The best way to describe this river is a smaller version of the Wisconsin, without all the motor traffic.  The trip from Black River Falls to La Crosse, is a nice easy sandbar camping trip. 

Highlights for me include the Hawk Island riffles, Hoffman park (High cliff).  The bend before the hwy 108 bridge (another high cliff), the narrows after North Bend,  the back waters of the Mississippi, camping on the Mississippi.

The current moves at about 2-3 miles an hour, plenty of sandbars to camp on.  Little motor traffic, the stretch from Hwy 108 to North bend can get busy with day trippers.

I am starting to introduce my kids to canoeing and the Black is where they will cut their teeth.

enjoy

chris