Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin

Big Eau Pleine River

Cherokee Park to March Rapids Park

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Today

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Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distance 9.2 mi Cherokee Park to March Rapids Park

Difficulty moderate Frequent Class I rapids, boulder gardens, and several Class II or Class II+ rapids make this an intermediate moving-water route. At higher water, the rapids get pushy quickly and should be treated as a whitewater decision rather than a casual float.

Shuttle Car shuttle Use a two-car shuttle between Cherokee Park on County Road N and March Rapids Park on County Road P. The road shuttle is manageable, but this is a level-sensitive river, so check the Stratford gauge before leaving the take-out vehicle.

Permits None noted No route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow posted Marathon County park rules at Cherokee Park and March Rapids Park, and avoid private banks along the rural middle corridor.

Camping Day trip No on-route camping is documented for this day section. Treat the trip as a day paddle unless separately planning a legal county-park or private campground stay.

Season Apr-Oct This is a rain-window river. Wisconsin River Trips repeatedly describes the Big Eau Pleine as a Goldilocks stream that rises and drains quickly; spring and the day or two after rain are the most likely runnable windows.

Plan

Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.

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Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch below the Cherokee Park dam and paddle the Big Eau Pleine through the Cherokee-to-Hazelnut boulder gardens and the wooded Hazelnut-to-March Rapids reach. Take out at March Rapids Park after scouting or running the park rapids.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Start

Put-in

Cherokee Park Open map

Cherokee Park is a Marathon County park with river access, vault restrooms, picnic facilities, and trails; use the river access below the dam rather than launching above the impoundment.

Finish

Take-out

March Rapids Park Open map

March Rapids Park has paths above and below the rapids, so scout during the shuttle and decide whether to take out above the rapids or finish by running them.

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Access caveats

Cherokee Park is a Marathon County park with river access, vault restrooms, picnic facilities, and trails; use the river access below the dam rather than launching above the impoundment.
March Rapids Park has paths above and below the rapids, so scout during the shuttle and decide whether to take out above the rapids or finish by running them.
Hazelnut Road is a possible bailout but is only a gravel-road bridge access with poison ivy and limited comfort; the cleaner planned take-out is March Rapids Park.

Watch for

Bumpy rapids, shallow boulder slots, and walking risk below about 150 cfs on the Stratford gauge.
Class II or Class II+ rapids two miles above March Rapids, with the best line reported along the left; scout before running.
March Rapids at the take-out, which is scenic and scoutable but still deserves attention before tired paddlers commit.
Fast current under low branches, strainers, and rapidly changing levels after rain on this flashy rocky watershed.

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Sources

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Why this score Today's data confidence is checking

Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the score Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge site	Big Eau Pleine River at Stratford, WI
Discharge	Checking
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24h trend	Checking
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Rain last 24h	Checking
Rain last 72h	Checking
Air temp	Checking
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Target band	151 cfs to 250 cfs
Low threshold	100 cfs
High threshold	301 cfs
Data confidence behind the range	Local route guidance
Gauge observed	Checking
Paddle Today updated	Checking
Main source behind this score	Wisconsin River Trips Big Eau Pleine River gauge guidance
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Notes What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

Public put-in Cherokee Park

Marathon County lists Cherokee Park at 108042 County Road N in Colby as a 69-acre county park with fishing access, vault restrooms, trails, and the Big Eau Pleine River running through the park.

Source
Public take-out March Rapids Park

Wisconsin River Trips describes March Rapids Park as a public park take-out with pull-off space, outhouses, and fishing paths above and below March Rapids.

Source
Endpoint coordinates Cherokee 44.9046882, -90.2226348; March Rapids 44.8507988, -90.1498549

AnyplaceAmerica publishes USGS/topographic-place coordinates for Cherokee Park and March Rapids County Park; Marathon County corroborates Cherokee Park as the public access park.

Source
Direct gauge USGS 05399500

USGS operates the Big Eau Pleine River at Stratford gauge downstream on the same river, and Wisconsin River Trips uses this gauge for the Cherokee, Hazelnut, and March Rapids route family.

Source
Gauge ladder 151-250 cfs best normal window

Wisconsin River Trips gives route-family guidance: under 100 cfs likely too shallow, 101-150 cfs runnable with bumps, 151-200 cfs good, 201-250 cfs also good, 251-300 cfs high but manageable for experienced paddlers, and 301+ cfs whitewater/high-water territory.

Source
Route character About 9.2 miles with many rapids

Wisconsin River Trips rates Cherokee-to-Hazelnut as a fantastic 3.1-mile leg with clear water and boulder gardens, then Hazelnut-to-March Rapids as a 6.1-mile wooded leg with multiple boulder gardens and significant Class II rapids.

Source
High-water caution 301+ cfs changes the audience

Wisconsin River Trips says 301-400 cfs is high for recreational paddlers but good for whitewater paddlers, 401-500 cfs is likely only for whitewater paddlers, and 501+ cfs is very high and only for very experienced whitewater paddlers.

Source

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Quick answers

Big Eau Pleine River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Big Eau Pleine River?

Paddle Today watches Big Eau Pleine River at Stratford, WI and treats 151 cfs to 250 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Big Eau Pleine River route start and end?

This route starts at Cherokee Park and ends at March Rapids Park, about 9.2 mi on the water.

Is this Big Eau Pleine River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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