hauled out by rail and truck. The first bridge across the Jump was the Wisconsin Central Railway's trestle at Prentice, built in the 1870s. The "Black Bridge" above the village of Jump River's swimming hole was built in 1899 and 1900. The SM&P Railway bridge at Jump River was built in 1904. The Range Line wagon bridge in Jump River was built in 1909. It was wrecked by an ice jam in 1913 and repaired. The Albert bridge on what is now county H was built in 1912. The La Follette Bridge just east of Jump River opened in 1933. The worst flood on record occurred around Labor Day of 1941. Days of rain raised the river level about twelve feet, destroying the Black Bridge and washing out approaches to the La Follette and Range Line bridges. Recreation The Jump is good for canoeing when the water is high enough, with little rapids and boulders to dodge. The banks are largely undeveloped, though roads and farms are often just behind the trees. When the water level is medium to high, the stretch from the village of Jump River to County H or to Sheldon is fun. When the level is higher one can canoe from below Big Falls down to the village, and even above the Falls. Recent water levels at the gauging station at Sheldon are available here. Fisherman angle in many holes along the river. Fish in the river include northern pike, smallmouth bass, musky, walleye, catfish, redhorse, and suckers. The areas below the North and South Forks are one of twelve areas in Wisconsin where lake sturgeon may be legally harvested. Big Falls County Park, known locally as "Jump River Falls," surrounds a small gorge where the river tumbles through boulders. It has a picnic area and walking trails along the river. Picnic areas are also at parks in the village of Jump River and Haley Park in Sheldon. Haley Park has a sandy swimming beach, as does "the swimming hole," a mile above the village of Jump River. In winter when the river is frozen, snowmobiles run up and down it on the ice. References Rivers of Wisconsin Rivers of Price County, Wisconsin Rivers of Rusk County, Wisconsin Rivers of Taylor County, Wisconsin Rivers of Chippewa County, Wisconsin