Flambeau River facts for kids
The Flambeau River is a cool river in northern Wisconsin, United States. It's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one called the Chippewa River. The Chippewa River then joins the huge upper Mississippi River. The Flambeau River covers a large area of about 1,860 square miles (4,817 square kilometers). It starts high up, around 1,570 feet (478 meters) above sea level, and flows down to about 1,060 feet (323 meters). Many people love to visit the Flambeau River for fun outdoor activities. It's especially famous among canoeists in the Midwest because it has amazing scenery, great fishing, and exciting whitewater rapids. You can plan short day trips, overnight camping adventures, or even week-long journeys on the river and its different parts.
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What Does "Flambeau" Mean?
The name Flambeau comes from a French word that means "torch." Many places in Wisconsin have French names. This is because early French explorers, trappers, and traders came to this area a long time ago. A popular story says that these early explorers saw the local Ojibwe (also called Chippewa) people fishing at night using torches to see in the dark.
Where Does the Flambeau River Start?
The Flambeau River actually begins with two main parts, like two arms reaching out. These are called the North Fork and the South Fork. Both of them start in north-central Wisconsin. They generally flow southwest until they meet, forming the main Flambeau River. This main river then continues southwest until it joins the Chippewa River near Bruce, Wisconsin.
The North Fork is created when two other rivers, the Manitowish and Bear rivers, come together. This happens just above a large reservoir called the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. The South Fork starts from a lake called Round Lake in northeastern Price County, Wisconsin.
Some other important streams that flow into the Flambeau River include the Turtle River, which joins the North Fork, and the Elk River, which flows into the South Fork. Swamp Creek is the biggest of 23 smaller streams that feed into the Flambeau River.
While the South Fork flows freely below a small dam at Round Lake, the North Fork and the main river have several dams. These dams create small lakes, which locals call "flowages." Below the dam that forms the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, the North Fork has three more dams between Park Falls and Oxbo. On the main Flambeau River, after the two forks meet, there are four more dams: Big Falls Dam, Rural Electric Agency Dam (Dairyland Reservoir), Ladysmith (Papermill Dam), and the Thornapple Dam.
Towns Along the River
A few towns are located along the Flambeau River. You'll find Park Falls and Oxbo along the North Fork. Fifield and Lugerville are near the South Fork. Ladysmith is the only city directly on the main Flambeau River. Most of the river flows through quiet, remote areas. These areas are mostly covered by forests that have grown back over time. You won't find many roads or easy ways to get to the river in these parts.
Fun on the Water: Canoeing and Kayaking
The Flambeau River is most famous as a fantastic place for canoeing. Both the North and South Forks can be canoed from where they start. However, most trips begin further downstream. Popular starting points are near Oxbo on the North Fork or Lugerville on the South Fork. Trips usually end before the Big Falls Flowage on the main river. For much of its length, the Flambeau River and its forks flow through the beautiful Flambeau River State Forest.
The North Fork in this area is considered Class I to II for whitewater rafting. This means it has some easy rapids and a few medium ones, perfect for most paddlers. Some well-known rapids here are Wannigan and Flambeau Falls. The South Fork is a bit more challenging, with rapids up to Class III. This means it has more difficult rapids that require good paddling skills. There's also a spot called Little Falls where you might need to carry your boat around. Famous rapids on the South Fork include Stonewall, Big Bull, Slough Gundy, and Scratch. After the two forks join, the main Flambeau River is Class II down to the Big Falls Flowage. Notable rapids on the main Flambeau are Cedar and Beaver Dam.
Animals and Fish
The Flambeau River system is a very important home for many fish and other water animals. It's especially known as a great place to fish for smallmouth bass and muskellunge (often called muskie).
