Private Bridge To Highway 55 river run
Private Bridge To Highway 55
The total distance of this segment is approximately 6 miles, with several notable rapids and obstacles along the way. The first rapid, known as "The Inflatable Slide," is a Class III rapid featuring a steep drop followed by a large wave train. Another challenging rapid is "The S-Turn," a Class IV drop with tight turns and large holes.
It is important for kayakers and rafters to note that this section of the Whitewater River is private property, and access to the river is only granted with permission from the landowner. Additionally, all watercraft must be registered with the state of Illinois and follow regulations set forth by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Overall, the Private Bridge to Highway 55 segment of the Whitewater River offers exciting rapids and challenging obstacles for experienced kayakers and rafters, but it is important to respect private property rights and follow all regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Plan your run down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram; rain ahead of a run typically lifts flows 12-48 hours later depending on the basin.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- the upstream story that drives next week's flows.
Regional streamflow levels
USGS streamgauges around Private Bridge To Highway 55 -- useful for spotting upstream pulses and gauging which tributary is contributing what.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Iron River At County Hwy-424 At Caspian | 75 cfs | → |
| Popple River Near Fence | 60 cfs | → |
| Brule River At Us Highway 2 Near Florence | 296 cfs | → |
| Muskellunge Ck-Muskellunge L Otl-Nr Eagle River | 2 cfs | → |
| Paint River Nr Alpha | 413 cfs | → |
| Muskellunge Creek Near St. Germain | 9 cfs | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest boat launches, other paddle runs, and campgrounds so a day on the water can grow into a full weekend.
Boat launches
- Stevens Lake -- Access
- Butternut Lake -- Northeast Access Nr National Forest Rd 2140
- Butternut Lake -- Access At Far South - Nr 4 Duck Lake
- Long Lake -- Access At N End Lk Off Settlement Rd
- Franklin Lake - Access Adjacent To Us Forest Svc Campground
- Brule River -- Access
Other river runs
- Forest Road 2174 To Private Bridge
- North Branch--Butternut Lake To Confluence With Main Branch
- Highway 55 To Forest Road 2169
- Main Branch--Headwaters To Forest Road 2174
- 1/4 Mile West Of Highway 55 To Confluence With Main Branch
Campgrounds
- Windsor Dam Campground
- Stevens Lake Recreation Area
- Stevens Lake Campground
- Luna White Deer Campground
- Luna - White Deer Lake Recreation Area
- Franklin Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Parks
Whitewater safety
- Check the flow before you run
- Use the linked-gauge card and Regional Flow panel above. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV+ at high water.
- Know your skill ceiling
- Pick runs comfortably below your ceiling. Cold-water and big-water runs raise the consequences of any mistake.
- Wear the right gear
- Helmet, PFD, drysuit / wetsuit when water is below 60°F. Throw bag, knife, and whistle on your person, not in the boat.
- Scout, set safety, and run with a team
- Scout new rapids on foot, set safety with throw bags above the consequence pool, and run with at least one other competent paddler.
- Respect the river
- Strainers, undercuts, low-head dams, and wood can kill at any class rating. When in doubt, portage.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Private Bridge To Highway 55 as a favorite, set a discharge threshold (e.g. "alert me when flow hits 600 cfs"), and the iOS app pushes the moment the linked gauge crosses.
About Private Bridge To Highway 55
What's the optimal flow for Private Bridge To Highway 55?
The optimal flow depends on the section and the craft. Check the Run Details panel for the linked gauge and current status.
How fresh is the cfs reading on this page?
The linked USGS streamgauge reports continuously (every 15 minutes); Snoflo refreshes throughout the day. Hover the streamflow sparkline to read individual datapoints.
What's the whitewater class?
See the Run Details panel for the class rating Snoflo tracks for this run. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV in high water.
Where do I put in / take out?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions to the put-in. For shuttle planning, check the Nearby Boat Launches panel and the river run operator's site.
Can I get alerts when flows hit the optimal range?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this run, set a discharge threshold, and you'll get a push the moment the gauge crosses.
Other runs near here
Snoflo-tracked paddle runs within driving distance of Private Bridge To Highway 55.