Eau Claire (Wisconsin R. trib)
B) Eau Claire Dells to Lookout Rd. (4.6 miles)
| Difficulty | II-III(IV) |
| Length | 4.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 25 fpm |
| Gauge | Eau Claire River at Kelly, Wi |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 155 cfsmalfunction |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 7, 2020 |
River Description
Put-in above the dam on the upstream side of the park (which straddles either side of the main road). The far-right two gates of the dam are normally runnable.
A short stretch of rapids with some minor play potential lead to a very scenic dells with an intense zig-zag of channels and drops. Riverbooks indicate the river drops 65' in 1.5 miles (44fpm). Often boaters just do a park-and-play in a county park where the bulk of that drop is concentrated.
Downstream of the dells, boulderbed rapids proceed past random rocky outcroppings for the next mile or so, leading down to and around either side of a large island. Better flow is to the right, and a fine set of ledges will be encountered just before the end of the island. The gradient peters out the rest of the way toward and beyond CTH.Z, before reaching another island. Either side is runnable, with the left being narrower and potentially more interesting, as it drops through a mini-dells with good waves and holes. As the island ends and the flows rejoin, the gradient eases, and the remainder of the float to the take-out is flatwater.
River Features
Put In
Ledges
There are numerous small ledges and waves as you work your way downstream from the dam. The largest/best combination occurs as one nears the CTH.Y, where you may find some play before proceeding to the 'main event'.
"The Dells"
The main drop of the dells is a complex drop in a beautiful scenic dells of granite rock. The main flow goes far to the left, jumps down a short shelf into a transverse channel. Flow is backed up by a massive rock, and splits to go left and right. While runnable at low flows, moderate-to-high flows create a massively retentive boiling landing zone. (I have watched good open-boaters have their canoes swamped and chundered in here!)
Moderately high flows open up a center chute which can be a fun 'boof', while higer flows open up a river-right bump-and-thump (or better) class III- sneak.
First (Upper) Island Dells
Many low, small islands dot the river at areas with little-or-no real rapids, thus it doesn't matter which side of those you run. However, there are two major (large) wooded islands which do have gradient of interest. This first one is best run on the right (which takes slightly more of the flow). After you pass most of the island, the channel twists to the left, and (before it rejoins the other channel) drops across a fine sequence of ledges and waves.
(The left channel is far less interesting and will be very rocky/boney until flows exceed 1500 cfs or so.)
Second (Lower) Island Dells
After passing under Hwy.Z, a brief paddle brings you to the second large, wooded island. Take the left channel here and you will find a very sweet constricted dells. This can be run pretty much right down the middle, through a fine series of waves and small holes. At moderate to high flows, the waves and holes will build, and boaters may enjoy a roller-coaster ride, or work the rapids by catching some eddies as you break up this flume/drop.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWhat is meant by sneak route, chute, main drop and squeeze....
Ran just the dells today (april 3rd, 2015) at 439cfs, ugg what a low water spring so far. There is an ok surf wave, good for a few swishing front surfs, by the large river right eddy just after the dam. The middle line at the main dells is pretty scrapy, and still not worth it at this level. The main, left drop, has good speed down a sloping drop into a bubbly pool, but can be easily boofed on the the left half and the second squeeze drop does not form a hole at this level. This is a great level to try out the dells, safety can be setup on the main drop with a quick one step in the water to get over to the middle rock formation next to the drop. Any problem will most likely be due to the boogy water between the first main drop and the second squeeze drop.
This river has a odd range of flow. The section below the dells peaks out in the 3500+ cfs range when it begins to be quite pushy and gets bony at below 350 cfs.
The main section of the dells drop will starts to get nasty, hole gets big at second drop and buggy water gets intense, at 900+ cfs, but can offer cheap thrills down to 85 cfs. A far right option ,class III-, opens up on the dells proper at above 2000 cfs and is runnable up to about 3500 cfs. These are some of my best estimates for runnablity.
Higher water at the dells with the sneak a solid run
Ran the section below the dells on 4/9, gauge was reading 3.9' and 1400 cfs. It was a very good level, the s-turn section just below the dells was great, as was the next rapids around the island. However, the gauge is far enough downstream that at this level the river was much higher than Bryan's photos at 2450 a week later and at 4.25 days earlier. So the gauge is not entirely reliable for exact flows and levels, it still provides good indication if the river is running.
Took the right side bounce down at the dells as the main drop of the dells was nasty. The rest of run from the dam to the dells and after the dells was at a great level.
dells has a few lines, but overall best to put in below at this level
Really low water spring, this was about it for fun outside of scheduled releases.
Really low water spring, this was about it for fun outside of scheduled releases.