See all 2 routes on Eau Claire River - East Branch
Wisconsin | North-Central Wisconsin
Eau Claire River - East BranchWayside Park / Highway 45 to County Road I
Upper East Branch Eau Claire trout-stream day from the Highway 45 wayside to the County Road I DNR access, with clear water, alder gauntlets, wooded bends, light riffles, and a downstream Kelly-gauge ladder from Wisconsin River Trips.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Wayside Park off Highway 45 and take out at the County Road I DNR access. Expect a narrow East Branch trout stream with clear water, alder dodging, light riffles, and several optional bridge exits.
Access map
Put-in
Wayside Park / Highway 45 accessThe County Road I take-out is a public DNR access and pull-off southeast of the bridge, but it is still a small fishing-style access rather than a large boat ramp.
Take-out
County Road I DNR accessCounty B and Bluebell Road are useful alternates if the upper reach looks too congested or shallow.
Road shuttle
Use the short Wayside Park-to-County-I shuttle. County B and Bluebell Road are practical shorter-route access options if you want to skip the snag-prone upper miles or focus on the better lower trout-stream section.
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Access planner
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Wayside Park / Highway 45 access to County Road I DNR access is about 5.1 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- The Kelly gauge is far downstream; inspect actual depth and wood at the put-in before committing.
More route and safety guidance
- Several logjams, a low bridge, alder gauntlets, and fresh wood can require portages, especially upstream from County B.
- The gauge is downstream and imperfect for this upper branch. Avoid muddy, rising, bankfull, or storm-fed conditions and use only named access points unless there is an emergency.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Eau Claire River at Kelly, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Exact route sourceWayside Park to County I, 5.1 mi
Wisconsin River Trips documents the Wayside Park / Highway 45 to County I route, subreach mileages, access notes, hazards, and downstream Kelly-gauge ladder.
- Gauge bands100 / 101-200 / 451 cfs
WRT calls below 100 cfs very shallow, 101 to 200 cfs average, 301 to 450 cfs high but navigable, and 451+ cfs very high on the Kelly gauge.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-1698.1 cfs and 0.46 ft at 2026-07-16 20:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Endpoint coordinates45.234493, -89.1508535 to 45.2038261, -89.2160091
Wisconsin River Trips embedded My Maps/KML resolves Wayside Park, County B, Bluebell Road, and County I access coordinates.
- Camping postureDay route only
No on-route public campsite was identified for this trout-stream bridge-access reach; do not camp on private banks.
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Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Eau Claire River - East Branch
All 2Nearby routes within 75 miles
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