Clam River (Wisconsin) facts for kids

The Clam River is a 63.4-mile (102 km) long river in northwestern Wisconsin, United States. It is a tributary (a smaller river that flows into a larger one) of the St. Croix River. In the past, people knew it by names like Kayeskikan, Kiesca-seba, and "Shell River".

The North Fork of the Clam River starts as a small stream in western Washburn County. It flows through wetlands (swampy areas) west of Shell Lake. The river quickly gets bigger as many trout streams join it. These include Krantz Creek, the South Fork of the Clam River, Sand Creek, Spencer Creek, Indian Creek, Clam River Springs, and Bass Lake Springs. The river becomes much wider after Spencer Creek joins it.

There are three working dams on the Clam River. One is on the South Fork in Clam Falls. Another is at Clam Dam County Park near Webster. The third dam is just before the river flows into the St. Croix River. The St. Croix River is considered one of Wisconsin's "big rivers" after the Clam River joins it.

Exploring the Clam River's Past

People have lived near the Clam River for almost 1,500 years. We know this from old sites linked to the Woodland Period culture. These sites include burial mounds, special sacred places, and old village spots. Most of these are on private land today.

Ancient History Along the River

Scientists have studied the burial mounds near Spencer and Clam Lakes. They found that these mounds were built around 500-700 AD. This was near the end of the Middle Woodland Period. These findings help us understand the ancient people who lived here.

Stories from the Logging Era

Many other interesting historical places are found along the Clam River. One example is the old Arbuckle House and Logging Dam. This house was a resting place for travelers on the old Mail Road. This road connected Stillwater to La Pointe.

Several logging dams also existed on the river. These dams show how important the river was for moving logs during the logging era. In 1886, a dam on the Clam River was damaged. This event helped cause a huge log jam on the St. Croix River.

The log jam became over two miles long. It was one of the biggest log jams ever in the area. An estimated 125 to 150 million board feet of pine logs got stuck. About 15 million feet of these logs came from the Clam River.

Fun and Recreation on the Clam River

The Clam River and some of its smaller streams are known as Class I trout streams. This means they are high-quality waters where wild trout can live and reproduce naturally.

Fishing for Trout and More

You can find some of the best trout fishing on public land. This is usually within 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km) of where the river starts. Other types of fish that like warmer water can also be found in the river. You can also find them in the lakes and flowages (areas where water is held back by a dam) that the river passes through.

Paddling Adventures

Most of the Clam River is good for canoeing or kayaking. However, some parts of the river might have "snags." These are fallen trees or branches that can block your path.

In 2011, a big windstorm hit the area. It caused a lot of damage and knocked down thousands of trees. Many of these trees fell right into the river. This made the number of snags in the river much higher.

Cities and Towns Along the Clam River

• Indian Creek, Wisconsin
• Clam Falls, Wisconsin