Fox
B) Appleton Dam (PnP) *Access Issues*
| Difficulty | II-IV+ |
| Length | 0.12 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Fox River at Appleton, Wi |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 6930 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 4, 2025 |
River Description
The outflow from a dam in Appleton can provide some whitewater play. That said, it should be noted that most (all?) large dams in Wisconsin are posted 'Keep back 500 feet' (roughly 1/10th mile), and the most interesting water is likely to lie within that distance, making boating below most dams technically illegal.
That said, we welcome further information from anyone who has boated the Fox in Appleton. What flows have you found 'reasonable'? How many waves (and which ones) did you find playable?
Please add a 'Trip Report' below!
Caution is recommended, as it appears (on the one occasion this 'reporter' has viewed this area) that there may be many areas of slab-rock in the flow which could make being upside-down (or out of a boat) extremely unpleasant/dangerous. Further, the whole area can be extremely surging. We watched as waves/holes went from tame, to sweet, to somewhat big, to scary, and then wash-out altogether, cycling through that sequence over and over. Eddies similarly cycled from reasonable, to swirly/boily, to whirlpools.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportI paddle this section putting in river left just below the out door deck of fratellos and taking out just before the bridge on river left side just at the end of parking lot for the paper discovery place. I did multiple laps about 7 or 8 laps. I would ferry across getting into to the main flow just after the large pillars on river and before the break wall. Good wave train to throw kick flips or free wheels. Right at the end of break wall on river left lining up with the river right pillar seemed to be a good wave but it would surge and crash making it hard to get a solid surf in. Levels where about 5,000cfs. I rolled in the main current no rocks or anything but overall its not that deep not sure what it's like in the main flow on depth but especially once you get past the end of the brake wall making a swim or rolling more risky. No one complained or said anything regarding staying 500ft away from the dam which I clearly broke that rule.