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

Space Bar ("SB")

Milwaukee - C) Estabrook Park to N.Riverboat Road (PnP or up to 3.6 miles) (WI)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
Milwaukee River at Milwaukee, WI Upstream Primary
Runnable: 120.0 – 9,999.0 CFS

Intermediate flow. Perhaps ideal flows for beginner-to-intermediate boaters (full run or PnP at EPL, UPk, TD or North Ave). (See description for details.)

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Description

A final fault in the paver-block center-river creates a surfable wave, perhaps best 900-1200 cfs. At higher and lower flows its barely noticeable, or may surge. (You may catch a brief surf but be dumped off as the wave appears and disappears!)

Note: At least one boater (upon flipping) has had a 'close encounter of the worst kind' with rocks in the outflow from this wave. (Fortunately, he 'tagged' it with his back and shoulder, not his head/helmet.) Many shallow rocks lie in eddies to both sides, as well as downstream (above and through the final rocky pitch). All of which is to say, this is not a good place to play if you are not confident of staying upright, or if your roll is not quick and sure.

If you eddy-out before dropping into the Rubble Field, a river-right eddy allows you to paddle to above Typewriter Wave, and a river-left eddy allows repeat access for Return Key through Space Bar. When all features here are 'in', whitewater play-boaters often forego shuttling, doing just this best park-and-play on the river!

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class II+
Mile Marker
3.3 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
C) Estabrook Park to N.Riverboat Road (PnP or up to 3.6 miles)
Milwaukee
I-II(III) 3.5 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater