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

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Pete's Landing

Distance: 5.54 mi
Access Point
Pete's Landing

Holts Landing

Distance: 9.92 mi
Access Point
Holts Landing

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

Take Out

Distance: 14.1 mi
Take Out

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.