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See all 4 routes on Eau Claire River

Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin

Eau Claire River

Edwin's Park / Club House Road to County Highway J Landing

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Today

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Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distanceAbout 4.1 miEdwin's Park / Club House Road to County Highway J Landing
DifficultymoderateThe reach is short, but WRT and its KML describe rapids, boulder gardens, bridge access, possible alternate access, and route choice through shallow channels. Treat high water over the Weston 2 ft warning as experienced-paddler only.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the County J bridge landing first, then launch from the public park context at Club House Road. The Mountain-Bay State Trail pull-off is an alternate access in the source map, but this card uses Club House Road to County J as the planned public-access pair.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Wisconsin boating/PFD rules, Village of Weston and county access postings, road-shoulder limits, and private-bank boundaries.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a day route. No designated on-route campsite is selected between Club House Road and County J; use separate legal camping or lodging away from the route if needed.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through fall can work when the Ross/Kelly stage is in range. Summer lows expose boulder gardens and can require walking; storm highs make the small rapids pushier and increase wood risk.

Plan

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Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Edwin's Park / Club House Road and finish at County J for the first lower Eau Claire water-trail split below the county park corridor. Expect shallow boulder gardens, a few small rapids, and a downstream same-corridor stage gauge that must be paired with a visual check.

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On-water distanceAbout 4.1 miLake to creek
On-water timeAbout 5 to 7 hrFull route option
ShuttleSelf-shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.

Start

Put-in

Edwin's Park / Club House Road launchOpen map

The Club House Road launch is a public park/grassy launch context with limited services and shoulder parking notes in WRT materials.

Finish

Take-out

County Highway J LandingOpen map

County J is a bridge landing rather than a full-service ramp; confirm the faint trail, bank footing, and parking before unloading.

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • The Club House Road launch is a public park/grassy launch context with limited services and shoulder parking notes in WRT materials.
  • County J is a bridge landing rather than a full-service ramp; confirm the faint trail, bank footing, and parking before unloading.
  • The Kelly/Ross gauge is downstream of this split. Use Weston stage guidance as a screen, then inspect the actual water at both endpoints.

Watch for

  • Boulder gardens, Class I-II riffles, shallow ledges, and channel splits that can force walking below the 0.5 ft floor.
  • Fresh strainers, downed trees, bridge debris, and faster current after rain.
  • Private banks, limited legal bailout options, and cold water outside summer.

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Sources

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Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking

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OutlookTomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteEau Claire River at Kelly, WI
Gauge heightChecking
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Target band1.00 ft to 2.00 ft
Low threshold0.50 ft
High threshold2.00 ft
Data confidence behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
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Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreVillage of Weston Eau Claire River water-trail stage guidance
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NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Route and mileageEdwin's Park / Club House Road to County J, about 4.1 mi

    Wisconsin River Trips splits the lower Eau Claire water trail into Edwin's Park-to-County-J and County-J-to-Ross legs and describes this first split as having a few rapids and boulder gardens.

    Source

  • Access coordinatesWRT overview KML resolves Club House Road and Highway J

    The WRT linked My Maps KML marks Edwin's Park / Club House Road at -89.4586068, 44.9064421 and Highway J at -89.5057011, 44.9014989.

    Source

  • Thresholds0.5 ft low floor, 1-2 ft planning band, over 2 ft experienced paddlers

    Weston says around 1 ft at the Ross/Kelly gauge is ideal for beginners, below half a foot likely requires portaging, and over two feet creates a more challenging rapid-filled ride for experienced paddlers only.

    Source

  • Current gauge checkUSGS 05397500 Water Services returned HTTP 503 on 2026-07-23

    The official monitoring page is available, but the legacy JSON live-value endpoint returned service unavailable during this run; users should recheck the monitoring page before launch.

    Source

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

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More on Eau Claire River

All 4
Bear Lake Road Bridge Landing to County N Bridge LandingCentral WisconsinHard · 13.9 miCounty Highway J Landing to Ross Avenue River AccessCentral WisconsinModerate · About 3.7 miRoss Avenue River Access to Yellow Banks ParkCentral WisconsinModerate · About 2.7 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Pine RiverPine River Park / Center Road to County Road W · about 19 mi awayHard · About 2.5 miPlover RiverCounty Highway K to Jordan Park · about 20 mi awayModerate · About 5.3 miEmbarrass River - South BranchHighway 45 to County Road M · about 23 mi awayHard · About 2.5 miEau Claire River - East BranchCounty Road I to Highway 64 · about 24 mi awayModerate · About 6.1 mi

Quick answers

Eau Claire River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Eau Claire River?

Paddle Today watches Eau Claire River at Kelly, WI and treats 1.00 ft to 2.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Eau Claire River route start and end?

This route starts at Edwin's Park / Club House Road launch and ends at County Highway J Landing, about About 4.1 mi on the water.

Is this Eau Claire River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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