Embarrass, Wisconsin, US

Hayman Falls (0.5 mile)

Entrance to Hayman

Entrance to Hayman
Photo by Bryan taken 04/04/09 @ 643 cfs

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
EMBARRASS RIVER NEAR EMBARRASS, WI
usgs-04078500	600 - 4000 cfs	I-II	65d12h56m	190 cfs (rc= -0.7 )
	Probably too low for any reasonable whitewater.

River Description

This is essentially one half-mile rapid (I.E., not a true falls as the name implies), and is most often run as a companion piece to some of the other short runs in the area. After entering the park, drive to the end of the parking lot and carry up the hill. You may notice a sign reading "Dam" on the far side of the river near the put-in. This is about the only remainder of the former hydroelectric dam that was at this location.

The rapids sequence starts with minor bedrock intrusions which form several tame surfing waves (one of which is usually wide enough to entertain three or four boaters at once). Just downstream the river drops off a sloping ledge of about 5' and slams into a large boulder near center stream. Normally this is run to the right but there is an eddy to the left at the bottom if you're up for the ferry across the face of the rock.

After a brief recovery zone, the river tilts downhill again through some boulders. The second set are nicely offset, making for an interesting variety of lines. At high flows, these boulders become pourovers that you'll probably want to avoid. Just downstream, the river bends to the right, with wood often collecting in the outside of the bend (a potential hazard to be aware of especially if someone swims). As the river approaches the bridge into the park, it eases back into the lazy mode it has along much of it's length. Take-out on the right upstream of the bridge and, if you're like us, you'll probably want to carry back up and do it again.

As this reach is fairly short, you may wish to combine it with one or more of these other reaches which are close by for a Shawano County double or triple header.

• Tigerton Dells
• Rocky Run
• Upper Red
• Lower Red