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Playspot WI Class II

Trenton Waves

Menomonee - C) MenTosa: Hart Park Lane to W.Monarch Place or 4198 W.St.Paul Avenue (2.7 or 3.7 miles) (WI)

Monitor this Rapid
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
Trenton Waves
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

Approaching this area, the river-right shoreline changes from grass/weeds/shrubbery/dirt to become layers of bedrock. The streambed also becomes bedrock and the fun begins! The river repeatedly accelerates down slightly angled rock, then stacks up series of waves through here.

They become playable somewhere in the 400-500 cfs range, and become more and more fun as levels increase. At flows around 1,300-2500 cfs, there are a couple big powerful waves, likely with at least one wave breaking nicely on itself. A shoreline eddy river-right allows repeat play for strong boaters in control enough not to be swept downstream.

This can be done as a PnP by parking street-side (next to a fine maintained flower garden, across from the house at 5813 W.Trenton Place) and flagstone/rock steps (with a makeshift handrail) down the steep embankment. You'll want to carry upshore a bit to appreciate the approach to this wavetrain.

NOTE: A project in 2024 (to reduce flooding on State Street) left the vertical stonework walls from here to Hawley Road virtually untouched, so the waves here should form precisely the same as before.

Location
Type
Playspot
Difficulty
Class II
Mile Marker
1.6 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
C) MenTosa: Hart Park Lane to W.Monarch Place or 4198 W.St.Paul Avenue (2.7 or 3.7 miles)
Menomonee
II-III 3.7 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater