Wisconsin | Northeast Wisconsin

Pike River

Yellow Bridge Landing to Grogan Road Landing

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Difficulty hard Wisconsin Trail Guide calls Yellow Bridge Falls a short Class III run with 2- to 5-foot drops, a long rocky Class II runout, and a river-wide ledge. This route is for experienced whitewater paddlers who are comfortable scouting, portaging, and managing private-bank constraints.
Permits None noted No route-specific paddling permit is known. Use the named landings, keep scouting and portaging tight to the riverbank near private land, and follow posted Wild River and road-access rules.
Camping Day trip No on-route campsite is documented for this short lower Pike run. Treat it as a technical day route and use separate public campground planning if staying in the area.
Season Apr-Oct Target spring or fall runoff windows, or summer only after recent rain. The Pike is rainfall and snowmelt dependent, and this lower route is less forgiving than the upstream novice-whitewater day because Yellow Bridge Falls gets bony at low water and pushy at high water.

Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.

Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Yellow Bridge Landing, scout the Yellow Bridge Falls short-run, then continue past Pike River Road access points to Grogan Road Landing at the Menominee River confluence. This is the advanced lower-Pike companion to the longer Amberg-to-Yellow-Bridge route.

Start

Put-in

Yellow Bridge Landing Open map

Yellow Bridge Landing is on river left above Barker Road and just above the falls sequence. It is a hand-carry access reached by a footpath from a small parking area.

Finish

Take-out

Grogan Road Landing Open map

Pike River Road Landing sits just below the final Yellow Bridge Rapids drop and can be hard to spot in heavy underbrush. Use it as a bailout only if you identify it during scouting or from the road first.

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Access caveats

  • Yellow Bridge Landing is on river left above Barker Road and just above the falls sequence. It is a hand-carry access reached by a footpath from a small parking area.
  • Pike River Road Landing sits just below the final Yellow Bridge Rapids drop and can be hard to spot in heavy underbrush. Use it as a bailout only if you identify it during scouting or from the road first.
  • Grogan Road Landing is a developed ramp on river right at the Menominee River confluence. Confirm the exit before continuing into the border-river current.

Watch for

  • Class III Yellow Bridge Falls immediately below the put-in, with 2- to 5-foot drops, a rocky Class II runout, and a river-wide ledge.
  • Private land along the falls scout and portage area. Wisconsin Trail Guide says to stay along the riverbank.
  • Bony rocks and pin potential below the 3.5 ft practical falls window, and pushy waves that may overpower intermediates above 4.6 ft.
  • Cold water, deadfall, limited quick exits, and the transition into the Menominee River confluence near the take-out.

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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

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

Gauge site Pike River at Amberg, WI
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Target band 3.50 ft to 4.60 ft
Low threshold 2.90 ft
High threshold 5.00 ft
Data confidence behind the range Local route guidance
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Main source behind this score Wisconsin Trail Guide Pike River Yellow Bridge Falls level guidance
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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.

  • Route shape 4.8 miles; advanced short-run plus lower river

    Wisconsin Trail Guide maps Yellow Bridge Landing at mile 4.8, Pike River Road Landing below the falls, Pike River Road Bridge Landing at mile 1.6, and Grogan Road Landing at the Menominee confluence.

    Source

  • Direct same-river gauge USGS 04066500 at Amberg

    Wisconsin Trail Guide references the Pike River at Amberg gauge for this Pike River guide and says it should indicate current conditions for the reach family; USGS identifies the site as Pike River at Amberg, WI.

    Source

  • Falls window 3.5 to 4.6 ft

    The guide says Yellow Bridge Falls develops fun waves at the high end of 3.5-4.1 ft and pushy waves at the high end of 4.1-4.6 ft. Below that it can be bony, while 4.6-5.0 ft may overpower intermediates.

    Source

  • High-water ceiling 5.0+ ft not recommended

    Wisconsin Trail Guide lists 5.0+ ft as rare, unusually high flow where paddling is not recommended.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates 45.47494, -87.87593 to 45.44202, -87.85582

    Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes NAD83 / WGS84 coordinates for Yellow Bridge Landing and Grogan Road Landing in the Pike River guide.

    Source

  • Access details Hand-carry put-in; trailer-ramp take-out

    The guide describes Yellow Bridge Landing as a hand-carry access with parking and Grogan Road Landing as a developed ramp with parking and trailer turnaround at the Menominee confluence.

    Source

  • Hazards Yellow Bridge Falls, private banks, boulder gardens

    Scout or portage Yellow Bridge Falls from river left while staying along the riverbank because nearby land is private. Expect 2- to 5-foot drops, a rocky Class II runout, and a ledge before easier lower miles.

    Source

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Pike River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Pike River?

Paddle Today watches Pike River at Amberg, WI and treats 3.50 ft to 4.60 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Pike River route start and end?

This route starts at Yellow Bridge Landing and ends at Grogan Road Landing, about 4.8 mi on the water.

Is this Pike River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.