Black River (WI) - Black River Falls to to North Bend 

I wasn't able to do it this year due to cover-19 concerns, but most years I try to run Robinson, Halls, and Morrison Creeks in the spring time. Hopefully I'll be able to get there in 2021.

I didn't save my unedited video, so I don't have any more video of the small rapids by Hawk Island. When I ran this section, the water level was pretty low (~250cfs), so this rapids was very tame. The waves likely get bigger at higher water levels. But there is not a lot of gradient here, so it's likely OK unless water levels get crazy high. I see the Wisconsin Trails Guide recommends levels between 200cfs and 3000cfs: wisconsintrailguide.com/paddle/black-river-cormican.html You can check the water levels here: waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/053813595 Have fun on your trip.

Life got in the way this year, so I haven't been able to do much paddling in 2023. I do however have a big backlog of videos I need to edit from trips I did in 2022 (e.g. Missouri/Arkansas, Texas/Mexico, several trips in northern Wisconsin, and 4 trips to Ontario). Hopefully I'll have some time to do some editing this fall/winter. I like my SRT on rivers where I don't have to worry about bashing into rocks or dragging over gravel, but I feel like I have to baby it. I have a couple of friends that have a Phoenix. I slightly prefer the way the Phoenix handles over the SRT and I really like Northstar's IXP layup. I wish I could meld the volume of the SRT with the handling and IXP layup of the Phoenix.

@@dunordable my Phoenix is in IXP as well as my B17 and Northwind Solo that I’m selling right now. Very durable layup I know a guy who paddles an Ocoee in that layup up to class 4. Wish I could go on the trips you have. Looking forward to those videos.

Here is a link to a description of the Irving to Melrose section from wisconsintrailguide.com: wisconsintrailguide.com/paddle/black-river-hansen.html. It says in part "The lower Black is well-known for its large number of inviting, sandy beaches and its shallow, sandy river bottom. Overnight camping on any of the beaches is fun and free."

The Black is a pretty "flashy" river by Wisconsin standards. There aren't a lot of swamps or wetlands in the watershed to moderate the flow, so it tends to rise and fall faster than many rivers in the state.. Typically, I'd say it tends to return to close to base flows within a few days after it rains. You can check the flows on the Black on the following USGS gages: Neillsville 05381000 BRF 053813595 Galesville 05382000