Their really isn't a lot of information available about the East Fork of the Chippewa River. However, with its proximity to the famed smallmouth waters of the Lake Chippewa Flowage and its ideal rocky structure, it becomes a natural habitat for this popular game fish. Its remote and wild setting however makes it a river less traveled than other popular rivers in the area. This can be a bonus for those wishing to "get away from it all" and enjoy the solitude and good angling the river can produce.
The Chippewa River East Fork, likes it northerly cousin the West Fork, are both a bit more rugged and remote than their bigger parent, the Chippewa River. The river tends to have a steep gradient in areas, boulder beds that can be difficult to traverse in periods of low water, and produce wild rapids in periods of high water. Accessibility can also be an issue due to the absence of roads in the area. The East Fork is often too low for comfortable boating. The County D bridge at Shannagolden spans some shallow rapids and should be a good place to judge the water level. It is located about three miles west of the Hwy 13 community of Glidden. Intermediate whitewater skills are needed for safety and ease as several Class I to Class III rapids have been noted. Deadfalls should not be a significant problem.
The river meanders through some remote areas of Northern Wisconsin. The shores are typically tree lined with mature stands of hardwood forest on drumlinized ridges. The forest is dominated by sugar maple with basswood and yellow birch. Inter-drumlin areas are forested with mixed swamp hardwoods with remnant hemlock and yellow birch inclusions on somewhat poorly drained soils. These stands grade down into good quality occurrences of hemlock dominated forest within the river valley. Co-dominants include upland cedar, white pine, white spruce, and yellow birch. Such stands are especially prevalent along the river margin. Also present are mature white cedar swamps with black spruce and balsam fir with numerous islands forested with red and white pine. Ground flora species include twinflower, American fly honeysuckle, rattlesnake fern, downy rattlesnake-plantain, dwarf red raspberry, and two-seeded bog sedge. Other associated forested wetland communities include extensive black spruce-tamarack bogs, and seasonally flooded black ash and silver maple riparian zones, which are characterized by a fern and sedge dominated open understory. Several backwater sloughs are also present. A good diversity of emergent aquatic plants are present within the sloughs and are attractive staging areas for a wide variety of waterfowl and marsh birds during migration. Associated communities include extensive shrub swamps and wet meadow complexes maintained in an open condition by frequent water level fluctuations.
Smallmouth bass, northern pike, and some muskie are the mainstay game fish for this river, although perhaps, not in the numbers seen in the Chippewa River.
White tailed deer, black bear, otters, and even elk which have been transplanted in the Clam Lake area may be spotted along its course as you paddle.
This area was extensively logged and traces of logging days such as dams and camps can still be found. Upstream of the National Forest boundary there are few farms plus the tiny settlements of Glidden and Shannagolden. These human influences impact the river very little. Two dams do affect the East Fork. Winter Dam (Lake Chippewa Flowage) was constructed in 1923 and still generates power. A second power generating dam sits by Snaptail Rapids about six miles upstream of Lake Chippewa Flowage. In 2008, North American Hydro agreed to a build a bypass to allow sturgeon and other fish to pass around the dam and to re-water a quarter mile of the river below the dam that was left high and dry when the river was diverted to the turbines. This dam is now owned by Renewable World Energies and, unlike North American Hydro, is not very committed to river conservation. For many years prior to this agreement, Snaptail Rapids was totally dry except during high water times.
Map of trip from Blaisdell Lake to Winter Dam
No other river maps could be located. River miles were measured from Google Maps.
Chippewa River at Bishops Bridge near Winter, WI
No known shuttle services are known for this river.
American Whitewater website description of a float trip from Blaisdell Lake to Winter Dam, a trip of 10.4 miles, describes the river as having an average river gradient of 8 feet per mile, but with some segments being 40 feet per mile! This produces several Class I to Class III rapids, depending upon water levels. The put in spot is at the Blaisdell Lake Landing located on the western shore of the lake. 3.2 miles downstream you will encounter the dam and bypass channel. It appears that the Snaptail Rapids (Class III) are located around this area, and should be avoided unless you have above average paddling skills, especially in periods of high water levels. You can portage using the channel and nearby Fishtrap road. Another 4.8 miles downstream you will encounter the Goose Eye Rapids (Class II). The take out is the Winter dam site (Lake Chippewa Flowage). A bicycle shuttle is 12.4 miles taking about 1 hour.
The "estimated" distance for this next trip is 13.8 miles, putting in at the Forest Road 162 access and floating down to the Blaisdell Lake Landing located on the western shore of the lake. The assumed river gradient is 4.7 feet per mile. A bicycle shuttle is 15.1 miles long taking 1:16 to complete. A vehicle shuttle takes 27 minutes.
A popular float (see video below - 4:19 to 6:55) is the 10 mile long (estimated) trip putting in at Stockfarm Bridge Campground on Forest Hwy 164 and taking out at the Hwy GG Landing. The bicycle shuttle is 11 miles long taking about 52 minutes. The assumed river gradient is 5.4 feet per mile.
The last suggested trip is trying to put in at the Bay Road Bridge and meander the estimated 9.3 miles down to the Stockfarm Bridge Campground on Forest Hwy 164. A bicycle shuttle is 8.6 miles long taking 40 minutes. The assumed river gradient is about 3.8 feet per mile.