Access Site
WI
Take Out
City: Athens, WI
County: Marathon
Type: Whitewater Take Out
Location: 45.02940, -90.06814
Air Temp: --
Location
Interactive access map
Loads when you reach this section.
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Big Rib River at Rib Falls, WI
8.9 mi away
Big Eau Pleine River at Stratford, WI
14.3 mi away
Wisconsin River at Merrill, WI
21.5 mi away
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Run
I-II
Take-out
Black Creek - Athens City Park to Pioneer Road (1.4 miles)
32 ft/mi
Current Conditions
--
• 3.23-10.00 ft
Prairie River near Merrill, WI
Whitewater Runs on Black Creek
1 runDifficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site:
Put-in at this location
This location is on the run
Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
This take-out site on Black Creek near Athens in Marathon County provides access to a significant whitewater paddling destination. Black Creek is a large river system (stream order 6) with substantial flow averaging 479 cubic feet per second, making it suitable for experienced paddlers. The creek descends over 528 feet across its 65-mile length, with an average gradient of 8.1 feet per mile, indicating consistent moving water conditions throughout much of the paddling season.
The take-out location is positioned along Black Creek's lower section, approximately 217 miles from the river mouth. With an average water velocity of 1.8 feet per second and significant drainage area of 450 square miles, paddlers should expect moderate to strong current conditions depending on seasonal flow and recent rainfall. The elevation at this take-out point is approximately 15 meters, indicating you're in the lower portion of the creek system.
Paddlers using this take-out should be prepared for whitewater paddling conditions typical of Wisconsin's larger river systems. The site serves as an exit point for multi-mile paddling trips upstream. Water levels and current speed vary seasonally, so checking current conditions before launching is essential for safe paddling on Black Creek.
The take-out location is positioned along Black Creek's lower section, approximately 217 miles from the river mouth. With an average water velocity of 1.8 feet per second and significant drainage area of 450 square miles, paddlers should expect moderate to strong current conditions depending on seasonal flow and recent rainfall. The elevation at this take-out point is approximately 15 meters, indicating you're in the lower portion of the creek system.
Paddlers using this take-out should be prepared for whitewater paddling conditions typical of Wisconsin's larger river systems. The site serves as an exit point for multi-mile paddling trips upstream. Water levels and current speed vary seasonally, so checking current conditions before launching is essential for safe paddling on Black Creek.