While the gauge is located about two miles upstream of the listed put-in, and a pair of dams intervene, they have virtually no 'regulation' on the flow.

Put-in Wave

Put-in Wave

Photo by Rob Smage taken 04/28/09

We usually park on the street and carry upstream just a bit to put in just behind the Silver Creek Brewpub. A small ledge/wave midstream can provide some minor entertainment (surfing and attainments) before heading down the first drop.

By the way, some folks may 'eye' the dam just upstream. While I am aware of at least one claim of having run it (supposedly 'accidentally', though that's hard to imagine), it cannot be recommended. The 'landing zone' contains shallow bedrock (at least in places), making boat damage and injury likely. Unless you are very skilled and confident of nailing a boof, or unless you have 'plumbed' the base of the drop (by going in there at minimal flows and walking/swimming the base of the dam), we strongly recommend that you should not attempt running this dam. (Besides, it is so much easier to put in below it than above it.).

City Park Ledge

City Park Ledge

Photo by Rob Smage taken 04/28/09

A nice set of ledges (maybe 4-5' of drop in 15' or so of river) provide a somewhat exciting start to the run. Minor play is possible here at certain levels, though always rather limited by shallowness and vertical stone walls constricting the stream.

***NON RUNNABLE***

Take out river-right, at a landing upstream of the bridge, to portage this dam. You will carry across the road and through the back yard of a private home. Please be respectful of the property. It would be best (as a formality) to stop by (while you are scouting or shuttling, before putting in) and notify the owner (if they are home) about what you are doing (boating the river) and ask permission to (carefully, and respectfully) carry through their backyard to continue downriver.

We will not discount the possibility that some properly skilled (or significantly lucky) boater may be able to successfully run this dam (and paddle away, without injury). However, the 'landing zone' is almost uniformly shallow (at most water levels), and (at higher water levels) there will be a nasty boil-line with shoreline eddies pulling strongly back towards the dam. Thus, we must consider and represent that this dam (for all intents and purposes) should be considered UNRUNNABLE.

Some sloping bedrock and minor ledges create a short sequence of waves, which can allow some minor play at low-to-moderate levels. At levels from 600-1600+ cfs, these build up quite nicely to provide really nice surfs. Somewhere about 2000 cfs and higher, these almost totally wash out, and there is little reason to do the whole run.

While this has been run (at lower water levels, around 300 cfs, +/-), most boaters will opt to portage, river-right. One has to pass (boat and body) through a fence, bushwhack a bit, and carefully make their way down a steep bank to get back on stream.

For anyone considering running the dam, be aware that the right bank (in the 'landing zone') angles in considerably, so you want to be at least 10-15' off the right flank of the dam to avoid a hard piton on landing. Rescue would be difficult here since it is not easy for anyone to get near the river at the base of the dam. Anyone caught in the boil-line (at higher flows) would be in serious trouble.

A rocky outrun from the dam creates some strong currents down through a vertical walled dells. Some minor play may be possible within this area.

Increasing gradient leads down to a bridge-pier which constricts the creek, and a wave forms alongside. Boaters need to have good skills (particularly as flow increases) to catch a river-left eddy under the  bridge to do any repeat play here. Minor play is available as low as 100 cfs (though all else will be extremely boney). Play increases as levels rise, and sweet surfs are available on a powerful fast wave from 600-1600+ cfs, though it will never really allow much for the 'rodeo boater' crowd.

A small ledge creates a minor wave here at many flows. Minor surfing play is possible.

A bit of rocky outcropping on shore, and a few rocks and bedrock in the creek, make (at some flows) a small, sometimes surfable wave tight to river-left. This is pretty much the 'last hurrah', the final real whitewater feature. From here down, the creek is pretty much just splishy-splash shoals and swiftwater.

A bridge spans the river at this point (though I'm not sure for what reason just yet . . . maybe for future development). At lower flows boaters will encounter shallow shoals through this area. Above 'maximum recommended flow' this bridge may become a hazard (too low to the water).

As an aside, just downstream of here (but still before the island), Cedar Creek is within 1/3 mile of the Milwaukee River (at Grafton Dells). However, the creek meanders another 3.3 miles before its confluence with the Milwaukee River, downstream of CTH.C. I can't help but think about how the 3.3 miles of low gradient might have been condensed into 1/3 mile of high gradient if the creek had managed to run a shorter route into the Milwaukee River at this location.

A large island (for such a relatively small creek) splits the flow.

The (historically) main channel is off to the left, but often contains deadfall which requires significant skill and maneuvering to avoid problems. Since there is no real gradient remaining (no rapids), and since this route is longer and so prone to snags, this left channel is NOT RECOMMENDED.

To the right lies an 'overflow' channel, which is the PREFERRED ROUTE. It is shorter, straighter, less prone to snags, and generally less problematic navigation.

Do be aware that just after the island, after rejoining the flow from the main channel, there is a large deadfall. While there is adequate passage, some attention and maneuvering will be necessary.

In the 'flow shadow' of a private island (with foot-bridge from private yard), there is generally sufficient depth and some fairly interesting currents (at higher water levels) to allow some playing with stern-squirts and bow-stalls.

While one could proceed downstream, the gradient has largely petered-out at this point. And, it's tough to beat a 2.2 mile run, with only a 0.8 mile shuttle.