Popple - B)Morgan Lake Rd to Pine River (11.2 miles)


Popple, Wisconsin, US

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B)Morgan Lake Rd to Pine River (11.2 miles)

Usual Difficulty II-III+ (varies with level)
Length 11.2 Miles
Avg. Gradient 15 fpm
Max Gradient 40 fpm

Big Bull


Big Bull
Photo of Right side channel by Walt Ruben taken 04/26/08 @ 639

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
POPPLE RIVER NEAR FENCE, WI
usgs-04063700 200 - 1000 cfs I(II) 63d20h53m 42 cfs (rc= -0.7 )
Too low for reasonable whitewater. (May be paddled as a scenic float trip, but all gradient will be a scrape or carry.) Gauge (139 sq.mi. drainage) is at listed put-in, thus is accurate for flows in this reach.


River Description

The nature of this reach is short bursts of whitewater, separated by scenic quietwater floats. Much of the whitewater is rockbed with some small ledges interspersed at the named drops.

Drops include Little Bull Falls(II), Big Bull Falls(II-III), Washburn Falls(III), and Jennings Falls(III). None of these are "falls" in the traditional, vertical sense. Little Bull is a curved ledge, which can become quite a sticky, boiling pourover. (It claimed a life 2008.06.14, at 340 cfs.) Big Bull, Washburn, and Jennings are much more 'rapids' than 'falls'.

The run is commonly abbreviated to 5.1 miles by using the wayside park at the Hwy 101 bridge as a take-out.


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2010-11-20 13:14:11

Little bull

Detail Trip Report  Little bull  Popple, WI(744.35KB .jpeg)

Big Bull

Detail Trip Report  Big Bull  Popple, WI(744.38KB .jpeg)

Little Bull 09 WR

Detail Trip Report  Little Bull 09 WR  Popple River, WI(400.54KB .jpeg)

WR Big Bull 09

Detail Trip Report  WR Big Bull 09  Popple River, WI(395.38KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The stage may be read on site at the Hwy 101 bridge over the Popple, in the middle of this reach. Relative flow may also be judged from the small rapid just downstream of the Morgan Lake Rd bridge.

Offseason ("Ice") gauge conversions:

4.18 = 499 cfs

4.00 = 417 cfs

3.50 = 269 cfs

3.21 = 201 cfs

3.00 = 160 cfs

Gauge/flow analysis based on data from 1963-10-01 to 2008-05-11
Drainage area at gauge139 sq.mi.
Minimum mean daily flow during stated period10 cfs (1989.08.12)
90% of time flow exceeds33 cfs
10% of time flow exceeds246 cfs
Maximum mean daily flow during stated period1,610 cfs (1979.04.25)
10/90 ratio ('flashy-ness')
(under 3 is fairly steady, over 10 is quite 'flashy')		7.45
Average days per year over recommended 'low' threshold 51
Average days per year over recommended 'high' threshold 1

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
POPPLE RIVER NEAR FENCE, WI
usgs-04063700 200 - 1000 cfs I(II) 63d20h53m 42 cfs (rc= -0.7 )
Too low for reasonable whitewater. (May be paddled as a scenic float trip, but all gradient will be a scrape or carry.)
Gauge (139 sq.mi. drainage) is at listed put-in, thus is accurate for flows in this reach.
RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
0 - 100 cfs extremely Low-somewhat Low I(II) Too low for reasonable whitewater. (May be paddled as a scenic float trip, but all gradient will be a scrape or carry.)
100 - 200 cfs somewhat Low-barely Low I-II Very low, minimal whitewater. (May be paddled as a scenic float trip, but rapids will likely be a scrape.)
200 - 400 cfs barely runnable-med runnable II-III Reasonable low-to-moderate flows.
400 - 600 cfs med runnable-a bit pushy runnable II-III+ Moderate flows. Holes will likely get a bit aggressive (sticky). Scouting drops is recommended.
600 -1000 cfs a bit pushy runnable-high runnable II-III+ High flow! Expect good wave-trains. Scout the drops. Holes will be quite aggressive.
1000 -1500 cfs somewhat High-somewhat High II-III+(IV) Unusually high flows. Caution is urged.
1500 -2000 cfs somewhat High-extremely High II-III+(IV) (Near) Record flows. Utmost caution urged.

Report - Reports of Popple B)Morgan Lake Rd to Pine River (11.2 miles) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
2y292d06h07m Popple River [WI] WR Big Bull 09 300 Walt Ruben
3y291d06h07m Popple [WI] Big Bull 639 Walt Ruben

WXPort

News





User Comments
2008-06-18 02:41:19 (1333 days ago)
A lone boater died here ther weekend of June 14, 2008. Body found just below little bull falls.
http://wcco.com/wisconsinwire/22.0.html?type=local&state=wi&category=n&filename=WI--KayakingDeath.xml Edit
2008-04-28 05:23:25 (1383 days ago)
As of 4/26/2008, the Popple was running great this last weekend. Carefull of a large tree on the
left side of Washburn Falls. Safer routes on the right sides of Little and Big Bull falls. Edit
2006-05-22 16:00:09 (2090 days ago)
Bill BarclayDetails
As of 5/13/06 there was a large limb hanging down into the chute through Big Bull Falls. Check
before you run this or bring a saw.
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0Little Bull FallsII+Photo
0.0Big Bull FallsII+Photo
0.0Jennings Falls (AKA Popple Rapids)III
0.0Washburn FallsIII

Rapid Descriptions

Little Bull Falls (Class II+)

Little bull

Little bull
Photo of Little Bull - Spring 2008 by Walt Ruben taken 04/26/08 @ 639

This 'falls' is really nothing more than a short, curved (somewhat horse-shoe shaped) ledge. It can, however, form a quite aggressive hole at moderate-to-high flows. For experienced whitewater boaters (with safety set -- someone on shore with a rope) this could be a fine spot to practice hole-escape techniques, as it gets REAL retentive! (Not recommended as a playspot.)



Big Bull Falls (Class II+)

WR Big Bull 09

WR Big Bull 09
Photo by Walt Ruben taken 04/25/09 @ 300

An island splits the flow. To the left is a narrow, generally congested (rocky) channel. The the right (the usual route) is a wider channel which trips across a double-ledge.




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 B)Morgan Lake Rd to Pine River (11.2 miles), Popple Wisconsin, US (mobile)