Hervas Landing to Beaver Dam Landing (4.9 miles)

Note: Many river-guide books describe the Flambeau and it's upper branches, often dividing the various reaches differently. A multitude of alternate landings exist, allowing trips of varying lengths, depending upon priorities (time and interest in maximizing whitewater versus flatwater paddling). The main drops on this reach are: Cedar Rapids (class II): an island splits the river. Usual route is the left channel, where a ledge offers several chutes for choice of run. Rock gardens follow. The next couple miles contain the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th pitches of Cedar Rapids, all of which are several hundred yard long boulder-bed style rapids. Beaver Dam Rapids (class II+): the biggest drop on the river (a 4' river-wide ledge, with huge boulders) merits scouting to pick a clear path. A brief boulder garden follows. A major drawback of sectioning the river as we have here is that the access points listed are on opposite banks of the river, and it is a long way to the nearest bridge to make the loop around the river.