Paddle the Bois Brule: Stones to Winneboujou — Easy 10-Mile Family Float

Stones Bridge to Winneboujou on the Bois Brule River in Brule, Wisconsin, is a gentle, family-friendly paddle that unpacks the Northwoods without demanding technical skill. This A1 run—A1: Stones – Winneboujou (Easiest)—covers roughly ten miles of slow-moving water and typically takes four to six hours, making it ideal for half-day excursions from nearby towns. Begin at Stones Bridge and let the current carry you through clear spring-fed channels that reveal the river’s limestone and sandy bed. The route threads coniferous bogs and cedar fringes, past marsh grasses and stands of maple, ash, tamarack, red and white pine. Look for the river’s most dramatic arboreal landmark: the enormous white pine that towers above the canopy. Natural springs keep the water refreshingly cold and feed a healthy trout population, so anglers often float along in quiet pursuit. Roughly an hour paddling from Stones Bridge you’ll pass the historic cedar island estate where President Calvin Coolidge summered in 1928; that site is one of several reasons this corridor is nicknamed the River of Presidents. Between Cedar Island and Winneboujou the current eases into playful riffles and a sequence of small drops called Big Twin, Wildcat and Little Twin that add variety without jeopardizing casual paddlers. Big Lake and Lucious Lake open the river into wide, slow basins where loons, herons and osprey are frequently seen. Brule River Canoe Rental and shuttle operator BRCR, INC. has run non-guided rentals and shuttles here since 1962, making their office the standard check-in: Head to Brule River Office. Rentals include one- and two-person recreational kayaks, sit-on-tops, and traditional two-person canoes with shuttle service to Winneboujou. Bring water, sun protection and a dry bag; if you own a boat BRCR offers shuttle-only rates. Along the final miles the riverbanks change from silty bog to sandy shores lined with historic early-19th and 20th-century boathouses and river homes preserved by families who’ve kept the character of the place intact. Wildlife viewing is undisturbed here; be patient at marsh edges to catch glimpses of deer, mink, or otter. The mix of accessible water, significant natural springs, living history and reliable rentals makes this stretch a standout day trip for families, mixed-skill groups, and anyone seeking a low-stress paddle in a remarkably intact northern river ecosystem. What sets this stretch apart is the combination of reliably clear spring-fed water and a parade of living-history river homes. The river’s slow pace makes it accessible to beginners and families while still offering pockets of wildlife and quick riffles that keep experienced paddlers engaged. Whether you launch in a tandem canoe for conversation or paddle a single recreational kayak, the Stones–Winneboujou run showcases why the Bois Brule remains a waterway in Wisconsin’s outdoor scene.