See all 2 routes on Eau Claire River - East Branch
Wisconsin | North-Central Wisconsin
Eau Claire River - East Branch
County Road I to Highway 64
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at County Road I and finish at Highway 64 for the rockier downstream East Branch route. The Mills Recreation Area stretch supplies the best boulder gardens and Class I riffles, while the first half has more alders and logjam management.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
County Road I DNR accessHighway 64 is a bridge take-out with a mowed bank and embankment drag, not a developed launch. Inspect it before paddling.
Take-out
Highway 64 bridge accessSpring Road can shorten the route and sits near Mills Recreation Area parking, but do not assume every bridge bank is suitable for a group take-out.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Highway 64 is a bridge take-out with a mowed bank and embankment drag, not a developed launch. Inspect it before paddling.
- Spring Road can shorten the route and sits near Mills Recreation Area parking, but do not assume every bridge bank is suitable for a group take-out.
- The Kelly gauge is downstream of the selected route; same-day visual checks at County I and Highway 64 control.
Watch for
- A hop-over snag near the put-in, a large pine logjam, and an additional boulder-field/logjam portage between Highway H and Spring Road.
- Class I boulder gardens in Mills Recreation Area that can become Class II in higher water.
- Shallow scraping below the WRT floor, private banks, cold water, and fast local rises after Langlade County rain.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Eau Claire River at Kelly, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 151 cfs to 200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 120 cfs |
| High threshold | 451 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips East Branch Eau Claire County I gauge guide |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- Exact route sourceCounty Road I to Highway 64, 6.1 mi
Wisconsin River Trips documents the exact route, bridge-by-bridge subreaches, access notes, hazards, and a three-hour expected paddle time.
- Gauge bands120 / 151-200 / 451 cfs
WRT calls below 120 cfs too shallow, 151 to 200 cfs the likely ideal target, 301 to 450 cfs high but navigable, and 451 to 900 cfs expert-only/very high.
- Current gauge check98.1 cfs and 0.46 ft at 2026-07-16 20:00 CDT
USGS Water Services placed the downstream Kelly proxy below the selected low-water floor during this run.
- Endpoint coordinates45.2037556, -89.2159535 to 45.1454554, -89.245114
Wisconsin River Trips embedded My Maps/KML resolves County I, River Road, Highway H, Spring Road, and Highway 64 coordinates.
- Camping postureDay route only
No on-route public campsite was identified for this bridge-access route; use nearby developed campgrounds only as off-route basecamps.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Eau Claire River - East Branch paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Eau Claire River - East Branch?
Paddle Today watches Eau Claire River at Kelly, WI and treats 151 cfs to 200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Eau Claire River - East Branch route start and end?
This route starts at County Road I DNR access and ends at Highway 64 bridge access, about About 6.1 mi on the water.
Is this Eau Claire River - East Branch 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.