Red

A fair sized parking area exists at the dam and adjacent to the powerhouse at Weed Dam (FERC P-2464).

About 1/4 mile below the put-in at the dam, the river will swing hard to the left and you will see a house on the river right. This is the First Drop. Typically there is no need to scout. Simply stay slightly left-of-center and punch through a frothy hole. This ledge/pourover is infamous for being sticky at lower levels and many a paddler has been windowshaded here while trying to sidesurf. Outflow current is strong and the water is deep enough to allow for some vertical moves (bow stalls, stern squirts, etc). Please be respectful of the property on river right.

The mile or so between the first ledge and the next drop contains a bit of additional class I-II fun water. One thing to check out is a large rock wall on river left, which is a great place to seal launch into the river at higher flows. You will come to a narrowing which is actually a rocky island splitting the flow, with the majority of the flow straight ahead (the left of the island). This is the site of a sweet Double Drop. Depending on flow, there can be good front surfs, side-surfs, and spins possible on each of the waves. You must have good control to keep in the area of the upper wave, however. The lower wave has a deep pool, and good eddies, as it is backed up by a ring of rock diverting most of the flow to the left.

When the river twists left and then back to the right and you have come to Monastery Falls, a class III+ drop or class IV at higher flows. This may be marked as Freeman Falls on some topographic maps. Some refer to it as 'Alexian' or 'Novitiate', all referring to the former Alexian Novitiate (Monastery) on river left. Scout on river right and avoid going ashore anywhere on the left bank, as it is private property, and has been the site of many skirmishes over trespass through the years. This is a terrific drop which may be intimidating to first-timers. The river gets squeezed down to a five foot slot with a 'launch rock' in the center. A meaty hole develops at nearly all levels, so a good 'punch' is required ('I once witnessed a buddy in a WaveSport 'Z' get sucked backwards into it and disappear in the hole, only to be spit out for a swim; quite exciting!'). Some gnarly water follows as it drops down to another squeeze and powerful hole develops. The best route is left of center and punching through the hole. There is pretty much no consequence as it ends in a humongous pool (virtually a lake). The bottom hole can provide great play, though it may be intimidating to novice boaters. One paddler was windowshaded five times before finally exiting upside-down, still in his boat. A common change-of-pace 'game' during warm weather releases is to bring inflatable 'pool toys' to run this drop and/or play the bottom hole.

Leaving the pool below Monastery, there are a few good rocky outcroppings and boulderbed rock-dodge rapids before the river returns to flatwater again. The next exciting drop is Ziemer's Falls, class II+ or III depending on flows (you may see it marked as Gilmer Falls on some maps). The river will turn left, then right, down a small sloping ledge. Many families swim in this area, bodily sliding down the first falls, or taking a 'hydro-massage' in its base. You may wish to get out in the huge river-left eddy to scout, though confident boaters can eddy-hop and boat-scout their way (don't hit any kids!). At good release levels, this initial ledge/hole is fine for surfs and spins, though it can get steep and 'squirrely'. A short pool leads to the right and spills across shallow bedrock. A few minor wave/holes may exist here. The flow then necks-down between walls of rock, and heads straight toward a large hump of rock which divides the bottom of the drop, providing two routes to finish this drop. Boaters may catch an eddy on river left, then paddle into the current and follow the flow down a jumbled chute river-left. Or, you can ferry across current and hit the flow of water on river-right. At low levels rocks may be an issue -- stay as close to the right wall as possible.

Located at the base of Ziemer's, this access is a favored take-out for the short trip on the Red River. Boaters typically take out in the pool at the base of the rapid and walk up to the parking area, making it a convenient stop for most trips. However, for those seeking a longer run, venturing further downstream to the unincorporated town of Red River is highly recommended.

Little Bull Falls is a simple rapids with some good depth for squirt moves. Not far downstream a vacant lot was purchased years back to assure boater access (when the landing at Ziemer's was in jeopardy, and vandalism of shuttle vehicles was common for a while).

A vacant lot was purchased to assure boater access when the landing at Ziemer's was in jeopardy, and vandalism of shuttle vehicles was common for a while. The lot is owned by Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers (NEWP).

Three drops in quick succession can provide some interesting entertainment. This area may be somewhat problematic for legal access, since it may be posted and fenced. The second of these is rather like a smaller, narrower version of second drop on the Peshtigo, while the last drop (just above the bridge) offers playboaters vertical rock smears and cartwheels down a ledge parallel to the current.

Take out in the bridge right of way. Parking is limited.