Devils

To reiterate from the body of the description: if you can find the proprietors at home, you may be able to gain access from the campground, thereby eliminating the access paddle. However, recently I have heard second-/third-hand info suggesting they are not boater-friendly, and are likely to protest your presence (due to liability and other concerns) to scout or portage. Thus, we generally urge keeping as low-profile a presence as possible when scouting/portaging this area. (Keep as quiet as possible, keep as near the river as possible, and do not linger any more than necessary!) I have never had a problem (never been confronted) here, but, then, I have never attempted to boat this during summer, when campground is likely to be full and active.

Remnants of a former dam flank the river at the brink of this 'falls'. The river spills down a stairstep of bedrock ledges into a hole (at higher flows, anyway), sheeting across a short (flowing) pool before dropping off another short ledge (into a potentially sticky-looking hole). At low-to-moderate flows, this may rate class II+ or III. At moderate-to-high flows, this will be class IV (and a likely portage for many boaters)!

Downstream of the main ledge sequence, you will find a very busy stretch of dells (most likely with a lot of overhanging cedars and other shoreline vegetation to complicate navigation) before the banks open up and the river widens a bit.

As you head toward the County Road R, this small river spreads wider across shallow bedrock, and you will probably 'grunge out' a bit (unless you have a quite high flow). Numerous shallow waves will form through here, but none have sufficient depth (at almost any reasonable flow) to allow enough paddle strokes to catch and surf. Passing the bridge, the river heads to the right, and a fine series of ledges will form some decent waves. (There may be some play right in the back yard of a nice home.) A bit more boulder-bed scrambling will bring you to the confluence with the Neshota River, where the combined flow is now the West Twin River.

This is not on Devils River, but is a 'carry-up' from the confluence of Devils River and the Neshota River (whereupon both cease to exist, and they become the West Twin -- one of two rivers that flow into the city of Two Rivers, WI). Looking just upstream of the confluence, on the Neshota River, you will see a fine set of ledge/waves. Many boaters will find it worthwhile to carry up to run this fine sequence.

The near shore (river-left of the Devils River, river-right of Neshota River) is privately owned, with a cabin/house present. While the other shore is also privately owned, it is wooded with no home and yard, thus we advise ferrying across to river-left (of the Neshota/West Twin), to carry up on that shore. This also shortens the carry a bit, since you will be carrying up the inside of a bend in the Neshota River. Be careful walking through this wooded area, as there are numerous locations with old barbed wire down on the ground. I generally recommend carrying a good ways upstream, above the bend in the river, to put in and enjoy this fine ledge sequence.

The sequence starts with a single short (~1') ledge which spans the river, and can provide some minor play when flows are adequate. It could be worth carrying up to this point just to check out, and to warm-up the play muscles before dropping into Devils Meet Ledges. The meatier action will be Devils Meet Ledges, where most repeat play is likely to be done by shorter carry-up.

Fairly immediately downstream of Hunter's Ledge, you round a bend to the left and head back toward the confluence with the Devils River. At lower flows, these will be no more than class II, offering tame play. However, when the Devils River has good boatable flows, Neshota/West Twin is likely to be running moderate-to-high, and these ledges will likely push to solid class III or better! Some of the ledge/wave/holes will allow great play or will play with you! (That is, some get a bit sticky at higher flows and may grab you for an unplanned backender or surf!) There will be some eddies and slackwater for confident experienced whitewater boaters to 'work' (and play) the rapids. Some may wish to do a short carry-up to hit the best of these a second time. They can be skirted (paddled around) by staying far right. (Scouting may be done while you are carrying up river-left shore.)

Most topographic maps have a 'falls' marked at this location. At all flows and all occasions which I have run this river, I have never been able to identify just what 'falls' they are talking about. There are a few spots which have some minor ripples and riffs, but do not expect (or worry about) any 'falls' (or even rapids of note) on this part of the river.