The Bad River originates at Caroline Lake southeast of Mellen, Wisconsin in a relatively unspoiled area of forest. For a brief stretch the river passes through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest before it makes its way to Mellen. Early tributaries to the river include creeks spilling from Dry, Knab and Spillerberg lakes. The Bad River gains a dramatic contributor of Tyler Forks at the Copper Falls State Park. The Marengo, Brunsweiler, Potato, and White Rivers are all large tributaries joining the flow further downstream. Ultimately, the Bad River drains into Lake Superior through a series of sloughs north of Odanah, Wisconsin.
Bad River Watershed Association volunteers sample 3 sites along this river. In all, volunteers sample 17 sites throughout the entire Bad River Watershed. Sampling includes monthly chemistry and twice-annual macro-invertebrate surveys.
