report!