Black River- canoe trail

Specific to Ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin there is a 2 mile stretch from Neillsville North Side to Listeman Arboretum. The length of this canoe/kayak trail is 2 miles with an approximate duration of 45 minutes. The gradient is 5 feet per mile. At typical late spring/early summer flows, this stretch is very rocky and difficult to navigate. At higher flows, this stretch likely has several Class I-II or higher rapids. A small public island is adjacent to the put-in. Two small public islands are on the right and left sides of the river, just beyond a bend to the right.

The entire stretch of the Black River from State Highway 29 to 10 within Clark County is almost entirely wooded and contains several scenic bluffs. Depending on the flow, this stretch has many challenging rapids but it also contains enchanting backwaters and deep, calm sections. Along the way, about 25 of the islands visitors will encounter are public, managed by the U.S. Bureau Land Management (BLM).

The Black River is subject to large fluctuations in water level and flow rate. High spring flows and heavy summer rains produce rapids around the river’s large bounders, while typical summertime dry periods render some parts of the river non-navigable to even the lightest kayaks. For safety reasons, visitors should get current information on the water level and flow rate from the US Geological Survey’s website, which includes water date taken from the gauge at Neillsville.

Source: Clark County Tourism Bureau Paddling the Black River brochure