Canoeing the Popple River,
Wisconsin
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Expert paddler Mike Svob
has been canoeing and kayaking the rivers of the Midwest for 30 years.
He paddled more than a thousand miles to complete these books. Below
are brief descriptions of the canoe trips that Mike goes into detail
with in his books with maps. The maps are very useful, showing rapids,
take in and take out points and other things of interest. |
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Popple 1-Forest
Road 2398 to Forest Road 2159-Florence
County-10.8 miles. This section of
river is very narrow, swift and isolated,
with many Class I-II rapids. Much
of the first section is in the Nicolet
National Forest where camping is permitted,
but there is also considerable private
property. Water levels are usually
best in April, May or early June.
Put in at the FR 2398 Bridge downstream
left where there is room for a couple
of cars. The river begins fairly wideand
deep. About a half mile downstream
a long series of Class I-II rocky
pitches begins.These are narrow, winding
and enjoyable, but be on guard for
deadfall. A lowland area follows.
Near the mouth of Morgan Creek at
5.3 miles Burnt Dam Rapids begins
with a short narrow boulder garden.
A long winding more difficult boulder
garden starts a quarter mile upstream
from the first 2159 bridge at 5.8
miles. At 8.2 miles at the mouth of
Rock Creek there is an island in the
middle of the right hand bend. The
main (left) channel has a 600 yard
Class II rapids with a fairly steep
grade. Take out downstream from the
second 2159 bridge. A small parking
area is located there.
Popple 2-Forest
Road 2159 to Hwy. 101-Florence County-12.2
miles. This is a marvelously varied
section that includes 4 major drops.
Put in at the 2159 bridge. About a
quarter mile downstream is the approach
of Little Bull Falls. Get out on the
left and scout this Class III drop.
There is a 4 foot drop with several
hundred yards of tight, winding Class
II boulder gardens. Almost a mile
of flatwater follows ending at another
long set of Class II rapids.After
another stretch of quietwater there
is an almost continuous succession
of Class II rapids, all the way to
Big Bull Falls. Be on the look out
for an island, the river splits with
7 foot Class III drops on both sides,
There is a portage path on the left.
You pass by Hwy. 101 and reach Class
III Washburn Falls at 7.2 miles. It
can be scouted from a trail on the
right. There is a long flatwater stretch
after this until you reach Jennings
Falls at 9.7 miles. This Class II-III
drop can be scouted on the right.
After another 1.3 miles of flatwater
the Popple flows into the Pine. At
this point you have to buck the current
1 1/4 miles up the Pine to the Hwy.
101 bridge.
