Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.

Hazard WI Class II

Railroad Rips (RRR)

American Whitewater 43.0423, -87.9723

Save this feature with the run it belongs to.

Gauge Conditions

Menomonee River at Wauwatosa, WI Upstream Primary

Runnable: 125.0 – 3,000.0 CFS

Float trip with (grungy) riffles and rips.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS

Photo

Photo courtesy of American Whitewater

Description

After passing Hwy.41 high overhead, the river swings left down rock-rubble rapids, leading to a railroad bridge with a pier splitting the flow.

Watch for woody debris hung up on the bridge pier and (if present) head river-left to the inside of the bend. The current is less strong and the riverbank slopes, making it possible to get out if need be. (River-right is a vertical rock wall.)

In the right (main) channel, at some flows, there can be a wave at the upstream-edge of the bridge. It is tough to catch on the fly, but it is often possible to attain tight against the vertical-steel revetment to play this wave.

The pool (downstream of the bridge) is deep and will have wild swirls and boils at flows over 1000 cfs. At high flows, be aware that strong current downstream heads straight toward shoreline rocks cemented in place (armoring the banks) which can snag branches and trees. Charge hard to the inside/right to avoid being swept into the wall!